Page 57 of Red

“You decide what you want and let me know.” Erik’s phone dinged. “Where’s Melinda now?”

“Last I saw, in the kitchen.”

“I’m going to go talk with her. I’m taking her to Tower tonight for my meeting with Peter. So, you don’t have to play bodyguard tonight.” Erik brushed past him and opened the door to the office.

Melinda tumbled forward, crashing straight into his chest.

Chapter 20

The glint in Erik’s eye softened Melinda’s apprehension. He wasn’t angry with her, but she could feel the tension in him.

His conversation with Nico had left him stressed. But he wasn’t going to admit it with words. She straightened, unsure of what he would do, but positive she would enjoy it.

“You were eavesdropping,” he said in a low, calculated voice when she got closer to him.

“I was…” No sense in denying it. “Yes. I was. What are you two arguing about?”

“Business opportunities.” He surprised her by being open and not dodging the question.

“Business?” she asked, leaning to see Nico staring at her with a half-cocked grin.

“Yes.” He trailed a fingertip down the length of her nose. “But I don’t want to talk about that right now.”

She licked her lips. “What do you want to do, then?”

His eyes narrowed, exaggerating the little wrinkles around them. “Short answer—you.”

He cupped her elbow and led her away from his office and upstairs.

She thought about her afternoon. All the questions she wanted answers for, and all the worry that would probably bubble up if she found out the truth. There weren’t many situations in her life that left her on edge, but that short conversation with Mr. Bertucci had flipped a switch in her. Her skin felt electrified, like she would burst at the least trigger.

She could spend the rest of the day worrying about her future, about the new danger lurking around every damn corner, or she could follow Erik’s lead. His plan held more appeal. She could worry and plot later. Right now, she needed him.

He stopped outside their bedroom.

“In there?” She could see the frustration in his eyes, the exhaustion from the world resting on his shoulders. Getting his inheritance didn’t alleviate his burdens, but she wasn’t entirely clued in to what they were. She knew enough to know he’d be weighed down with them if he didn’t let off some of the pressure.

“Yes. Take off your clothes.” He stepped in front of the door, blocking her passage.

She cast a worried glance down the hallway.

“Out here?”

He nodded. “Absolutely.”

His lips spread into a wide, suggestive grin. The man was impossible. He enjoyed her discomfort.

“You should hurry. If anyone comes along and sees you, I’ll have to punish you for exposing yourself.”

“And I’m already in trouble?” she asked, hands slipping to the hem on her sweater.

He nodded with raised eyebrows. “The worst kind.” The heavy arousal weighing down his words contradicted the glare he gave her. She had no doubt she was in trouble, but it wasn’t the idea of a spanking sending her a tremor of fear up her spine. She was in jeopardy of losing herself to him, to whatever was going to happen in that room.

She pulled her sweater off and quickly shoved her jeans down her legs. Her bra and panties were next, and she bundled everything up and held it out in front of her. She needed work on the art of seduction, but, at the moment, she only thought about getting her naked self inside the room.

Marianne could be coming up to clean at any moment.

Erik stood to the side, letting her pass. Quickly, she stepped inside.

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