Jack refused to move, unable to chisel himself further away from Solana. The pads of his fingers were the only part of him he let linger on the soft curve of her jawline.

He craved more. Craved a repeat of what had just happened.

No. A thousand repetitions.

Sure, there were those few precious moments when his mind emptied and he entered the blissful void of nothingness. Was just Jack the man, not Jack the CEO responsible for people's livelihoods or Mr. Blackhorne, the heir expected to maintain a legacy. No, just a man able to enjoy. And savour it he did, experiencing the release he'd waited far too long for after weeks of denial and self-pleasuring. Being with a woman was always better for his high.

Being with this woman was in a different class. Unexpected yet gripping. Sex with Solana was long overdue and maybe that caused the divergence from his usual pattern. He'd spent too much time dreaming up what it would be like with her since that night in the club that he focused on the distinction between his fantasies and reality.

Her reactions to his touch excited him. The way she uttered his name and the small mews of delight she made had him eager to please her, elicit more. He'd wanted her to scream. For him.

When she shattered around him, it was sublimer than taking down his opponent in the boardroom, driving him to hold out as long as possible. For her.

With his heart buzzing in his chest like a hyper-active bumblebee, he analysed Solana's face as she studied the floor. Her lips, swollen from his kisses, called to him. To feed his addiction, he leaned in, but she slid down the mirror, under his outstretched arm and pushed away, leaving only a faint orange spice scent to satisfy him.

His jaw seized as he suppressed a groan. He discarded the condom and tucked himself back into his pants.

"I need to change." Her back was to him and her voice sounded like it was under water.

Jack caught her wrist and drew her to face him. "There's one other dress to try on."

Eyelashes hiding her eyes fluttered. "You still want me to go to the wedding?"

Confusion flickered under his rib cage.

Shit. Had she not wanted to have sex with him?

No. He'd been good. Played by her rules. He didn't play by anyone's rules but his own. But he had for her. Friendship was her call. He didn't force anything.

She kissed him. She tore off his shirt. She put on the condom.

"Of course. That's why we're here." The stiffness in her posture irritated him, her face indecipherable. He didn't want to give her an out, but had to ask. "Are you reconsidering?"

"No." The corner of her mouth twitched. "Wouldn't want you to be dateless. Might ruin your reputation as a lady's man."

Tension he hadn't realized had bunched between his shoulder blades eased. He inched closer, hoping not to scare her away, and tried to match her sarcastic tone. "Reputation is important."

Solana kicked off the stilettos, shrinking in the process. "If you say so. I couldn't care less."

"Lucky you." Jack crossed the floor, opened the door, and grabbed the dress the saleswoman brought. "I thought you might like this."

A chuckle caught in his throat as her face contorted when she took in the outfit. "You've got to be kidding me."

"Me? I never joke."

"That, I don't doubt." She snatched the hanger from his hands. "But all black? Really, Jack."

"I told you it's my brand." Plus, it had other advantages. The short, full skirt would accent Solana's slim waist and shapely legs and give him easy access to her tanned skin as they sat through the boring reception. He'd need something to distract him from the circus this high society event was sure to be. In the public venue, he'd be a target for every want-to-be entrepreneur in need of a cash infusion to start up their new adventure.

Palms on his back, she pushed him out of the room. "Fine. You win."

Had he ever. He bit his lip to crush his grin as he stepped out of her space.

In the empty fitting room, he paced while she changed, pulling on the rhinestone crusted cuffs of the jacket she'd selected. To tell the truth, it wasn't that terrible a pick. In fact, he'd liked the cut and feel of the hot pink pants she'd chosen as well. Not that he would ever wear them outside of this store. The paparazzi would have a field day with those photos. They'd be in circulation for years, dragged out every time a story about him appeared on Page Six. A negative one.

