Page 14 of She Devil
‘You don’t really think I’m going to just throw you down on the floor right here and now and that’ll be the end of it?’
He sounds incredulous, as if I’m being the biggest idiot alive.
Heat burns in my cheeks. ‘I don’t understand. I thought that’s what the deal was,’ I say, taking a step back and smoothing down my rumpled suit jacket, desperately trying to save face.
His snort is full of amusement. ‘I’m not twenty any more, April. I like to take my time over sex these days. Give my partner the maximum amount of pleasure possible. That means build up. Foreplay. Anticipation. Rushing into things is never a good idea. It’s all over way too soon and neither of us has the opportunity to properly experience it. The end result is so much more enjoyable when it’s been hard won, don’t you agree?’
His smile is wide and wicked and it suddenly occurs to me exactly what he’s doing.
‘So how long are you expecting me to stay here with you before you finally decide to give me this holy grail orgasm?’ I demand, nerves and frustration getting the better of me, making me snappy.
He shrugs his wide shoulders. ‘I’m not sure. A couple of days? Three? Four? As long as it takes to satisfy me you’re not just “faking it again”.’
He puts the last three words in disdainful air quotes. I curse myself for having said that to him now. It’s caused more problems than I ever could have anticipated.
Bloody men and theirbloodymale pride.
‘I don’t have three or four days to spare,’ I argue. ‘I have a company to run.’
‘And a huge and very competent team working for you who can handle you not being there breathing down their necks for a few days,’ he argues back, not unreasonably.
I know my team can handle me being away for that long—but can I? Especially if it means being here with Jamie twenty-four-seven.
I stare at him, hating him for doing this to me, but at the same time feeling a weird sense of pride that he’s going to such lengths to have me. I can see from the small tick in his jaw that he’s feeling the tension here too. He’s a little afraid that I’ll refuse to stay and he’ll never be able to satisfy himself that he’s good enough to get one over on me. That he can beat me.
I suppose I can stay long enough to convince him he has. It’s no big deal, really. Just a couple more days of play-acting.
I can do that.
I give him an assured nod. ‘Okay. Fine. I’ll stay for a couple of days. Three maximum. That’s all I can afford to have away. We’re very busy at the moment and things start to fall apart if my team can’t get hold of me when they need quick answers to things.’
‘Well they’re just going to have to cope,’ he says with a lopsided grin, evidently feeling he’s won this battle. ‘You have to promise not to make or take any business calls while you’re here. I want your undivided attention.’
I swallow hard. That’s going to be tough. I’m usually on the phone all day long when I’m not in the office, but I guess I can cope if I’m able to brief everyone first.
‘Agreed,’ I say. ‘As long as you give me an hour now to prep everyone.’
‘Okay. You have one hour,’ he says with a slow grin full of wicked promise. ‘Then you’re all mine.’
Jamie
I’ve done it. I’ve convinced her to stay. Which means I have a real shot at getting her to open up to me.
I’m going to take a lot of pleasure in teasing and provoking her, getting her all hot and bothered, dazed and befuddled with lust.
Then I’m going to take great pleasure in breaking her.
It’s going to be a lot of fun.
And hopefully it’ll finally give me the peace and closure I’ve been craving.
‘I’ll let you have the room,’ I say, strolling past her. ‘But I’ll be back in one hour exactly.’
I don’t turn around and look at her again, imagining her expression of determination to make this work, no matter what she’s going to have to put up with from me.
But she needn’t worry. I’ll be kind. In fact, I’m going to be the perfect host. Friendly and courteous, generous and fair.
I’m a gentleman, after all.
