Page 19 of Cocky Professor

"Only those who attend in person. You didn't come here to ask about that?" He cocked his head and his expression eased.

"Didn't I?" I placed a hand on his bicep and toyed with the bottom of his sleeve. "A girl can't help being curious about things like this. After all, power is an aphrodisiac."

"So they say," he said. He slid a single knuckle down the side of my cheek. "You're so beautiful."

"I was going to say the same about you. We talked about making a deal, but I can't stop thinking about you. I don't think a working relationship will be enough. Not even if we fuck as well."

"What are you saying?" His blue eyes narrowed slightly.

"I'm wondering if I'd dare to let myself fall for you," I said softly. "The problem is, I think it's too late. But I don't want to get my heart broken. If this is just a business transaction to you, then I'm walking away."

That would be difficult, considering what was at stake, but I had to look after myself first. A man like this could shatter me into a million pieces. I didn't want to admit that to myself. That big, bad Chloe Bell was in any way fragile. I put up so many walls around myself I was barely aware of them. Until now.

Could I lower them for him? I sure as hell wasn't lowering them for anyone else. Not even my sister. She'd made it clear that taking over from our father was more important than our relationship. The moment she did, the gloves were off. I'd do whatever I had to do to defend myself.

I wasn't going to be broken by her either.

Dane's expression softened. "I've already fallen for you. I've never met anyone who fascinates me more than you do. You get me. You don't judge me for not being perfect, you want to help me to be a better version of myself. I want to be better for you. In every way possible. Together, we can move mountains."

He grazed his lips over mine. "Besides, I'm not letting you go."

My heart fluttered. "Good, because I didn't want to have to let you go either."

"Now we understand each other, be a good girl?—"

I interrupted him. "No. It's my turn." I gripped the hem of his T-shirt and all but yanked it off over his head. I tossed it on the floor, pressed my hands to his chest and pushed him down on the bed.

He reached over to close the laptop.

"Leave it open," I said. "I want to fuck you in front of the most powerful men in the world. Someday, you'll be one of them."

I straddled his knees and pulled his track pants and boxers down his legs and off his feet. Still fully dressed, I looked down at the sight of him lying naked in front of me.

"See something you like?" He smiled.

"I like everything I see," I said. He was all chiselled lines, from his rock hard abs to his biceps. His cock was erect and ready, red with blood.

I blinked a couple of times to make sure he was real.

My tongue skated across my lower lip. "Are you sure you could fall for me, because you're…" He looked like a God or a statue and I was…just me. The twin everyone overlooked. The one no one gave a shit about. Why should he?

He grabbed my wrists and pulled me down so I was lying on top of him, our noses almost touching.

"I lied," he said.

My heart stopped. Of course he was. I was only fooling myself. It didn't matter how he felt underneath me. How hard his body was. How hard his cock was. It didn't matter that my body was aching for his.

"Chloe, I've already fallen for you." He snaked a hand around the back of my head and pulled me down to kiss me. "I want to be with you in every way that counts. I don't know why you doubt yourself, but I'm going to make it my mission to take those doubts away. Let me show you how I feel about you."

He rolled us over so he was lying on top of me, and slid his hands up the front of my shirt. "Your skin is perfect." He cupped my breasts with his large hands and palmed my nipples through the lace of my bra. "Your body is perfect."

"I was supposed to be in charge," I said weakly.

He smiled and rolled us back over so I was on top again. "I'm yours to command." He raised his hands to either side.

The expression on his face made me melt a little more. No one had ever looked at me like that before. Like he actually loved me. Like he didn't think of me as a tool for him to use. Or a hassle to get out of the way. Or a disappointment.

He looked at me like I was the woman he adored.