Page 38 of Undeniable Temptation

“Don’t worry about Flick.”

“Don’t worry?” She straightened her blouse, unable to look him in the eye. “You trust my career with that woman?”

“I wouldn’t entrust your happiness with anyone. But I’ll speak to her.”

He reached out, and professional instinct had her backing away.

“I’ll tell her to keep quiet.” He straightened his shoulders, defensive. “Don’t you dare pull away from me now.”

“I’m not pulling away.” Not really. Her body was still all up in his business, palpitating, shaking, coursing with adrenaline. Her head, on the other hand, was in reverse, trying to steer through the hysteria of an oncoming tidal wave.

“You’re in panic mode. I’ve seen it before.” He reached out again, this time encapsulating her wrist in loose fingers. “About three months ago, to be exact.”

“Felicity found us together, of course I’m panicked.” She pleaded with her eyes, trying to convince him of the obvious danger even though her anxiety was much more complicated. “Please go after her.”

“I will. But then I’m coming after you.”

No.

No, no, no. She needed to regroup, to find her misplaced sanity, and most of all, tear Mason a new one for talking her into something so addictive and destructive. She should’ve had a plan before attempting this career-suicide mission. There was always a plan.

“What’s your room number?” His thumb rubbed back and forth against her skin, hypnotizing her into submission. Nothing compared to the lazy graze of his finger. She was being worshipped with the simplest of touches. He was reverence personified. “Your room number, Leah?”

“409.”

“409,” he repeated in a seductive drawl, making the three digits sound like an erotic password. “Give me a few minutes and I’ll be there.”

He smacked her with another kiss, then dropped the hold on her wrist and fled up the stairs, two at a time.

She didn’t move, didn’t even breathe until the door above opened and quickly slammed shut again.Damn it. Her limbs were tingling, her organs somersaulting. Her lady bits were salivating in the only way lady bits could.

“Idiot.” She pushed from the wall and hurried out of the stairwell. She was barefoot, disheveled, and probably pregnant from the efficiency of that kiss. The professional, always immaculate Leah was lost, rushing into the elevator and down the hotel hall like a lovesick fool until she was safely inside the sanctuary of her room.

Her laptop taunted her from the kitchenette counter, reminding her of her job and the video amassing views from last night’s show. Her slip couldn’t have come at a worse time. There was the divorce, the tour, the supposedly gay fake girlfriends… The list described a circus program.

Her circus. Her monkeys.

How could she have stooped so low?

She strode for the bathroom, wrenched on the sink taps, and drowned her face in water to wash away the insanity. She could still feel his lips, could still taste him. But she couldn’t let it linger. If it sank under her skin, buried itself in her veins, she wouldn’t be able to regain control. And control was what she needed.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

She’d been caught in a position the world could never find out about. Caught by a threesome-loving lesbian who had her mitts all over Ryan on a daily basis.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

Her cell beeped over the sound of the running water and she ignored it. Ignored everything the universe had to offer because an apocalypse was gaining strength in her mind. This time she couldn’t chalk the kiss up to unexpected psychosis. She’d gone tohisroom. She’d instigated the downfall.

Stupid. Stupid. Fucking stupid.

She shut off the water and dried her face on a towel, ignoring yet another message beep on her cell. Then it was her door, harsh knocks against the wood.

“Leah.”

She closed her eyes briefly and exhaled the growing tightness under her ribs. She couldn’t see him so soon. Her strength hadn’t returned yet. Nor her sanity. So she tiptoed to the door, placing her hand and her forehead against the thick barrier between them.

“It’s OK,” his voice was loud, deliberately taunting her fear of him making a scene. “I can wait.”

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