Taming The Wild CEO novel Chapter 97

C H A P T E R 2 6 : T E M P T A T I O N A N D P R O M I S E

J A V I E R S U M M E R S

Javier watched her looking up then tilting her head to one side. There was confusion on her face before it was replaced with horror. She gasped, dropping her fork on the plate in a loud noise. The poor utensils bounced from the plate to the dining table. “I am sorry,” she muttered, shaking her head and biting her lips. “Did I just call you with the wrong name?”

“No. No.” He put his hand on her shoulder and rubbed her arm up and down in a soothing motion. “You just called me by the nickname that you gave me. No one else calls me that.” He paused for a moment then spoke again, “Did you perhaps—” Dropping his hand to his lap, he closed his eyes and shook his head. When he finally reopened her eyes and looked at her in the eye again, the spark of hope in his baby blues was already gone. “Never mind.” He gave her a small, reassuring smile. He did not dare to hope, feeling scared that he was going to be let down once again by another hopeful thinking.

Her hand touched his and Javier dropped his gaze to his lap. Staring at their hands together, he was feeling nostalgic. They had held hands numerous times in the past but since her accident, he could only count two times with the second time being right now.

“What is it?” Ella asked softly, her eyes worried. “Tell me.”

At first, he was hesitant but upon watching the pleading in her eyes, he finally gave in. “You called me Jiev. It was the nickname you gave me back when we started dating.”

“Oh.” Her eyes rounded then she lifted her hand to touch her lips as if she was wondering how her lips could recall something her mind could not. “I-I am sorry.”

“Do not worry about it,” he patted her hand with his other hand and gave her a small smile. “You should eat more.” When her hand was retracted from his and they lost their physical connection, he felt a poke in his heart and tried to ignore it. He continuously reminded himself that she was still here with him.

* * *

In regards to his promise that he would take things slowly with her even if it killed him, it might just kill him after all, Javier decided thirty minutes later as Ella put down her fork and sighed. “If I eat another bite, I swear you will have to cut and tear these jeans apart just to get them off because I will not be able to get them off by myself.”

Images of stripping her out of her pants, of running his hands over the curve of her hips and down those long slender legs had perspiration beading between his shoulder blades and desire burning below his belt. “I am sure I will be able to do it,” he somehow managed to get past a throat that had gone from dry to parched in a heartbeat. “But I expect it will take quite a few more of these apple pies before I need to take out the scissors and use them on anything besides the pant’s leg.”

“Oh, I am not so sure about that,” she said, laughing, and the easy carefree sound made his chest tighten. It seemed a lifetime since he had heard her laugh like that. “Right now I feel about as stuffed as my ankle looks with that bandage. But it is almost worth it. Everything was delicious. You are a wonderful cook.”

Javier realized that it turned out to be a huge mistake the second his finger touched her. He ran his thumb across the corner of her lower lip and sent the desire already fisting in his gut on a fast track to parts due south. Judging from her quick intake of breath and the combination of confusion and hunger in her brown eyes, she had stumbled onto the same path with him. And before his conscience or reason could kick in, he slid his hand around her neck and urged her closer. He pressed his mouth to hers. He promised himself that it would be just a small kiss, nothing more than a peck, and it definitely would not involve tongues. But the jolt was immediate and as powerful as a nuclear explosion. He lifted his head, gave her a chance to retreat. He swore that if there was even a hint of reluctance on her part, he would let her go. Yet when she looked up at him, her eyes were filled with need. When she tipped her mouth up to him again, he made a grumbling noise low in his throat and swooped down for a deeper taste.

He devoured that perfect mouth, molding and shaping it beneath his. He could feast on the sweet softness of her mouth alone for hours, he thought as he ran his tongue along the seam of her lips. When she parted them for him, pleasure shuddered through Javier and he deepened the kiss. Then her fingers bit into his shoulders as she returned his kiss and he forgot all the reasons he had told himself this could not happen. He forgot that he had sworn he would give her more time, that he would regain her trust first. He forgot his promise to only have a small, innocent kiss.

A taste of Ella would never be enough, not when he wanted so much more. Not when he wanted all of her. And right then he realized that she would give him what he wanted. She would give herself to him even though it was too soon and she would regret it later. And if that happened, he would lose her and he might lose her for good.

Calling upon a strength he had not known he possessed, Javier tore his mouth free. He dragged air into his lungs in deep gulps while he battled the urge to haul her into his lap and pick up where they had left off. “I think,” he began as he sucked in another lungful of air and forced his gaze to look away from those tempting lips, afraid that he might reach for her once again and do something that he might regret. “I think I got all of it. You are good to go now.”

* * *

Dear Gentle Readers, what do you think of Javier and Ella's current situation? She clearly is attracted to him (physically, at the moment). Her mind is obviously confused but her body does remember him. Do you think it is wise that he waits or should he make love to her instead? Tell us your thoughts in the review/comment section. Another chapter will come in a few minutes! The author plans to publish more than one chapter today to show appreciation for the love and support given to this book thus far! Enjoy!