Page 44 of Dirty Seduction

Heat hits her cheeks and I clench my teeth.

“No. Not right now,” she replies, then turns to me. “What about you? No boyfriend? Or, if you do, that’s fine too.”

I lift my brow.

“No boyfriend. No girlfriend. I don’t date,” I add and again, why the fuck did I say that?

“At all?” Payton asks, surprised.

I shake my head.

“Is that why you invited me tonight?”

“I asked you to attend the event not as a date, Payton, but so you could learn more about the industry. This launch is important,” I growl.

When her face falls, I want to punch myself. I turn away and toss back a big gulp of whisky.

“Sorry. I wasn’t implying this was a date. Obviously not,” she says, and I swivel back around. “I was just surprised you asked me, Mr. Montgomery.”

Her big green eyes hold mine and she looks stricken. Damn it. I want to hear her scream my name, not groan my family name because I’ve offended her.

I rub my forehead.

“Fuck. Let’s start again,” I say. “Please call me Knox.”

“Okay, Knox. Now, please tell me what is expected of me tonight, so I don’t mess this up even more.”

Christ.

I draw air through my nostrils, wondering if Payton realizes how insanely turned on I am by her submissive question.

If she glances at my groin, she’ll find out.

WHEN WE ARRIVE at the event, I step out of the limo and hold my hand out to Payton because I’m a gentleman.

Outside the bedroom.

She takes it and at her touch, a bolt of fire shoots right down my spine. I swear I feel it in my balls.

God damn, it’s like I’m thirteen again and can’t control my hormones.

As she straightens, her eyes lift to mine and there’s a spark of acknowledgement until we both glance away.

Shit.

This was not my plan at all. I underestimated the attraction between us.

By a fucking lot.

“Follow my lead,” I say, placing a hand on the small of her back—because I’m a slow learner - and we walk along the red carpet, up the steps and inside the venue.

I feel Payton tremble as the doors are opened for us and the music, scents, and insane wealth of the event hit us. I don’t know if it’s from excitement or arousal, but I want to know.

Need to know.

Instinctually, I press my hand firmer against the bare skin on her back and she interprets it as a request to keep walking rather than a man wanting her to turn her body to his and lift on her toes to kiss him.

To feel my growing erection against her dress.

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