Page 20 of King of Temptation

“We shouldn’t have…” she whispers but she’s arching her neck to give me more access. “I’m not that girl.”

A frown pulls at my mouth. I’ve got a few choices here. I want Kim in my bed on the regular until all my plans have come to fruition. I know that much.

Normal me would go firing off and insist we go out, but I can sense that’s not the way I get Kim, and besides, I’m trying for self-improvement, even if I’m failing.

Some deep part of me is surprised I’m softening for her. It’s not like me…

Then again, enough dancers have passed through my doors for me to know, no other woman is going to scratch the itch I’ve been working up. And Kim needs a bit of gentle convincing. Just like last time.

“Which girl are you?” I murmur into her skin.

“I’m the girl who breaks the mold. Who does more than anyone expected.”

Ah. She’s that girl. “I think you’re spectacular.”

She shakes her head. “You think what every guy thinks about me.”

“Oh yeah, what’s that?”

“I get that you’ve got a better reason to think it than most.”

Now we’re getting somewhere, but I’m not sure I like it. “What do I think?”

“That I’m the trashy slut who just sleeps with a guy on the veranda at a wedding.” I hear the tremor and I know we’re getting to the heart of it.

“We did not do any sleeping.” She shivers, her shoulders curling in and closing my access to her neck. I don’t like it. “I think you’re the woman that I can’t stop thinking about,” I answer because I’ve closed my fair share of deals, and all girls want to be told they’re special. Though, Kim actually is.

She shakes her head. “I didn’t get the job in New York.” Her voice trembles and I can hear how upset she is.

My stomach bottoms out in guilt. “I heard.”

“And I failed my class.”

“I heard that too.”

Her arms are wrapping around me like she’s been drowning and I’ve come to rescue her. For whatever reason, that doesn’t annoy me. In fact, I hold her tighter. Fuck. I’m such an asshole. “My scholarship has run out and I have to pay to retake the class out of pocket and…”

She’s close to tears. I know she was just talking to her mom, but my guess is mom either doesn’t know or can’t pay. “You need money.”

She jerks back. “I’m not asking you?—”

“I need a dancer,” I say levelly. I’m not promising Kim to be her doting boyfriend. I don’t think she’d take the offer if I did.

But five minutes with her and she’s been against my body, in my lap. If I get her in my club every day, I’m sure I can get her back in my bed.

Kim still wants me, it’s completely clear.

Even now, I skate my hand up her ribs, my thumb settling just under her tit and her nipple puckers, pointing out through the tank top.

I want to bend down and suck her into my mouth so badly, my cock is at full attention in my jeans.

She looks at me, her gaze level with mine and she nips at her lip like she can’t decide. “I don’t do gigs like that.”

I study her for a second, ticking back through several of the things she shared. I’m one of two guys she’s slept with.

There’s a mom, no mention of a dad, and no money.

She said I thought about her what all guys think…

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