Imperfect Match (Elixir Bachelor Billionaires #1)

“Charles Hawthorne! Whoever is accusing you of being a saint, please bring them to me. I’ll fix their misplaced beliefs.”

My hands, which were resting on his chest, now land on his cheeks. I have a faint awareness that this is Charles Hawthorne.

My boss, the man who I’ve nicknamed asshole.

But right now, as the morning rays filter through the tall windows and graze his face, it’s so hard to see him as anyone but my husband, who left all his important work behind in order to save me.

“What are you thinking?” He caresses my cheek. Since last night, he’s repeated the move so many times, as if he just can’t stop touching me. “You’re so flushed.” His voice turns hoarse.

My eyes fall closed as Charles leans in. I wait for his kiss, but instead, his nose runs against the column of my neck. My world tips when he inhales slowly, his hot breath coasting my skin, leaving goose bumps in its wake. My whole body is on fire when his lips touch my bare skin, just a brush, but I can’t stop my moan.

So far, Charles and I have only kissed, and this is the first time his lips have treaded below my face. I never knew my neck was such an erogenous zone.

“What are you doing?”

“I love the way you smell.”

My head rolls back and my back arches as if offering more of whatever he’s willing to take. But Charles pulls back. My eyes open to find him staring at my chest. I follow his gaze, and one of my boobs is almost falling out of my camisole top. When I removed my bra the previous night, I wasn’t expecting to wake up beside Charles.

His hand lightly rests against my rib cage, the heat of his touch searing my skin through the silk.

His eyes meet mine, and my breath is almost in my throat when his thumb starts its journey upward.

I don’t think I’m even breathing until his digit touches my nipple, a part peeking out, a part still hiding beneath the frill of my top’s neckline. That’s my undoing. I moan shamelessly.

“Fuck.” Charles’ curse echoes in the room.

I don’t remember if I’ve ever been touched this way, where the other person is in no hurry. Jax’s definition of foreplay was to kiss me for two seconds, and we were done with everything in the next sixty. But this is magic.

My nipple is so hard, it could be used to cut diamonds when Charles finally moves his thumb away.

“Do you know how beautiful you look right now?”

“Charles,” I whisper, trying to free my feet still captive between his muscular thighs.

I need movement. I need friction.

But he doesn’t budge. If anything, his grip on me tightens.

“I—I need…please let me go.”

“Never.” He grins and his thumb returns again.

How the heck is this simple graze turning me on so freaking much?

When Charles chuckles I realize I’ve said it out loud.

“For the first time, I’m grateful you don’t think before speaking.”

My eyes open, and even though I’m still a hot mess of hormones needing release, I can’t help my smile.

“I told you someday you’d see the benefit.”

“I definitely do now.” He smiles back before letting me go and tucking me into the covers like a burrito.

“Um, why do I look like a mummy?”

“Because I can’t think straight when you’re lying down before me looking so pretty and so mine and so fucking turned on.”