Page 119 of Strictly Business

But there’s no move for him. Not this time.

He’s gone too far, and we both know it.

I take another step forward, letting my words settle between us. “You think you can taunt me, push me, and I’ll just let it slide?” I shake my head, scoffing. “You’re sorely mistaken.”

The silence stretches between us, but he says nothing. Doesn’t blink. His mind is racing, but there’s nothing left for him to do.

And this game between us?

It’s over.

Chapter thirty-nine

Amara

“This is the one.” Jade spins around, holding up a red, lacy, crotchless bodysuit. “Classic. Sexy.” She smirks, waving it in Sophie’s face. “He won’t know what hit him.”

Sophie’s eyes widen like the lingerie might leap off the hanger and attack her. “I was thinking something… less intense. Like this,” she replies, holding up a pale blue babydoll.

“Less intense?” Jade scoffs, her voice dripping with disbelief. “Babe, the whole point of lingerie is tobeintense. If you’re not leaving him speechless, you’re doing it wrong.”

Sophie’s cheeks turn bright pink, but she lifts her chin in defiance. “I’ll have you know, Sebastian is very satisfied.”

“I’m sure he is,” Jade quips. “But this couldn’t hurt.” She thrusts the lace bodysuit toward Sophie. “Humor me. Try it on and see how you feel.”

With a long, exaggerated sigh, Sophie disappears into the dressing room, the curtain swishing closed behind her. Jadeimmediately turns to me, eyebrows practically jumping off her face.

“No.” I shake my head, stepping back as she snatches another hanger off the rack.

“Come on,” she whines.

“You told me we were going to lunch,” I say, narrowing my eyes. “Not lingerie shopping.”

“We are.” Jade shrugs, unconcerned. “I just wanted to make a quick stop here first. Here,” she says, holding a black lacy number in front of my face. “Try this on.”

A laugh escapes me. “No way.”

“What? Why not? It’s hot.”

A flush of heat creeps up my neck at the thought of wearing something so revealing. “I’m not the type of girl who wears that.”

She scoffs. “Bullshit. Lingerie is for everyone. You walk into a room wearing this, and trust me, Nicholas will be on his knees.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “You’re relentless.”

“And yet, you keep me around,” she quips, grinning as she shoves the bodysuit into my hands.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I step into the dressing room, the mirror greeting me with brutal honesty, the harsh lighting doing me no favors. My first instinct is to look away, but I force myself to stay. My reflection stares back, every curve and dip exposed under the unforgiving fluorescent light.

I inhale deeply, strip down, and slide into the lace. It’s delicate against my skin, the intricate pattern hugging my curves in all the right ways. The plunging neckline is daring, and for the first time in a long time, I feel sexy.Reallysexy.

A small smile tugs at my lips as I grab my phone. I snap a picture in the mirror and send it to Nicholas before I can second-guess myself.

His response is almost immediate.

Nicholas:

Holy fuck.

---