Page 136 of The Owner's Temptation

I lean closer, lips at his ear. “Are you still going to pretend like you didn’t devour my pussy all night…Diablo?”

His eyes snap open—sharp, furious,panicked.

“I don’t fuck my employees.”

“Bullshit,” I hiss, still stroking him, my hips grinding, teasing the pressure between us.

That’s when he shuts it down.

Lucian rips himself out of my grip and takes two sharp steps back, leaving me perched on his desk, breathless.

His voice is cold.Final.

“Go home, Sienna.”

He turns his back to me and walks to his espresso bar like he can just walk away from this. Fromme.

But I follow him. I reach around and press my palm to the front of his pants again.

“Then fire me.”

His hand snaps out, grabbing my wrist hard. The warning is in his grip. The storm in his eyes.

And still—I don’t flinch.

He releases me a beat later and rises to his full height, towering.

“I’m too old for you,” he says.

The words hit me like a slap. I take a single step back, stunned. Not because of his age. But becausethat’sthe bullshit he’s going to pretend will hold any water?

“Is that really what you’re going to go with?” I ask, voice low. “After everything?”

We stare at each other.

Neither of us backing down.

Then finally—cold. Controlled. Detached.

“Fine,” I say. “If you say so.”

I turn and walk toward the door. I refuse to let my hands shake. Refuse to let him see the tears that threaten to sting my eyes.

If he wants to pretend last night never happened—if he wants to hide behind bullshit excuses and pretend like he doesn’t want me—I’ll make sure he regrets it.

Of all the fucking days for her to figure it out—it had to be today.

She walks out of my office with her head high, her scent still clinging to me, her lips still swollen from the kiss I swore I wouldn’t give her. And I just let her go.

The moment the door clicks shut behind her, I turn and drive my fist through the wall.

Plaster cracks. Bone strains. I don’t feel it.

All I feel is rage.

At her.

At myself.

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