Page 14 of Beautiful Enemy

“He proposed to the last woman he dated. They were engaged, until she ended it.”

I cut Ash a surprised look. The idea of Harrison King having a softer side, of wanting to spend his life with another person, is hard to picture.

“I can’t imagine what he did to deserve to get dumped.” I don’t hide the sarcasm, but I’m still processing the “engaged” part.

“He trusted her too much.” My new companion’s voice softens with what sounds like empathy. “We date the people we think we deserve. Though he’d never admit it, my brother doesn’t think he’s worthy of better.”

My attention drags across the room to the man in question, hating that those words make me question Harrison King’s spot in hell.

I realize my mistake too late, because he’s spotted me.

Harrison King rises from the table with the grace of a shadow. Now, he’s headed this way.

Even as my stomach knots, I can’t help comparing the two men. Their coloring is similar, a faint tan from the sun under dirty-blond hair. The same magnetic blue eyes. But where Ash’s friendly, Harrison is cold. Cut from marble.

“Brother,” Ash greets him as he arrives. “You’re the only person in a suit at this hour.” He nods to the rest of the room, where every other man has long since stripped his jacket off.

“I wear one because it’s my club,” Harrison replies.

I take a drink. “There are other options to hide the stick up your ass besides Hugo Boss.”

Ash cackles in delight, a reaction that has Harrison’s nostrils flaring with irritation.

“It’s Brioni.”

Ash smirks. “I was telling our little queen how exceptional she was tonight.”

“When my club is full, I’ll praise her,” Harrison states.

Ash turns back to greet a friend, leaving me and Harrison at the bar.

“Unfortunately, this was a one-night-only performance.” I shift off the stool. “But I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“Not half as much as you did.” He blocks my path. “I saw the way you lose yourself up there. Inmy club, which you seem intent on despising.”

Anyone in the crowd could tell I was having a good time. But the way this man watched me, the way he’s watching me now, feels as if he sees under my clothes.

Under my skin.

My body tingles, from his closeness and the intimacy of his words.

“It’s a persona. Not me.”

“You can’t hide how it makes you feel. You’ve had orgasms less satisfying than what you experienced tonight.”

The thrumming in my stomach streaks lower, between my thighs.

Laughter goes up from across the room, but I can’t look away from Harrison King.

“You know nothing about my orgasms.”

His gaze drags down me, and I will my body not to respond. I’m hot, and I pull the hair over one shoulder to leave the other bare. He follows the movement, attention lingering on my exposed skin and heating it like a filthy kiss.

“You told Leni this afternoon that you hated me no matter how pretty I was or how big my cock is. Which means you’ve considered both. That’s why you’re angry,” he continues. “You know you should hate me, but the thought of me gets you off. Am I the villain who slinks into your room at night and makes you come?”

The man is a ruthless billionaire. Incapable of compromise. Incapable of love.

But his voice turns me on, that decadent accent he deploys like a weapon.

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