The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO) novel Chapter 308

“She has bad taste in men?” He got up silently and moved toward her, aching to soothe her while she talked about this stuff, just wanting to be there for her. Despite everything, all Jake ever wanted was to help her and learn more about what made her tick. She walked further off, putting the distance back between them a little as though she had sensed him getting closer, always holding him at bay.

“That’s an understatement,” she snapped angrily.

“They hurt you?” He had moved faster, got to right beside her before he had spoken again. Instinctively reaching out to her like he always did when she was close, the smell of her shampoo in the fresh air luring him against her, his fingers moving into her hair near her ear. Flexing his fingers into her scalp, causing her to lean into his touch, with a sigh and dampening over his mood like a balm. Touching her always brought him calmness, even when the topic was hard to digest. She leaned into him and he was lost to her almost instantly. His other hand sliding over her shoulder on the other side and sliding down her arm a little. Savoring the softness of her creamy skin with little resistance.

She always feels so fucking good.

Leaning in close to the back of her head, breathing slowly and placing his mouth on the back of her hair, inhaling her, and curbing the urge to kiss her pain away.

“Some … Some just wanted to …” Her voice weakened as she swallowed hard. His hand left her arm, snaked around her waist, and pulled her into his body smoothly. His mouth moving to her neck gently and pulling her tight and close to him to be the strength she needed.

“She didn’t protect you,” he whispered against her collar bone, the soft delicate smell of her skin bringing him a sense of completeness, the gentle soft curves of her body making the pain in his chest fade a little and he just held her, wanting to always keep her safe. He could stay this way forever.

“She did what she could,” she mumbled, softly allowing her body to meet his, having a little too much of an effect on his ability to think clearly and instinct at being joined with her was taking control. He couldn’t stop his nose skimming her shoulder and neck, the hand that was in her hair trailing down her naked arm and wrist and back up. He couldn’t deny that no matter what he would always want her this way, always want to touch her and devour every inch of her. Even while trying to give her solace about that bitch mother of hers a part of him wanted to turn her in his arms and just kiss the pain away, lose himself in that mouth and against that honey-sweet tongue.

“She didn’t stop bringing men around her child, miele.” His voice was hoarse with a mix of emotion and lust, and he felt her tense again, this time he knew it was at his words not his actions, his mind coming back to what he said and honing in on a tiny glimpse of Emma’s past.

“Why did you leave Chicago … Leave her?” His hands were still trailing down her arms and up again, but his focus was fully on her words now, the thought that his Emma had run from home to find safety in New York of all places. The thought of the girl he knew running scared from anything made him feel sick to his stomach.

“I needed to walk away from all of it … I needed to save myself because no one else was going to.” Her voice broke a little, and he knew without turning her there were more tears and it tore him open to the bone.

“I think you need to talk to someone about all of this, Emma … a counselor … I could …”

She jerked away instantly, spinning to glare at him angrily. All moods snapped closed with simple words, and suddenly she was fire and anger and squaring up to him like he was the enemy.

“Not a goddamn chance,” she spat, all venom and pain in her face. “I’m not fucking crazy!”