Page 32 of Undeniable Temptation

“Get the fuck out.” She jabbed her finger toward the door hard enough to hurt her shoulder.“I don’t have time for you right now.”

“I’m not moving.” He reiterated the statement by lying back on the bed, hands behind his head. “I honestly thought the two of you would be a sure thing after that kiss. He was all broody and you were all meek and kittenish. It was a recipe for rough and dirty sex.”

“Iwas notmeek.”

“Looked that way to us.” He shrugged. “We finally thought you’d ditch the puppy dog eyes and latch on with both claws.”

He was goading her, pushing, poking, so damn close to succeeding.

“You finished?” She placed her hands on her hips and stared him down.

“You ready to talk to him?”

She swung around and closed her laptop, prepared to ignore him for as long as possible. They’d only arrived in Cincinnati thirty minutes ago. Her bag was still packed and sitting beside the door. She needed to wash the sludge of travel from her skin and the tiredness from her eyes.

“I’ve got things to do. Including getting showered and ready for public consumption.” She reached for the top button of her blouse and undid it, exposing cleavage.

“Go for it.” He watched her, zero interest in his arrogant eyes. “I’ve got nowhere else to be.”

“I’m undressing, Mason.” She released another button, playing a game of chicken she was no longer confident of winning. “Sidney will kick your ass if she finds out you’re here.”

“Don’t go assuming anything about Sid. She’d do anything for Ryan if given the chance.”

“Really? She’s on her way here because you got close with another singer on stage. Do you really think she’s not going to care if you see me naked?”

“Seen it all before. You’re just another one of the guys.”

“Except for the double-Ds and vagina.” She skipped the money-shot button and descended to the bottom of the blouse, flicking another open. “You know I’ll tell her.” She slowed her progression, running out of options.

“Do you mind if I take video?” He wove a hand from behind his head and reached down to dig his cell from his pants pocket. “Ryan might appreciate a bird’s eye view of what he’s missing.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Mason.” Stubborn, arrogant prick. “Get the hell out.”

He chuckled. “I will when you admit you love him.”

She looked him head on and would’ve tried to deny it if she could muster conviction. Alas, she was clearly lacking her usual feminine wiles. Instead, she raised her chin and sucked in a breath through her nose, flaring her nostrils.

“What’s the big deal?” he continued. “Are you scared of being happy? ’Cause, believe me, I get it.”

No, he didn’t. He didn’t realize this was about him. And Blake. And Mitch. And Sean. They were all the reasons why she couldn’t be with Ryan. “I’m not going to ask you again.” He didn’t understand that losing her position was only devastating because in turn she’d lose her Reckless family. She didn’t have a life outside the band. Without them, she had nothing.

“And I’m not going to let your contractual obligation bullshit fly anymore.”

Too far. Way too far. He skipped straight past the mildly annoying status and hit the detonator for full-scale war.

“Contractual obligations bullshit?” She stepped forward and slapped his spread knees together. “I have a black and white document that stipulates I can’t have any sort of sexual relationship, casual or otherwise, with any of my clients. It states in precise terms that I’ll be fired, without warning, and I’ve seen it happen.That’snot bullshit.”

“We could get around it.”

“How?” God damn, she hated his smug superiority. “You’re not as almighty as you think you are, Mason. I thought you would’ve learned from the complete lack of control you have in the Grander situation.”

“That’s different.”

“You’re so naïve.” Incredulity slid through her veins, through every inch of her body. “How is it different?”

“Because love prevails. Etcetera, etcetera.”

“Of course.” She waved a hand in the air. “Just like that, my troubles would melt away, all in the name of love.”

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