Page 13 of Playing By His Rules

Madison’s jaw dropped in shock. She tried to think back on their conversation, wondering if she’d misunderstood his intentions or if they’d had a miscommunication somewhere along the lines about paid sexnotbeing on the menu with her.

“Wait,” she said quickly before Rebecca could process the exorbitant amount for a night with an escort. She glanced up at Rick, who appeared surprised by her interruption. “I thought you understood that I’m not sleeping with you.”

The corner of his mouth quirked with a smile. “I’m not paying you to have sex with me. I thought I’d already made it clear back in the club that I want the entire night of yourcompany. Until morning. There are no expectations of us having sex, and I’m not going to make you do anything you don’t want to,” he said, the look in his eyes genuine. “I’m just enjoying being with you. It’s been a while since I’ve had this kind of connection with a woman and honestly, it’s . . . nice.”

She related to the sentiment, because she felt the same way with him, comfortable and relaxed, like they’d known each other for months instead of having just met. However, knowing the cost of a night with an escort, with or without sex involved, it felt as though he was getting the short end of the stick. “That’s a lot of money.”

He shrugged, seemingly unconcerned. “Money isn’t an issue.”

Tammy had told her that the men who were members of The Penthouse were ridiculously wealthy, and that had to have been true of Rick, as well, if he was willing to pay out five grand—half of which Madison earned as her commission—without flinching. “I, uh, I’m not sure what to say.”

Rebecca, who’d been watching the exchange with amusement, finally spoke. “Good Lord, Madison, sayyesto the man. Offers like his are rare in this business.”

Uncaring that they had an audience, Rick reached out and touched his fingers to Madison’s chin, then tipped her head back so she was forced to look into his endless green eyes.

“Do you trust me and what I just said?” he asked her.

How insane was it that she had no doubts or misgivings when it came to this man’s integrity? “Actually, I do.”

The smile that curved his lips was sexy as sin. “Then listen to Rebecca and sayyes.”

“Okay.” She exhaled a breath. “Then yes, I’ll spend the night with you.Talking,” she added.

He arched a brow, and his gaze suddenly dropped to her mouth, a playfully wicked glimmer in his eyes. “And one kiss,” he bargained, his voice taking on husky undertones that did arousing things to her body—like make her nipples pucker against the front of her thin dress and created a needy ache between her thighs.

“That’s quite a deal, Madison,” Rebecca said, light laughter in her tone.

A guaranteed twenty-five hundred in her account, and she could handle a smooch with one of the hottest, sexiest men she’d ever met, with his full lips and the promise of pleasure in his eyes. Truthfully, feeling his mouth against hers wouldn’t be a hardship, considering the attraction between them and how a part of her was already feeling breathless with anticipation of that kiss.

“Okay,” she agreed.

After the transaction was completed, the two of them rode the glass elevator back down to the lobby then transferred over to one of the regular ones that took them back up to the twenty-fifth floor of the tower. Hand holding hers, Rick led the way down the long hallway to a door at the far end. His key card disengaged the lock, and he let her walk in first.

She’d been expecting a standard hotel room, but quickly realized that he was staying in a very spacious suite. The entryway opened into the large living area filled with a soft looking sofa and attached chaise and a few comfortable club chairs. The TV on the wall was enormous, and just beyond that was a small kitchen with a dinette set. The drapes on the floor to ceiling windows had been pulled open, providing the same stunning view that she’d seen from The Penthouse.

“The bedroom is through that door, along with the bathroom if you need it,” Rick said, pointing to an adjoining room before he shrugged out of his suit jacket and laid the coat over the back of one of the chairs.

She knew by the form fitting cut of his jacket, and having collided with his unyielding chest earlier, that he had a solid physique. But Madison’s mouth went dry as she watched him remove his tie, then unfasten at least five of the buttons down the front of his white dress shirt, giving her an enticing glimpse of smooth, tanned, muscled skin. And when he cuffed up his sleeves, she nearly swooned at the well-defined forearms he’d revealed.

Catching Madison staring at him, Rick smirked at her. “You’re looking at me like you’ve never seen a man make himself comfortable before, which is something you’re more than welcome to do.”

“Umm, yeah,” she murmured, unable to look away from those strong forearms, suddenly feeling extremely hot and bothered. “You have great arm porn.”

He tipped his head curiously. “Excuse me?”

“Your forearms,” she pointed out, feeling ridiculous for speaking her thoughts out loud. “They’re strong and muscular looking. It’s very . . . sexy.”

He chuckled. “Uhh, thank you?”

She grinned, grateful that he had a good sense of humor. “You’re welcome.”

There wasn’t much Madison could do to make herself comfortable in the way of clothing, considering the only thing she was wearing beneath her little black dress was a pair of panties. With thin spaghetti straps and a form fitting bodice, it meant a bra was unnecessary. So, she set her purse on one of the side tables and took off her shoes. She groaned in pure relief and pleasure as her feet rejoiced at being freed from the confines of her tight heels.

Rick’s eyes darkened with desire, his gaze eating her up as if he wanted to do dirty, bad things to her.

Her face warmed, and now that they were alone, there was no warding off the sexual tension that vibrated between them. It was like an underlying force field, growing in intensity and wearing down her resolve to resist this man. And a part of her whispered,did she really want to keep resisting him?

“What?” she asked softly. “Why are you looking atmelike that?”

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