Page 25 of The Bonus

“It’s nice,” I lie through gritted teeth. It’s not nice, it’s fucking fabulous, but I’m not giving him the satisfaction of gushing over it.

His dark eyes hold mine.

“Don’t look at me like that.” I drop my shoulders to try to look tough and in control.

“Like what?” Before I can answer the question, he cuts me off. “Like I want to taste every inch of your skin?”

I feel myself melt into a puddle. Don’t start talking dirty, I won’t stand a chance.

“Yes.”

“But I do, Gracie. I cannot hide it. I won’t even try to. I haven’t even touched the surface with the things I want to do to you.”

Arousal begins to steal my brain. “You shouldn’t be such an asshole, then,” I whisper. That didn’t sound convincing, even to me.

“Do you know me at all?” He smiles as he lifts my hand to his lips and kisses my fingertips. The hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention.

Oh…

I watch him softly kiss my hand. “That’s the problem, I do,” I whisper, distracted.

He’s just so…

“I’m not your plaything, Gabriel,” I say as I pull my hand from his grip.

“But I am your toy to play with.” He smirks. “Only too happy to donate my body to science.”

“You think I’m a science experiment?” I squeak.

He tips his head back and laughs out loud, and I bite my bottom lip to stop myself from smiling too.

“Would you like a drink?” he asks.

“That depends.”

“On what?”

“On whether I’m getting an apology for your assholeness or not.”

His eyes dance with delight, and I get the feeling that it is me who is the toy. “Gracie.” He takes me into his arms and drops his lips to my neck. “I am sorry for acting like myself at the office.” He bites me, and goose bumps scatter up my arms. “I should have acted like someone else.” He teases me as he bites me again. “Because the very least you deserve is for me to act like I want the entire office to know my business.”

He bites me again, and my body melts against his as I grab his hair.

Okay, what the hell is this?

He’s taunting me while not apologizing and my body is lapping it up.

Asshole.

I take a step back from him. “I’d like that drink now, please.”

“Of course.” He licks his lips as his eyes hold mine and the darkness behind them sends a shiver down my spine.

I get the feeling that I’m going to get it.

Hard.

He walks into another room off the living room and down a corridor and I tentatively follow.

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