Chapter 322
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Chapter 322:
Gaston set his knife and fork down. The metallic clink rang out clearly in the quiet room. He picked up his linen napkin and wiped his mouth with slow, methodical patience — the unhurried composure of a predator in no particular rush.
Then he stood, walked around the table, and stopped beside her chair.
Before Jocelyn could react, Gaston grabbed the armrests and spun her around to face him. He leaned down, hands braced on either side of her, trapping her completely.
“Dinner is over, Mrs. Collins,” Gaston said, his voice dropping an octave into a raw, gravelly command. “Now it is my turn to collect my real thank you p>
𝖳h𝗲 𝘣𝖾s𝗍 𝗋eа𝖽iո𝘨 e𝘹𝗉𝘦𝗿𝗂𝗲ո𝘤e 𝗼𝗻
He didn’t wait for permission. He crashed his mouth down onto hers, swallowing her surprised gasp and tasting the rich red wine on her tongue.
The kiss was explosive.
Gaston’s mouth was hot and demanding, tasting of expensive wine and raw, unbridled possession. He devoured her lips completely, instantly draining the oxygen from her lungs.
A sharp electric jolt shot straight down Jocelyn’s spine. Her brain short-circuited. Driven by pure instinct, her hands flew up and gripped his broad shoulders, a soft, helpless whimper vibrating in the back of her throat.
That tiny sound shattered the last chain of Gaston’s restraint.
He broke the kiss for a fraction of a second, slid his hands beneath her thighs, and hoisted her into the air. Jocelyn gasped, her legs wrapping instinctively around his narrow waist to keep from falling.
Gaston did not carry her toward the master bedroom. He moved with heavy, purposeful strides into the living room, straight toward the towering floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a panoramic view of the glittering Manhattan skyline.
He pressed her back flat against the cold glass.
The shock of the freezing window against her spine, set against the scorching heat of Gaston’s chest pressing into her front, made Jocelyn shudder violently. She opened her eyes. Over his shoulder, the Empire State Building rose above a sea of a million city lights spread out below them.
Panic flared in her chest.
“Gaston, no!” Jocelyn stammered, her fingers digging frantically into his shirt collar. “The window! People can see us! Are you crazy p>
Gaston reached up, his large hand cupping the back of her head, fingers tangling in her hair to hold her steady. His other hand moved between them, long fingers swiftly and expertly working the buttons of her cashmere sweater.
“This is military-grade, one-way bulletproof glass, Jocelyn,” Gaston murmured against her jawline, his voice a dark, hypnotic rumble. “The entire city is at our feet. But no one in the world can see you right now. Only me p>
He pressed his hips firmly against hers, letting her feel the undeniable, terrifying proof of his desire.
“You cooked for me, Mrs. Collins,” Gaston whispered, his breath fanning across her exposed collarbone. “You made this a home. Now it is time to fulfill the duties of a real wife. And I have waited entirely too long p>