Page 75 of Reckless Harmony

“What are you doing?” She batted his hand away when he reached between her legs.

“I’ll remove the strip for you,” he said.

“Like hell you will!” she said.

“You have two choices,” he said. “Cancel your date with my cousin, who bid a lot of money at the auction to go on this date with you, or let me help you.”

“I can reschedule,” she said. “He’ll understand.”

“I’m afraid you don’t know my cousin very well,” he said. “You reschedule this date, and he’ll ask for his ‘donation’ to be returned.”

“He wouldn’t,” she said.

“He would,” Stark said flatly. “You don’t know my cousin, Rayna.”

It was the first time he’d ever said her first name and her imagination went into overdrive. Would her name sound as good coming out of his mouth when she was on her knees before him and sucking on his cock? It was a question she desperately wanted answered.

Stop it! He’s an arrogant asshole doing everything he can to drive you off your land. Remember?

“Make your choice, Ms. Abrams.” Stark’s voice was indifferent, but that muscle ticked in his jaw, and his eyes had turned the colour of the ocean after a storm.

She swallowed hard. “Fine. You can help me.”

Okay, so maybe Stark was taking this ‘be genuinely nice’ idea a little too far, but the look of panic on Rayna’s face was very real. Leaving her alone to deal with a stuck piece of wax seemed… rude. Helping her was the gentlemanly thing to do.

Right, it has nothing to do with you taking any excuse to touch her pussy.

It wasn’t about that at all. He might be attracted to Rayna, but this was hardly the time to think about how she might look or sound coming all over his fingers.

Oh yeah? Tell your dick that.

He grimaced inwardly, thankful he was wearing jeans that at least somewhat hid his semi. Okay, so getting excited about touching Rayna when it was clear she was only letting him touch her because she was desperate didn’t exactly scream good guy, but he would plaster on a poker face and keep his thoughts to himself.

“Stark, are you helping or not?” Rayna gave him an impatient look before staring at the clock again. “It’s fine if you’ve changed your mind, but I -”

“I haven’t,” he said. “Spread your legs.”

Her face bright red, she shifted her feet apart enough for him to slip his hand between her legs. She looked away, staring resolutely at the cabinets. Stark gently swiped the paper towel over the strip and ignored his urge to bury his face in her shiny hair.

She smelled delicious, a combination of vanilla and something flowery, and he studied the curve of her throat and the strands of hair that brushed against her shoulders. They looked silky soft, and he clenched his other hand into a fist to stop from running his fingers over her hair.

“Stark.” Rayna’s voice was shaky, and he realized he had stopped swiping the paper towel and was holding it against the fabric strip.

“Sorry,” he said and set the paper towel on the counter. “Ready?”

“Give me a second.” She turned her body to face the counter, gripping the edge of the sink and taking a few deep breaths. “Okay, do it.”

“I have to use both hands,” he said. “One to pull the strip away, the other to hold the skin taut. Are you good with that?”

“Yes,” she said with a touch of impatience. “Just do it, for God’s sake.”

He stood behind her and slid his arms around her before grasping one of Rayna’s firm thighs. Fuck, her skin was so soft. He tugged on her leg, and when she didn’t move it, he said, “Open for me, Rayna.”

His voice came out too low and too intimate for the situation, but Rayna’s body shuddered, and she immediately spread her legs wide.

“Good girl,” he said, ignoring the faint moan that escaped her lips.

This does not turn her on, he reminded himself grimly as he slipped both hands between her legs.

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