There was always bad press. Despite Wolfe's competence to detect and mitigate ninety-five percent of the disasters headed to the tabloids, the few that ended up in gossip reporters' hands did enough damage. With the last leak, him pulling an attendant at  his country club into a closet had tongues wagging and the company stock dipping. 

"You can come in now." Solana's voice punctuated his thoughts. Eagerly, he swung open the door.

Her back to him, she stood in front of the mirror, the soft folds of the dress swinging around her beautiful legs as she swayed back and forth. The tight top clung to her chest, the bow neckline arcing across to her shoulders and ending there, leaving her slender arms bare.

Standing behind her, he placed his hand on her hip and admired the view. They were opposites, tall and short, domineering and delicate. Hard and soft. His dark hair, hers light. Him evil, her goodness. "We'll be the envy of the event."

She shifted, the stiff tendrils of her cropped hair scratching his shirt. "It's not too plain? I won't look..."

He whispered in her ear. "No one could ever accuse you of being plain."

"But it's a wedding. Everyone will be decked out. I want to fit in."

"You already do." He ran a finger down her arm, relishing in the softness of her exposed skin. Her resulting shudder satisfied an ache in him. "This is the one." With her nod, she inclined her head, baring the long lines of her neck and he took the invitation, planting a light kiss there.

"Jack." Nerves twitched and electricity surged at the sound of his name from her. "How much is it?"

The mention of cost hit him like a bucket of cold water. "Why does it matter?"

She edged out of his grasp. "I need to know."

"You don't." The snarl of his voice made her jerk. He sucked in air and controlled his response. "Let me show you." The pin holding the price tag came off smoothly, and he passed the pale pink rectangle to her.

Her eyes ping-ponged between his reflection and the figure scrawled in black. "That's all?"

"Very affordable."

"Not sure I'd call $300 affordable." She spun around, waving the card. "But it's not outrageous."

"There's nothing wrong with outrageous. You'd deserve outrageous and expensive and extravagant." He hooked his finger under her chin and her hazel gaze found his. "But this is about what is right, not what something costs."

"What's right..." A limited smile graced her mouth and Jack felt like he'd won a prize. "I like that."

He brushed his lips against hers. Because he could. "I like you... in this dress." Would prefer her out of it, though.

"So do I." This time she didn't recede, her fingers finding his. "Thank you."

The gratitude grated against him, and he loosened his hold on her hand. This was why he stood firm his donations with Ethan be anonymous. The gesture didn't sit right on him. He didn't deserve it.

She gripped his fingers tighter. "Jack." It felt like she repeated his name on purpose and he paused, anticipation prickling at the back of his neck. "How do you know so much about women's fashion? Doesn't seem like something a CEO should know."

"Suppose not." No one had ever asked him this. No one had cared. "It started with my ex-wife. She was... is a fashionista. Eventually let me select her clothing. You ladies can get away with wearing almost anything. I got good at finding the perfect outfits."

"I've seen pictures."

He dragged his thumb along the threads at her wrist, enjoying the solid pulse. "Interesting."

She swatted him on the shoulder. "She's stunning."

"If you like that kind of thing."

"You obviously did."

"Yes. There was a time." But not anymore. Now petite blonde's excited him. "Tastes change."

"Highly doubt that."

"Trust me." The yearning for Solana to believe in him bellowed in his brain again. She'd confessed to it moments ago, but that had been in the heat of passion. Lust had laced her answer. Acid ate at his gut, desperate for her to acknowledge it now.

She pinched his hand. "I do."

Warmth flooded from her hand to his, traveled through his veins to the burnt carcass of his heart, threatening to return it to life. "Thank you."

"You're Welcome." She poked him in the chest. "And that's how you accept a compliment."

Hey all, D L here. This chapter was a last minute thing. I had another scene planned but Jack insisted he get to tell his side of the story, his throughs on what just happened between Solana and him. It is his book after all. Or so he keeps reminding me. 

Is this chapter a keeper? yay or nay?

Oh, and there's a little hint on next weeks chapter over on my Pinterest page.