Page 73 of The Innovator

“How did you know I was thinking of that one?”

I shrugged. “A wild guess.”

He watched as I looped the tie around his neck, creating a unique knot.

“I could never master any fancy knots. My normal is just a Windsor. What’s this one called?”

“The Natalie knot.” I grinned. “It’s a twist on the Eldredge knot.”

“You’re tying me to you? It’s an eternal link, love. You can’t get rid of me now.” He placed his hand on my lower back, pressing me to him.

“Being tied to me comes with a fine print.”

“Like what?”

“Like becoming my model when my menswear collection is finished.” I ran a hand over one of his shoulders. “You have the perfect build, the height, the face to be the ambassador for my collection.” My lips hovered over his. “Most of all, you have this deadly dimple that could sell underwear like hotcakes.”

He laughed, deepening the dimple. “What do I get out of it?”

“Free clothes.” I smiled.

“You’re some negotiator, buttercup. I’ll sign up for anything except modeling underwear. I’ll do thatonlyfor you. My mom might have a heart attack if she saw me in a magazine wearing nothing but undies. Hell, my friends would print it out, tape it all over my house, and give me a copy on my eightieth birthday. I know this because that’s exactly what I’d do to them.”

Speaking of Mrs. Wu, I hadn’t met her yet. She’d been traveling with friends, but I spoke to her over the phone when Grayson mentioned he had a girlfriend. She wanted to meet me as soon as she got back. I didn’t know why, but I was nervous about it.

Grayson had a nice package that would sell. However, I was too selfish to display him to the world. I wanted him to be my sinful secret.

He narrowed his eyes at me. “Whatever is going on in your head must be dirty because those sexy lips and lust-filled eyes are telling a very interesting story. Are you imagining me as your naked model?”

“How did you know, Monsieur Wu?” I clasped his hand, dragged him over to the armchair across from the three-way mirror, and pushed him down into the seat.

His eyebrow arched. “What are you up to, Mademoiselle LaRue?”

I walked across the room to my phone, searched for the instrumental song, and hit play. Remaining there, I looked over at him sitting in his armchair like a king with a powerful red tie, all hot and bothered.

“I’m wondering how I can repay your generosity. You gave me your black American Express card to use. So I’m returning the favor with a Natalie Express card.” I placed a card I’d made with the cardstock on the table and stripped off the T-shirt, revealing the black lingerie he’d gotten me.

His gaze perused my body, heating me up as though his eyes were his hands. From across the room, his desire pushed me to my knees.

“You’re fucking hot,” he groaned. His face transformed into that of a predator.

“There are six digits to my pin.” I crawled over to him like a lioness ready to devour her mate.

He leaned forward, watching me.

“Pay attention to the six ways I’m going to love you.” I reached the armchair, kneeled between his legs, unzipped his pants, and wrapped my fingers over his burning hot cock.

“How often can I use the Natalie Express card?” He breathed heavily, gripping the armchair.

“Whenever you want. It doesn’t expire.”

CHAPTERTHIRTY-SIX

GRAYSON

A half-hour later, I tucked the Natalie Express card into my wallet with every intention of using it nightly. That woman’s creativity was unparalleled.

While she went to change to get ready for the event, I moved my clothes around, making more room for her. There was plenty of storage space for her belongings in any of the other four bedrooms, but I wanted her things in my dressing room. I’d never made room in my closet for any woman. The previous girlfriends left their belongings in the guest bedrooms, but I’d never offered or attempted to shift things around for them.

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