Page 54 of Devious Temptation
Dorsen steps toward her, hand outstretched as a charming smile takes over his face. “Richard Dorsen. Nice to meet you.”
Lucy blushes a pretty rose under his attention, making my insides roil with disgust. “Nice to meet you, too.”
“A beautiful lady like yourself shouldn’t be empty-handed. Would you like a drink?”
I inwardly kick myself for not being the first to offer because now I’m going to be worried about her drinking around these wolves all night.
“Oh!” Her eyes dart to me. “I would love one, actually.”
As he offers her his arm, someone behind us yells out his name. A wave of relief washes over me. Turning, I see his boss and silently thank the old man for unknowingly keeping my rainbow out of trouble.
“Come on, I’ll take you.” My hand settles on the small of her back. “Better run along, Dorsen.”
He laughs awkwardly, still showering Lucy with all his attention and his stupid, charming smile. “Duty calls. Maybe I’ll see you around this weekend?”
To my displeasure, she returns his smile and flirtatiously replies, “Maybe.”
As I lead her away, she peers up at me. “He was nice.”
“They’re all nice when they want something.” I refuseto look at her for longer than a second. I don’t want to get wrapped up in her hazel irises. They’re glowing with mirth and drawing me in like a moth to a flame. “A few of the higher-ups brought their assistants, too. I figured I could introduce you, and maybe you could mingle with them.”
“That would be great, actually. I know you have other things to do, and while I normally don’t have any problems making friends, for some reason, I’m really nervous,” she admits as we step up to the bar.
She orders a shot, but I shake my head and tell the bartender, “No shots for this one tonight. Get her a Paloma.”
Lucy flattens her brows. “Thanks, Dad.”
My cock twitches at the same time she realizes her mistake, and horror crosses her face. “Shit. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.” After a few moments of silence while we wait for her drink, I say, “You look beautiful.”
She doesn’t look at me. No, she keeps staring at the bar top, fingers playing with the edge of a drink napkin. “Thank you.” Her voice is filled with so much self-control that I have to applaud her.
Lucy’s trying not to trigger me—to start something between us that I keep saying I don’t want but still continue pursuing her for. And not once, until now, have I realized how hard it might be for her—to have to dull herself down so our playful natures don’t tempt and tangle the way they naturally do so easily.
After the bartender hands her a pastel peach drink, I lead her to a group of people I recognize as assistants from past conferences. With them, she seems much more like herself.
And she doesn’t even blink when I’m called away to talk to someone else.
Lucy’s laughterrings out through the room as she parts ways with a few other women, and I catch the tail end of their conversation—something about meeting up at the spa tomorrow.
“You seem like you had a good time tonight.” I brush my fingers against the small of her back as I lead her out of the conference hall. “Come on, I’ll walk you to your room.”
“I had a great time! The girls and I are going to have a spa day tomorrow while you are stuck in stuffy forums all day.” She shoves a finger into my chest while we wait for the elevator, and her traitorous lilt gives away the fact that Lucy is, at least, a little buzzed.
Snatching her finger before she can pull away, I slip into the elevator with her and slam my hand against the close button before anyone else can grab this one with us. With my fragile hold, I back her up against the side of the compartment.
“Whatever you want, charge it to my room.”
Wide hazel irises gaze up at me in awe as pink spreads from her cheeks to her neck. “I’m not going to argue with that.”
Unfairly, I whisper, “Good girl.”
A small whimper escapes from between her lips. Her eyes drop to my mouth, and I so badly just want to say, “Fuck it.” Slowly, I brush some hair off her shoulder, lightly running my fingertips against her bare skin. She shudders, and my cock hardens.
Something unrecognizable flashes over her face as the elevator dings and the doors open—something that makes her remember that we shouldn’t be in this position. Yanking away from me, she storms out and down the hall toward her room.
I calmly watch as she fumbles with her purse to retrieve her key card, and just as the green light flashes after she swipes it, I catch her around the waist, forcing her to turn and look at me.
