The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO) novel Chapter 298

Going back to the boat Jake had been disappointed to find the entire party followed them, so they had no time alone. The boat ride back had been eye-opening though, with Emma standing between his legs as he had perched on the edge of the side and her arms around his neck. She had been about an inch from his face the whole time talking about nothing specific, her eyes had kept moving to Jake’s mouth longingly and he had to curb kissing her about a thousand times even though his hands were on her hips and she was pulled practically into his groin.

One little inch forward and a tiny head tilt was all it would have taken, she was already mirroring his pose and screaming “kiss me”. He didn’t know if she had any idea what signals she was giving him right now or if she was subtly telling him to go for it, she was obviously drunk and feeling more carefree and it just confused him as to what to do. She was giggling enough, touching him enough, and if she had been any other girl, he would have high-fived himself as all the cues were there that he had scored. But this was her, and she was innocent in all ways sexual, she trusted him, and he didn’t want to kiss her in front of these people, anyway. If and when he did make a move he wanted it private, so she could relax and decide without pressure if she wanted it. He didn’t want to ruin anything between them and that kiss so long ago in the hotel had made him wary of trying too haphazardly.

On the boat, he had left her to wander the deck with Leila and headed to the lounger, he was going to let her make the moves if that’s what she wanted. Let her relax, let her come to him and play it by ear. It was the only way he could think of playing this where she was concerned and that way he couldn’t screw this all up by assuming it’s what she wanted.

He kicked back and decided to let it go a little, drink more and get as merry as her if he was going to stop overthinking all of this. Maybe that was half his problem, he was trying to stay sober so he wouldn’t make moves on her when he should really be throwing caution to the wind and going with the flow. That’s what she seemed to be doing tonight and watching her dance, drink, and get in the party mood was definitely doing it for him.

“You’re in there, you know?” Daniel slid down on the lounger next to him and smiled his way, waving a bottle toward Emma and Leila on deck. “She’s been giving you the come on since she got to the restaurant, man, what are you waiting for?”

“You don’t know her like I do … She’s nothing like the women we normally chase, Danny, she requires a little gentle handling.” Jake frowned his way and then back at Emma. She was laughing with Leila and falling over one another while trying to change the song on the stereo. He smiled at just how adorable she was.

“Is this what love does to you? Makes you wimp out and over cautious. The normal Jake Carrero would have had that chick naked in less than three minutes, fucked, and back on deck to party within the first couple of hours on this boat. Man, by now you would have fucked her a dozen times in every position and moved onto someone else … You really are pussy whipped.” Daniel slumped back and shook his head at Jake, smirking uncontrollably.

“Shut up … I don’t want to be that guy anymore.” Jake mirrored Daniel’s pose and slid another beer from the table to cradle on his abdomen. Both staring up at the perfect starry sky contemplating things in general.

“No, you don’t want to be that way while your head is all invested in her. If she was out of the picture, you would revert to kind, mate.” Daniel prodded him in the shoulder and he flicked him away.

“Maybe she made me realize that doing all the shit I’ve done in my past isn’t enough, it was fun, but it was never fulfilling enough to make me happy. It’s why I hit it so hard and so constantly … Looking for more and never finding it … Until her.” Jake looked towards his best friend with a sigh. Daniel regarded him coolly.

“Look, she’s obviously hot for you tonight so go for it, do me a favor though. If she doesn’t want more when you’re both sober, Jake, then you need to move on, get back in the saddle and put this shit to bed. Bang her, spend the night making her fantasies come true but know if a line is drawn then all of this stops. You go back to who you were, and you let that chick do her job.” Daniel’s stern tone was not that of a guy being a dick, but a best mate offering wisdom.

Jake had to agree with what he was saying despite it not being what he wanted to hear. Tonight, was the turning point. If he made moves, and she wanted it, then he would go for it, but if she didn’t then he would stop it all. And by all, he meant all of this celibate shit and pining for her and accepting it was never going to happen. None of this was healthy, and he had no more energy for it.

“I should stop! I think I’ve had enough.” He could hear her protesting Leila’s advances with more alcohol. Voices coming their way and Daniel raised an eyebrow at him before sliding off to join the twins dancing badly on deck with Marissa and Miracle.

“Hush now, we’re on vacation … party, party, party!” Leila was loud and obnoxious like her normally drunken ass could be.

“End up comatose or throwing up in my own shoes, you mean?” Emma sighed as he watched her grabbing the rail for support. That perfect little body encased in that short floaty red dress and looking a little too divine.