Page 22 of Enemies with Benefits

Her lashes swept down and stayed down for a long time. ‘His reasons are none of your business. Same goes for mine.’

‘Wrong, sweetheart. They are exactly my business, since we’re effectively joined at the hip.’

She shook her head. ‘You left him no choice. Not after you bought out the previous company Perry was supposed to partner with.’

I frowned. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘The Morocco deal. Isn’t it true you only intended to go with two hotels?’

‘That was the initial plan, yes. But—’

‘But then you got greedy and bought up four more adjoining sites? Just because you could?’

‘It wasn’t a matter of greed, it was a matter of good business. And yes, because I damned well could. I’m failing to see what your point is here, Wren.’

‘My point is, Perry came to you only after you became the new owner of the contract he was trying to secure. He didn’t want to, but he’d been working on that deal long before you came on board. He...he was forced to come to you.’

My fingers tightened around my glass. ‘Unless your family derives some macabre pleasure from hanging on to this shit even after twenty years, he could’ve walked away. Why didn’t he?’

Her gaze rose and I caught a shaft of pain in her eyes. ‘Perry hates losing. And some wounds run deep.’

Frustration bit through me. ‘What about you? I’m not asking for a family reunion or even a suggestion that we bury the hatchet. All I’m asking for is a business deal where we both stand to profit for a very long time.’

Her lips twisted. ‘Money isn’t everything.’

I snorted. ‘Then what are you doing in that office half a mile away? Running a charity?’

‘I meant money isn’t everything,every time.’

‘Maybe not. But is that a strong enough reason to risk everything? For God’s sake, who I am shouldn’t matter in the grand scheme of things.’

‘To my family, it does.’

I approached her until we were a foot apart.

She stayed her ground and that defiant stance made me instantly hard. Surprise, surprise. I leaned forward until her alluring perfume tortured me mercilessly. Until my thoughts began to fracture under the weight of the need to pull her close. Kiss her. Vent my frustration on anywhere she’d let me touch.

Starting with the silky skin of her neck. I’d work my way down, ridding her of that pristine cream shirt, which clung to her body. My gaze dropped to her chest, saw the faintest outline of her nipples. Sweet heaven, what I’d give to suck on those succulent nubs.

My eager mind strayed deeper into erotic realms.

I’d take off every single item of clothing except those red-soled heels, bend her over my desk and ram myself so deep inside her that we’d both see stars. Unlike last time, I had a condom nearby this time. Several, in fact. I’d taken to carrying the things with me wherever I went now. In case Wren Bingham happened to be there and begged me with her alluring mouth and eyes to service her as she had that night in the maze.

I leaned closer. She twitched and shuddered as my mouth brushed her earlobe. I wanted to catch the delicate flesh between my teeth, hear that control-destroying gasp she gave when she was caught in pleasure, but I restrained myself. Barely. ‘Then they need to get over themselves, and fast. Because I’m not letting this one go. Now, shall we get on with this meeting? My casino isn’t going to fit itself and, I promise, the longer you make me wait, the less reasonable I’ll get about accommodating your behaviour.’

She froze, then jerked back a step. Whatever she read in my eyes made hers widen before it narrowed. ‘This is your last chance, Jasper,’ she said, her voice throbbing with an emotion I didn’t want to examine.

‘No.’

She stared at me for an age, then nodded. ‘Fine. Let’s discuss the casino.’

An hour later, I watched her walk out ahead of me—because I wasn’t letting her catch a cab home at one o’clock in the morning, despite her protests—her sexy arse and endless legs an erotic sight that made my mouth water.

Just like last time, she’d come fully prepared. I had a set of approved timetables and proposed delivery of top-of-the-line gaming equipment in my briefcase, ready to green light in the morning.

I was buzzing with quiet excitement at her sheer proficiency while she’d grown increasingly despondent as the meeting had progressed. It was clear she wasn’t happy about my insistence on our partnership continuing.

She reached the lift and shot me a look filled with venom. And despite a low warning hum at the back of my head suggesting that it wasn’t too late to ditch Bingham’s, I found myself smiling as I stepped into the lift with her.

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