Page 45 of Peyton's Price

Matthias paused. “Did you get a massage from Ha-eun?”

Peyton gaped. “Youknow?”

“That she has a habit of tweaking certain portions of the female anatomy? I heard a rumor about it, but it’s been years since anyone has mentioned it. I thought she had stopped.”

“Well, well…” Ha-eun had struck her as proper and self-effacing, but what did Peyton know? She’d just met the woman. Then she wrinkled her nose, scowling at him. “Is she perhaps in the habit of givingyoua special massage? The kind that end ever so happily?”

“No,” he said, laughing.

“And I’m supposed to believe you why?” she asked, the corner of her mouth turned up.

Matthias put his hands in his pockets. “Well, for one, because I don’t mess around with my staff. And two, I have someone for that now.”

He pulled her close, pressing her almost-naked body against his tall hard form. He pressed a hot kiss to her lips, but he raised his head too quickly.

“Oh?” She couldn’t suppress her sarcasm. “Then why am I still a virgin?”

Peyton had been on theOrmen Langefor days, but aside from a few toe-curling kisses, Matthias hadn’t touched her. Well, he hadn’t touched her enough.

“Because I meant what I said that first night. You’re special. I want to take things slow, to establish a foundation before we get intimate.”

She sighed, disappointed, but she knew he was right. Matthias was a wonderful man, but she didn’t know him well. Waiting was the best course of action, especially if she wanted a lasting relationship. It was an exceptionally good sign that he seemed to want one, too.

“Well, don’t expect me to be satisfied with some cheap thrills on a massage table. I don’t expect you to go all the way, but you can at least put out, mister,” she teased, pressing a little closer.

He didn’t laugh. Instead, he drew his head back. “Ha-eun didn’t make you uncomfortable, did she?”

She laughed. “No, but you may want to warn your guests before she gets them on the table.”

He shrugged. “I would only have to warn the women. And not all of them. She only does it to the most beautiful ones.”

“She’s gay?”

“I don’t know. I never asked.” He looked down, his eyes drawn to the cleavage exposed by the thin sheet. “I am sorry if she upset you, although I can’t say I blame her.”

Shifting to hold the sheet up with one hand, she reached up to touch his cheek. “I’m not upset. In fact, it was a little…titillating”

Surprise flitted across his features. Matthias grinned, a hot and deeply sex smile. He leaned down, a wicked glint in his eye. “Well, well, Miss Carson. I find that remarkably interesting news indeed.”

She poked him. “I said titillating, not arousing. Not enough for a repeat performance. So don’t get any ideas about a threesome.”

This time, it was disappointment that settled on his face. “Well, that nixes my big idea. I guess I can forget the speech I prepared.”

“W-what?” Peyton stuttered.

Sighing, Matthias gestured to the bed. “Sit.”

Wide-eyed, she hauled up the ends of the sheet, making sure it didn’t drag on the floor as she crossed the room and perched at the edge of the massive bed.

He rubbed his chin, studying her for a long moment without saying anything. The silence stretched so long Peyton hunched her shoulders, feeling downcast. “This is where you tell me you don’t want me after all and offer to send me home, right?”

“I’m not sending you anywhere,” he said.

“But you want a threesome because I’m apparently not enough for you…” Peyton stared at her hands.

“Youareenough. And I’d be happy in an exclusive relationship. For a while…anyway. But I know myself. Eventually, I’d want more.”

Peyton wanted to crawl into a hole. “So you’re ending this before it even starts?”

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