Page 34 of Playing By His Rules

“You’llwhat?” William taunted, cutting him off, obviously unconcerned about any possible repercussions. “Doesn’t your company have a very lucrative contract on the line with Reign? I would hate for you to jeopardize that in any way . . . over a whore.”

The need to spill William’s blood was so strong, Rick was ready to tear the other man apart with his bare hands, limb by limb. Everything around them blurred in a red haze of fury, and he took a threatening step toward William—

“Boys!” Charles yelled out from the green, the interruption snapping some sense back into Rick, which was the only thing that saved William from dying a slow, painful death. “On to the next hole!”

William smirked at Rick. “Yes, on to the next hole, shall we?”

He turned and walked away, and it took Rick a few minutes to calm down before he could continue with the game. Thank God there were only a few holes left, and he channeled all his anger in driving his ball down the fairway. Shockingly, he finished the game two under par, while William refused to announce his pathetic score.

“I need a fucking drink,” he said irritably, and stormed off toward the clubhouse.

Charles merely shook his head. “I’m sorry about that. I don’t know what’s gotten into him.”

Rick knew, but it wasn’t his place to apprise an oblivious Charles of what a piece of shit his son was. That he was a bully who tore other people down to build himself up and preyed on vulnerable women. And honestly, would Charles even believe Rick if he told him what his son was capable of?

“Good game, Dunne,” Charles said, already moving on from William’s outburst and bad attitude. “We’ll see you at ten tomorrow morning for your presentation.”

Rick nodded. “I’ll be there.”

They parted ways, and he headed back to the hotel, trying to shake off his own disconcerted mood after that disturbing conversation he’d had with William, and the underlying threat he’d made about Madison. He didn’t intend to tell Madison what had transpired because he didn’t want to frighten her, but Rick knew that there was no fucking way he’d allow her to return to The Penthouse, and that he’d do everything in his power to make sure she wouldn’t fall prey to someone unscrupulous like William.

He’d given her enough money to pay off her father’s debt, and he had no issues giving her anything more that she needed if it meant keeping her safe and protected and away from potentially predatory men.

Madison was his. She just didn’t know it yet.

Madison was giddywith hope and excitement by the time Rick returned to the suite after his golf game. As soon as he walked in the door, she rushed over to him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and greeted him with a kiss he didn’t return with his normal sensual urgency. His lips were much too unyielding beneath the softer press of her mouth, his entire body felt tense, and the hands holding her hips gripped harder than normal.

In such a short time, she could already gauge his frame of mind, and something was very . . . off. Even when Rick was at his most dominant sexually, she’d never seen or felt him so rigid and edgy.

She pulled back slightly to look up at his handsome face, not sure what to make of the troubled look she saw there. “Hey, is everything okay?”

He closed his eyes and exhaled a deep breath, which seemed to alleviate Rick of whatever burden he’d brought to the suite with him. When he looked at her again, there was a hunger in his gaze that thrilled her and was more in line with the man she couldn’t deny she was falling for, despite knowing the two of them had an end date.

He didn’t answer her question, but instead lifted one hand to cup the back of her head, and slid his other arm around her waist, bringing her body flush to his as he crushed his mouth against hers. There was nothing tense or unyielding about him now. He was a man in charge, but that aggression was backed with undeniable passion. The kiss was hot, and deep, and possessive, making her head spin and her knees go weak with desire. His dark groans mingled with her softer ones, and minutes later, when he lifted his head and stared down at her with such intense need, she was breathless, aroused, and seriously considering ripping his clothes off so she could have her way withhimfor a change.

“God, I so want you naked,” she said, but the excitement she’d been feeling before Rick had arrived bubbled back up to the surface. “But first, I have some really good news to share.”

“Yeah?” Interest lit his green eyes as he gently tucked her hair behind her ear. “Tell me.”

“The Zoom interview went exceptionally well, and the company loved the samples and photos of my work that I included with my resume,” she told him, grinning so wide her lips almost hurt. “They said that I was just the type of designer they were looking for and they’re going to put together a job offer with salary and benefits, which I should have by Friday.”

He grinned back at her. “That’s fantastic. I’m happy for you.”

“Thank you,” she said, and brushed her lips against his just as her cellphone chirped from where she’d left it on the coffee table.

“I should see who that is.” She reluctantly untangled herself from his arms, and he let her go. Picking up her phone, she swiped it open and read the message that had come through, shaking her head at her sister’s text. She’d already shared the news about the job offer with Andrea earlier, but this note had been sent more out of boredom, Madison knew.

“Bad news?” he asked, moving closer to where she was standing.

“No. It’s just Andrea, trying to figure out what to make for dinner tonight. She’s bored and lonely without me being there at the apartment with her, and asking me for suggestions,” she added with a laugh.

“How about we go pick her up, and we all go out to dinner together to celebrate your new job offer?” he suggested without missing a beat.

His overture surprised her. “You don’t have to do that. She’ll figure out something to make.”

“I know I don’thaveto. I want to,” he said, and she heard the sincerity in his voice. “You and I need to eat something, anyways, and I’d like to meet your sister.”

Another shock she hadn’t anticipated. “Really?”

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