Page 19 of Fortress of the King

Two can play at this game, asshat.

“I’d like to buy you dinner after the auction,” he tells me, swooping right in.

This is splendid news. “Do you think that’s wise, being that my boss is probably two seconds away from firing me?”

He frowns. “Why on earth would she do that?”

“I think we caused a little bit of a spectacle out there.”

“Do you think I give a fuck?”

I don’t believe he does. “Clearly not.”

He tilts my chin up, so I meet his gaze. Even though only one finger is touching me, it feels like I’ve been burned by fire. “I rule this town, Miss. Michaelson. I can buy anything.”

“Anything?” I quirk.

“Yes.”

I lick my bottom lip and then bite down on it. “What about people?”

My heart lurches at the very notion, at what I’ve been told about him, about his underworld businesses that make my stomach crawl…my mind spins to my sister,…don’t.

“People who want to be bought can be bought, it’s quite a simple equation, nothing complicated.”

“What about me?” I counter. “Do you think you can buy me with fancy dinners and pretty things?”

His jaw tenses again. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he’s enjoying this. “I would definitely say not. You’re a woman with substance, a woman who had the whole room under her command tonight. Everyone was bewitched by you.”

I flash him a smile. “Everyone? Even you?”

“Especially me.”

“So, you want to fuck me, Mr. Medici, is that it?”

I wish he didn’t smell so freaking good.

He still hasn’t removed his hand from my chin, it’s like he thinks he needs it to keep me in place, that’s his whole modus operandi, but I’m not running.

“I’d be lying if I said it hasn’t crossed my mind.”

“But you’d like to wine and dine me first.”

“Not necessarily in that order.”

I know my eyes are dancing, and I know he knows.

“I can’t sleep with you, Mr. Medici.”

“Call me Angelo.”

“That seems very informal for around the office.”

“There’s nobody here but us.” His eyes drop to my lips. “I could kick this door shut and persuade you to call me by my first name.”

I smirk. “Of that, I have no doubt.”

I swallow hard, my attraction to him startling even me. His words hit my core like a freight train as I start to imagine all the ways he’d get me to call him Angelo.

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