Billionaire Unmasked ~ Jason (Billionaire’s Obsession #6)(30)
Author: J.S. Scott

They’d rarely gotten out of bed in the last few days, and had left the house only once so he could take her out to dinner at the resort. The food had been excellent, but all Jason had been able to think about was the low-cut bodice of her sexy red dress, the amount of exposed skin that he wanted to explore with his hands and mouth. He had even skipped a chocolate dessert when Hope refused anything for her own dessert course, not able to get her back to the house and into bed fast enough for his liking.

He scowled at the credit card Hope had left on the dresser of the bedroom, unused. She’d paid for everything herself on her shopping trip, a fact that both touched him and irritated him at the same time. He wanted to take care of her, give her whatever she wanted. Most women would have taken the card and charged until it was maxed out, which might have taken some time. His limits weren’t exactly average. But not Hope. Hell, no! She hadn’t used it at all, but left it quietly on the dresser. Sure, she had money, but he had a hell of a lot more, and she wasn’t exactly maximizing her income from her inheritance. He jerked his wallet out of the back pocket of his jeans and jammed the card in just a little too hard. Receipts and business cards fluttered to the carpet. Snatching them up, he put them back into his wallet and headed out to the kitchen. His stomach growled as he scented bacon.

Jesus. Hope could cook.

It had to be a skill she’d acquired after she’d left home. She certainly hadn’t been taught by her useless mother. Jason’s gut ached just from thinking about Hope spending her adolescent years with a mother who didn’t want her. Most of her life had to have been lonely, even though she had her brothers.

Just like mine.

He was a stupid bastard, waiting to go after the one woman in his life who he really wanted. And now that he had her, Jason was terrified of losing her again. That couldn’t happen, wouldn’t happen. He needed to come clean about his plan to marry her, tell her that he’d lied.

She’ll hate me.

After she’d spilled her guts about her past to him, guilt had gnawed at his insides about not telling her the entire truth. The only thing that stopped him was fear, a powerful silencer. If Hope knew, he was afraid he’d never have a chance of keeping her forever, which was exactly what he planned to do. The two-week thing was complete bullshit, and he knew it. He’d waited for Hope for what seemed like forever. He was doing his best to get her addicted to him, to them being together. Christ knew he was a complete and total Hope junkie. He couldn’t let her out of his sight for very long without having severe withdrawals.

How am I going to deal with her career?

If he wanted her to give it up, she’d be unhappy if she did. However, he couldn’t let her throw herself toward danger either. Maybe they could compromise; he’d go with her wherever she needed to go and make damn certain she was safe.

If she forgives me. If she’ll actually stay with me.

By God, she would, even if he had to kidnap her sweet ass again. He wasn’t living without her anymore. Her refusal to stay married to him was not an acceptable outcome.

Mine. She’s Hope Sutherland now, and she belongs to me.

As he entered the kitchen, he saw her bustling around near the stove, and he was as stunned as he always was every time he saw her in the same house as him. Her fiery hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and it swayed as she moved gracefully, efficiently around the room.

Jason was mesmerized by her, fascinated by every move she made. His eyes watched her shapely ass as she bent over to pick something up off the floor.

Oh, hell no. She’s never going anywhere. Not without me.

His heart thundered against his chest wall, and his palms got sweaty just from thinking about her leaving him.

Not happening.

“Good morning,” Hope said cheerfully as she turned around and spotted him. “You’re wearing the shirt. You definitely look like the sexiest man alive,” she purred as she sidled up next to him and kissed him tenderly on the lips.

Jason grinned. He couldn’t help himself. Hope was managing him, and he was completely on to her machinations. But she was so darn adorable that he wasn’t about to call her on it. Nope. He wanted to hear her call him sexy, and he’d do whatever it took for him to hear it. Yep…he was just that pathetic when it came to her.

He would have snatched her up if she didn’t have a hot pancake turner in her hand. Because she did, he settled for what he could get. “What’s for breakfast?” He was getting spoiled, and more than likely, he’d need a very long hike after he ate.

“Bacon, eggs, and double chocolate pancakes with Reese’s chocolate syrup.” She waved her pancake turner and gestured for him to sit as she loaded a plate for him.

Jason salivated. “They have double chocolate pancakes?” He hoped she wasn’t messing with him.

“It’s a recipe I got off the Internet. It’s decadent, but knowing you and chocolate, I think you’ll like it,” she teased as she set a plate of bacon and eggs in front of him. “Eat these while I finish up the pancakes.”

“You’re ruining me,” he told her honestly as he dove into his bacon and eggs, famished.

He knew she wasn’t joking with him about the pancakes. He could smell the chocolate now.

“It’s nice,” she replied, her back to him at the stove. “I like to cook, but it’s more fun when I have someone to share it with.”

Her comment sucker punched him straight in the gut. He couldn’t see anything but her backside, but he could hear the vulnerability in her voice. There was no way she wanted him the same way he had to have her, but his heart soared at the thought that she wanted to be with him, liked being with him outside the bedroom. He wanted her to share every space in his life. “Baby, have all the fun you want. I’ll be here,” he replied roughly as he realized how much he wanted to be everything to her. His life had been just as lonely as hers, maybe more, and only Hope had taken away the restlessness, the emptiness that consumed him sometimes. He needed her more than he needed to take his next breath, and he knew it.

She took his empty plate and slid another one in front of him. His stomach rumbled as he eyed the stack of chocolate pancakes that dripped with chocolate syrup, topped with tiny bites of Reese’s on the top. After she set two mugs of coffee on the table, she sat across from him with a much smaller stack for herself.

“Holy Christ. Are these for real?” Jason could smell the tantalizing scent of chocolate and peanut butter, and his mouth watered.