Page 14 of How to Avoid a Billionaire

She stuck her tongue out at him. Playful. That’s what I like about her. Realizing where his thoughts headed, he shook himself, and they accessed a private elevator to the floor where he’d parked his car. Ryder thought the subject of Bean and the reporters had passed until Melanie brought it up again over lunch.

“Ryder, did you offer Robert Bean less than his company’s worth?”

“It’s standard practice, Melanie.”

“Hmm, you must be irritated. You didn’t call me angel.”

“Would you rather me call you angel?”

She tapped her fork against her lip. “Did you save as many jobs as you said? Were they in danger?”

“Yes and yes. I have several holdings in various cities and countries. Thousands of people depend on me for their livelihoods.”

“Wow, that’s….I don’t know what that is. Kind of scary, I guess. I mean I would crumble under the pressure. What if you make a wrong move that puts you in the position of that man Robert Bean? If someone didn’t bail you out…”

“It’s happened before.” He saw her shiver, alarm in her gaze and decided to downplay the situation. Several hundreds of people did lose their jobs, but he had worked damn hard with a few others to find the best solution that would benefit the majority if not the minority. Sometimes he did have to make tough choices, but she didn’t have to be burdened with the knowledge. “I pulled it out. Everything turned out fine.”

“Don’t patronize me. I’m not a billionaire, but I’m not stupid.”

“I apologize. Sometimes I have to make tough choices. It’s not something everyone can or is willing to do.” He laced his fingers with hers. “We’ve heard enough of my day. Tell me about yours.”

She set her fork down. “What else is new? I keep getting looked over. I realize I’m a rookie, but it gets frustrating. I’m not as aggressive as a lot of people in my field, and that has cost me.”

“I could talk—” He paused just as she stopped him, holding up a finger. What had he been thinking about to offer his help when his motives for being with her weren’t wholly pure?

“Don’t even say it,” she said.

“Angel.”

“No way. I’m doing this myself. You’re not slinging around your influence or money or whatever it is you do. Everybody at work knows your name, but up until today they didn’t know you and I were seeing each other.” She sighed. “I feel like every time I come up with an idea, someone beats me to the punch. Not just at my company but at another bigger advertising agency.”

He tried soothing her since she didn’t want his help. “It happens. Companies compete all the time, racing each other to uncover the next big product. Whoever gets before the public eye first wins. In advertising, the ideas can flow the same way, as if you all pull from the same giant pool.”

The hurt in her expression spurred him to look into her situation, whether she liked it or not.

Ryder lay on his back, his arms tucked behind his head. The clock had read four when he’d looked at it. Normally, he would have gotten up, dressed, and left Melanie’s apartment, but he’d been awake a good fifteen minutes, and he hadn’t moved. She murmured in her sleep and turned over toward him. With moonlight illuminating the room he saw her sleeping face, peaceful and beautiful. Her hair seemed messier than usual, and he reached out to smooth it. The spongy silk popped up again, he grinned. She shifted positions once more causing the sheet to slip beneath her breasts. His cock hardened. He had never taken her in the morning, although they had sex half the night countless times.

“Stop,” she moaned.

He chuckled. “Stop what?”

“I feel you looking at me, and you’re disturbing my sleep.”

He snatched the sheet the rest of the way down her body and took in the soft curves. “Sleep is overrated.”

She tried covering her breasts and pussy, which was ludicrous since he knew them both very well. “What are you doing?”

“Put your hands down, angel.”

Her gaze slid to the bedside table. “It’s after four. You usually leave—”

“Hands to your sides.”

Her lips curled on one side. “What if I don’t?”

He sat up, tossed the sheet off himself, and snaked fingers over her thigh. Before she could yelp a protest, he snatched her legs apart and thrust a hand between them. Cupping her pussy, he leaned over and kissed her sweet lips. “You hide this from me again and you’ll be sorry.”

Her hips rose off the bed, and she moaned, her eyes fluttering closed. “I’m n-not sorry now. Ryder, you’re going to make me come.”

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