She continued to back away from him until her calves hit the couch, causing her to lose her balance and fall.
James loomed over her on the couch, and Kristie’s body stiffened in response. She stammered, “Get back. Don’t come near me…”
In response, he tucked her loose hair behind her ear and brought his lips closer to her face.
“You’re taking advantage of me again.” Kristie pressed her palms on his chest to keep him away. Her eyes reddened with tears as she pleaded between sobs, “Don’t force me to do this. I have a boyfriend. I don’t want to cheat on him.”
Her words drew a chuckle from James, who teased, “Don’t worry your pretty head about it. You won’t be a cheater as long as he doesn’t know about this. I can keep a secret.”
“You’re too much!”
The rest of Kristie’s protests were swallowed by James’ passionate kisses.
She breathed in his familiar scent and eventually gave in to pleasure.
Kristie hooked her legs around his waist to bring herself closer to him.
The couch proved too squeezy for both of them, and James stopped himself from taking things too far. Instead, he carried Kristie to the bedroom.
Kristie looked at him through half-lidded eyes. She simply could not tear her gaze away from his perfect abs as he took off his clothes. Her hands moved toward his torso, unbidden.
The feel of his rock-hard muscles drew an amazed gasp from Kristie. “I didn’t know you hid such a hot body under those clothes!”
James leaned over her and whispered in her ear, “It’s all yours.”
His flirtatious words brought a furious blush to Kristie’s face.
She buried her head in his chest and reveled in the warmth of his body. Still, once she closed her eyes, traumatic memories of her helpless shrieks suddenly filled her mind. Her body began shuddering uncontrollably.
“No, no…” She curled into herself and flailed around, screaming, “Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me!”
Amid her struggles, James took two scratches to his body, both deep enough to draw blood.
That did not deter James, who merely clasped Kristie’s wrist and coaxed tenderly, “Kristie, open your eyes. It’s me. Don’t be scared. There, there. Look at me.”
Kristie kept her eyes closed and sobbed. She struggled against his hold and wailed, “Don’t touch me… don’t touch me…”
Her anguished cries broke James’ heart. He could only comfort her and attempt to distract her with gentle kisses. He hoped she could think of herself instead of her memories.
James cupped her face and kissed her deeply.
When he sensed that Kristie was about to gasp for air, he let go and intertwined his fingers with hers. At the same time, he pressed more of his weight into her body.
Kristie furrowed her brows in confusion and slowly opened her eyes.
“It’s me. Don’t be scared.” James kissed her cheek and said, “I’ve always been here.”
Some light returned to Kristie’s eyes.
She gazed at him and abruptly sat up, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. She was still shaking as she leaned into his embrace and croaked, “Hug me tightly. Don’t let go.”
James tightened his arms around her and stroked her long, black hair. “Okay, I will.”
Meanwhile, Curtis had rushed back from Jadeborough.
He immediately spied a familiar Maybach parked outside the airport, against which a tall, equally familiar figure leaned.
Curtis squinted in concentration before approaching the vehicle. “Why are you here?”
“Can’t you tell, Mr. Faymon?” As he spoke, Jefferson pushed himself away from the Maybach and adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses. He exuded elegance by the boatloads.
Curtis looked up at the clear, blue sky and muttered, “Hmm, it doesn’t seem as if it’ll rain anytime soon.”
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