Page 47 of Crush

“Believe me, what goes on between my sheets is way too racy for kids.”

Amber’s expression turned into pure ice., “I’m surprised there is room for anyone else in there with the size of your ego.”

I carried on down the cocky route. Shit, it was out there now, on the table. What she did with it, only time would tell. “As I alluded to before. It isn’t the size of my ego you need to worry about.” What had started as a joke backfired.The more I thought about it, the more Iwantedit. I glanced briefly over at Jonathan. Could Ihave sex with his daughter and then walk away? Probably not.

As I viewed Amber’s stiff body and her snooty look of disgust, I’d say it wasn’t on the cards anyway. I only had myself to blame for that.

Still, I powered on, “Well, what do you say? I’m bossy in the bedroom, but I knowexactlyhow a woman likes it. Especially when she’s as uptight as fuck,” I said rubbing my bottom lip with my thumb thoughtfully. The way her mouth had felt against mine flashed into my head.

Amber pushed to her feet as her eyes lasered through me. She wasn’t impressed. “I’ll pass thank you.”

“Your loss.”

“I doubt that. You’re nothing but a crude, classless pig,” she snapped, staring down at me.

I uncurled my frame from the chair and towered over her with only the small table keeping us apart. “Hey, don’t start with the name-calling. Webothknow I’ve got the edge on you inthatdepartment,” I needled. I was part joking as I’d enjoyed our sparring but her Ladyship wasn’t amused.

Amber’s shoulders stiffened as she muttered, “Excuse me but I have other guests to see to.” And there was no other way to describe it, the womanstroppedoff, wobbling slightly against the stone on the stilts she was wearing.

“Amber, I’mplaying—for fucks sake, I can’t say anything right,” I said the latter part to myself.

I moved to go after her but a man and woman got in my way as they crossed towards the bar before me.

Shit.

I stopped, holding up my arms in front of me. What the hell? We’d been getting on fine and now she was angry with me again. That bothered me morethan I could put into words. I clenched my teeth so hard I was surprised they didn’t crack.

What did you expect when you spoke to her like a dirty old pervert?

Amber sailed over to the guy she had spoken to earlier and his tanked-up buddies.

The sound of my dickheadedness rattled around in my brain. Why did I behave like such a prick in her presence?

You bait her on purpose to get a reaction; fighting with her is better than being ignored.

Even standing still before the group of blokes all looking at their host’s daughter like she was their next meal, Amber wobbled. Those stupid bloody shoes. I scrubbed a hand down my face before reaching into my tux for my pack of smokes.

“Bet you a tenner she faceplants on the way back up those steps,” Mia said as she came to stand beside me, watching where I was looking. I withdrew my hand, if Amber saw me smoking, even in her garden, I’d be even further up her shit list.

Maybe I should get wankered instead of smoking? Frustrationpoweredthrough me.

Luca appeared by Mia’s shoulder, “Well, that went well,” he snarked. “What was your mission tonight, not to piss Amber off? I’d say you failed to sidestep that landmine, buddy.” The sarky bastard.

“Bite me,” I replied under my breath. I wasn’t in the mood for the shithead's sense of humour. “You need a few lessons on how to romance a woman.”

“From you?”

“Yeah, if you like,” Luca offered proudly.

I snorted, “Didn’t you buy your last girlfriend an edible thong for her birthday?”

“Ah, you know about that?” he said sheepishly.

“Everyoneknows about that Luca,” I replied, throwing Mia a wink. My friend had the sense to look embarrassed.

“Anyway, what did you say to her?” he asked, swiftly changing the subject.

“She did look pissed,” Mia added with a flick of her head towards her friend.

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