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

He opens it once he pulls the pants on and stops to talk to whoever is on the outside, keeping it closed enough to conceal the bedroom, conceal me in stages of undress. I can only hear mumbles. I wait with my towel around me, unsure if I should dress, unsure if he’ll come back to what we were doing. My body feels like liquid, I’m sure if I look in the mirror I’ll be glowing and flushed and showing signs of having been ravaged. I’m breathless as hell and overheated.

He laughs, and it catches my attention. I love his laugh, it’s so deep and carefree and male, yet there’s a hint of boyishness to his normally husky tone when he laughs. I could close my eyes and listen to it forever.

He shuts the door and turns around to see where I’ve gone, his gaze returning to lust when he catches me still draped in my skimpy covering. I’m surveying my clothes in the open cupboard in a bid to decide if I’m to get dressed or get back on the bed. He inhales deeply as though trying to calm his inner libido with a hint of disappointment on his face.

“We need to continue this later … I forgot Daniel was here.” He grins, and I flush with embarrassment.

Oh, my god, how loud was I? Did he hear that?

I’m beyond mortified.

“He’s coming to LA with me, bella … Seeing as you won’t.” He throws me a wary look but I only nod. Trying to ignore that remark. I don’t like Daniel much right now, I don’t like his influence over Jake, well the influence he had in the past, before us, and I don’t like the fact he’s just royally hurt my friend. We still have to talk about that.

I need to show Jake that I’m capable of trusting him; up until now it’s been easy, we’ve been together every second, there hasn’t been a need to test the limits of my trust. Going to LA with Daniel is going to be a test and it terrifies me. I don’t want my inner doubts and anxiety to affect my relationship with him, my mind acting as my own worst enemy and obsessing over the man-whore he used to be, especially when he’s going to see her.

“When will you get back?” I ask, trying to steer the conversation to neutral territory, to avoid any subject that may let jealous Emma rear her head and show her full ugliness.

time we ever went to his father’s boat as friends. “Here … I like this on you.” He hands it to me and kisses me on the cheek with a look that says ‘please’. He knows better than to make demands on my choices, but I don’t mind a

come in and hose us down if we keep at it. What can I say? He’s a little jealous that you get to have all of this.” He gestures down his naked torso with a wink and I just roll my eyes in response. He bends down, fishing out the silver

to remember every detail

gray cardigan for over the top of the dress, it’s short and fitted and feels like cashmere; another Donna Moore purchase on Jake’s expense account, his personal shopper for all things Emma-related, it seems.

seen before, with racing logo badges on one sleeve and a pair of black laced boots. I love him as sexy casual Carrero more than I like him in suits, it goes more with his bad boy look and youth, makes him less intimidating and more approachable. He walks off with his clothes into the bathroom leaving the door open and the buzz of his shaver goes on. He never fully shaves, just keeps his stubble trimmed for that sexy, designer look. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him without a five o’clock shadow since the day I met him. Margo, my old mentor and now his

brushing out my damp hair and blow drying it fast, the one good thing about my shorter wavy hair is it requires no maintenance, it styles itself. I throw on the most basic of make-up and a spritz of perfume and am ready by

takes my hand and brings it to his mouth, gently kissing my knuckles in a very gentlemanly fashion. “Have you got everything?” His eyes focus on mine, today they look hazy, softer green with hints of silver flecks, relaxed and happy.

in practically identical attire to Jake. Either it’s this season’s hot look or we have a little

rich New York penthousers, he chose and designed everything in here. From paint colors to furniture and he keeps the place pretty neat, despite having a housekeeper that I rarely see. It annoys him that when Daniel comes over, he treats it like a hotel, leaving stuff around, putting his shoes on

Jake still has my hand, pulling me with him as he leads the way to the door; I

me, be with me in so many ways. I’ve learned that he’s the exception. Men still make me cringe; I recoil at the touch of a strange man and my skin crawls

teetering into another room further down, she has a hoover in hand,

close he’s almost spooning me from behind. His phone in hand, he’s focused on the screen and walking

the shoulder playfully, knocking him backward and pulls me to his other