Page 18 of Out of Office Nights
His head slowly tilted, those sexy silver eyes narrowing on her. ‘You have no idea why I’m here?’
She huffed, dismissing the sparks igniting in her belly, spreading outward to engulf her whole body. ‘If I did, I wouldn’t be asking, would I? We’re not supposed to see each other for another four weeks.’
Irritation lit his eyes before his expression changed, his gaze dropping down her throat, her collarbones, over her breasts and down her body before rising again. And when it did, it was with a different expression, sizzling commencing within those quicksilver depths that billowed heat into her own body, making her supremely conscious that she was only wearing her bikini with a damp shirt over it, and an equally damp sarong tied around her hips.
For the longest time, they remained in that fog of awareness. Until she snapped herself out of it when his face hardened.
‘It’s time to make some changes.’
Heat evaporated, his stark words leaving her ice cold. ‘Meaning?’
Every trace of indolence left him as he folded his arms across his chest. ‘We made an agreement. Back in New York.’ His eyes narrowed to fierce slits. ‘That you have either forgotten already or are refusing to acknowledge it leaves me very little choice.’
Her heart constricted tighter this time out of raw fear. She couldn’t…wouldn’t lose the lifeline of her work. ‘No choice about what?’
He sucked in a control-gathering breath. ‘You really don’t remember what you agreed to?’
He wasn’t talking about the night of the gala.
She’d painstakingly, unwillingly relived every minute of that night. Right down to her own questionable behaviour. So he had to mean the meeting with Cristobal and those final few minutes while Teo was still talking, when she’d spaced out because of his infernal effect on her.
In the face of so much failure in the past two weeks, she was unwilling to admit one more, so she kept her jaw locked, boldly meeting his gaze as he probed her expression. Whatever he saw there made his own jaw tighten.
‘Right, we’re playing this game, are we?’
She remained silent.
‘You agreed to send me the first batch of sketches for my approval, and you also agreed to keep in touch regarding your progress. Both of which you have failed to do.’
She knew she’d given herself away with the surprise that sparked through her when, one eyebrow arched, his mocking mingled with condemnation. Then with fierce disapproval.
Swallowing, she glanced at her door, wanting refuge now more than ever. Because it was clear that Teo had come here to put the final nail in her professional coffin.
‘Enough of this. Invite me in.’
Her eyes snapped to him, her heart constricting tighter. She couldn’t. Not here. Not into the space where she’d sworn to her grandmother that she would stay away from men like him. It would be the worst insult.
She shook her head. ‘No.’
Seconds ticked by as the air thickened with tension. ‘Sabeen…’
‘I can’t.’ She closed her eyes, desperately hoping he’d missed the thread of panic in her voice. But even blocking him out, she felt the forceful surge of emotion from him. Her eyes flew open just as he stepped closer.
‘You have someone in there? A lover?’ The words seethed from him, like a dragon preparing to rain fury on her. ‘Is that what’s been occupying you? Rolling around in the sheets with your lover when you’re supposed to be working?’
Shock erupted in stunned laughter, making his face darken even more. Until harsh reality sobered her up. ‘Not everyone is like you.’
‘I won’t disagree with that,’ he agreed with unabashed conceit. ‘I’m one in a billion. But unlike you, sweetheart, I don’t let work get in the way of my ambitions.’ His gaze returned to the door, his glare incandescent. The more he stared at it, the more Sabeen wondered if he had X-ray vision. And the more she wondered if that fury was laced with…jealousy?
Her insides twisted, knotting with unnerving excitement which should’ve been positively nauseating and yet…wasn’t.
Starting to ask herself what was wrong with her, she abandoned that too. She was absolutely exhausted with what she felt around this man. ‘I…’
‘You what? Despise me? I’m aware. But it’s not as simple as that, is it? You hate yourself even more. I’ll leave you to unload just why I affect you so much in your own time. For now a simpleyesornowill suffice.’
She toyed with sayingyes, just to get rid of him. But then she remembered his ultimatum. Realised that she hadn’t held up the end of a bargain she couldn’t fully recall. Because she’d been occupied with reliving her kiss with the Playboy Prince.
Shame simmered again, and she shook her head. ‘No, Teo. I haven’t been indulging in wall-to-wall orgasms when I should’ve been slaving over your precious collection.’
