Free Insatiable by Adriana Hunter

give her presentation over lunch, then so be it.
    It didn’t take long before they were pulling into the restaurant’s parking area. With a deep breath, she stepped out of the car, and was met at the entrance by the headwaiter, who quickly led her to her table. She had a confident smile on her face, her hand gripping tighter on her case as she prepared herself for what lay ahead. As she reached the table, a devastatingly familiar figure rose and it took her breath away.
    “Jonas,” she gasped, standing stock still as her eyes locked onto his. “What’s going on?” And then realization dawned, making her jaw clench. “Don’t tell me…you’re the Bretton Group.”
    “I bought it,” he replied. “Please, sit down. I want you to at least hear me out.”
    “I don’t think there’s any sense in that, do you?” she asked with dripping sarcasm. “Because the last time that I listened to you…”
    “Ava, please.” He held her gaze with compelling warmth. “I promise, this time, no games. I just want to talk.”
    Reluctantly, she sank into a chair and watched him signal for the waiter.
    “Jonas, I really don’t think there’s anything that you could say…”
    “I’ll make it quick,” he replied, holding up his hands. “I just want to help you, Ava. You sent back the agreement in shreds. I felt like I still had a promise to fulfill—”
    “Well, you don’t,” she gritted out. “Damn you, Jonas. Jeffrey was right; dignity is far more important. If you think I need your pity or charity…”
    “Not pity, Ava, and certainly not charity,” he said his tone suddenly dropping. “You came here to make a presentation; Bretton was already interested in taking up your portfolio. So you’ll be doing the same thing—getting the financial help you need, working to get back on track—the only difference is, you’ll be doing it with me.”
    She glared at him, furious. “Now, why the hell would I want to do that?”
    “Because I’m the best at what I do and you know it. And because in less than six months, you’ll be able to legitimately take back control of your company.”
    “I feel like I’m having a bad case of déjà vu,” she said mockingly, her head on one side. “You offer to help me, and so now I must ask what it is that you want in return. What’s the catch, Jonas?” His eyes held no expression, his face rigid, immovable stone, yet his gaze was intense, focused only on her.
    “I told you, Ava—no games. I just…I’m thinking this may be my chance to make it up to you.”
    “Make it up to me?” she croaked, thrown by the sudden vulnerability that flashed across his face. She felt her heart ache, suddenly lost in the memories that appeared from the shadows of her mind.
    “Yes,” he replied, the glint in his eyes betraying the raw, vulnerable emotion that burned inside. He reached out to cover her hand with his own. Just a slight touch from him, and Ava was instantly brought back to the nights they’d spent together. She thought she was over that, had been so sure she’d put it all behind her. But then she’d walked in and seen him—as devastatingly gorgeous as ever—and with one touch he sent that familiar shiver down her spine. Refusing to let go, his fingers tightened on hers and she was forced to look up into his stormy, dark eyes. And there was no looking away.
    “I messed things up, Ava,” he continued, voice low. “I know that now. I was so used to getting whatever I wanted that when I finally found something worth having, I let ego…pride…I let it all get it in the way.”
    “I don’t understand,” she heard herself say, and she didn’t. She refused to allow herself even a moment to believe that Jonas Marks wanted her this much. What if she was wrong? She couldn’t survive that heartbreak again.
    “It took just one night with you, and I knew I’d never be the same. I knew that I wouldn’t be satisfied with just one week, that I would want far, far more.” His