Page 23 of Fifth Avenue Devil

She grits her teeth. "Are you always this pompous and arrogant?"

"Are you always such a whiny little girl?" I fire back, losing my cool. She’s wearing me down and I’m fucking exasperated at this point.

She makes a little hmmmph noise and turns her head back to the window. I'm a little surprised by her tenaciousness; most women that I seduce aren't this fucking stubborn.

"We should get ready for dinner," I announce, standing up.

It's impossible to miss the side eye directed my way. "What getting ready do we have to do?" she asks.

"I'm so glad that you asked. First, I had my personal shopper pull a few outfits for you and I brought them here. So you can pick something different to wear, something that suits you more.” And second, you could stand to be less cranky. Men don't really like cranky women."

She stands, folding her arms over her chest. "Good thing I'm not trying to attract you, you complete asshole."

I may have crossed a line there. Sensing that I'm not going to say anything that will make it better, I head to the door. "The butler will bring you clothes to change into presently. I'm going to talk to the steward and make sure everything is ready. I'll see you in half an hour in the dining room."

As I'm leaving, Annalise calls over my shoulder. "And where is that?"

“Just ask the butler. He’ll take you.”

I head to my suite, where I change into a fresh pair of dark slacks and a white button-up I wear with the top three buttons undone. Then I go talk to the steward, who is frantically trying to oversee all the preparations that I have requested for tonight.

See, tonight is going to be perfect. I'm going to wine and dine Annalise, and really practice my seductive charms. By the end of the night, she will be putty in my hands.

And then I'll get exactly what I want: another notch to carve into my bedpost and eventually, Gellar Industries as a small part of ViaLife.

Nine

Nate

Ihead up to the dining room when it's time. There are two dining rooms on this boat actually, but this one is smaller and more intimate. The room is draped in dusky velvet, adorned with bright platinum candelabras. There is only enough seating at the big teak table for six. A few feet away from the table are double glass sliding doors. They’ve been thrown wide to let in the warm, salty sea air as the sun sets.

I step outside and look down onto the bottom deck. The pool glints where the sun catches it. Just beyond that, there is nothing but endless wild waves of the dark ocean waters.

"Nate?"

Annalise's voice is soft when she calls to me. I turn and find her standing just inside the doors, much closer than I thought. She tugs at the hem of her short white dress. The dress shows off quite a bit of leg and the neckline is low cut. My eyebrows rise and for a second, I'm speechless.

Annalise Gellar is gorgeous. The gentle swell of her tits. The sweetheart shape of her face. Those huge bright green eyes. The powerhouse of those long legs of hers in strappy sandals.

"You look incredible," I finally say.

Annalise blushes and brushes her hair behind her ear. "Thanks. I have to ask... how did you know my size? I'm a petite girl. No one ever gets my size right."

I shrug a shoulder, sauntering over to her. "Part of my charm."

She rolls her eyes, but I'm sure that I see a dimple flash in her cheek. I take her by the hand and lead her to the table, which is full set for two people. I pull out her chair. She eyes me as she sits down.

Is that distrust I see? Or curiosity?

I sit down and my butler pops his head in. Seeing that we are ready, he starts bringing in the first dish, caviar on a tiny portion of truffle custard. The steward fills our wine glasses with a fruity red. She purses her lips the whole time she's being served, seeming not to relax until we are alone again.

I raise my wine glass, offering her a toast. "Cheers to our embarkment."

She frowns but clinks her glass against mine and then takes the tiniest sip of the red wine. Her eyebrows knit and she looks at the glass as though it’s surprised her. "This wine isn't horrible."

"I should hope not. It's eight thousand dollars per bottle."

She sighs and rolls her eyes for a second. "Got it."

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