Her green eyes sparkle. “Wouldn’t have thought either of you cared,” she says. “Don’t both of you own half the skyscrapers on Billionaires’ Row?”

I raise my brows. “We own property, yes. From decades of working hard and building a successful media conglomerate. Do you believe it’s a crime to own property as a New Yorker?”

“No,” she says, not thrown off by my question. “But I dowishit was a crime to be a hypocrite.”

My amusement seeps away for the first time since our conversation started. “We’re hypocrites? How?”

“Because you are billionaires,” she says, “and you’re a huge reason why rents have skyrocketed. And now, all of a sudden, you want to fix the homelessness problem?” She gives a tiny snigger. “Yeah, right.”

I strive to keep my jaw relaxed and to eradicate any trace of irritation from my expression. I don't find her half as enchanting as I did a second ago, and I'm more than ready for this party to conclude. Nevertheless, as a critical member of my brother's campaign team, it's my responsibility to persuade her to vote for him.

I begin to provide an explanation, but at that moment, a remorseful expression flits across her face. She steps closer and places her hand on my arm.

“I’m sorry,” she mutters, flashing a smile. “That was rude. I don’t like billionaires too much. But I shouldn’t have jumped at you like that. Maybe Ishouldhave started with a simple introduction. I’m Georgina.”

My annoyance dissipates. Her touch is lighter than a feather, yet it sends tendrils of pleasure shooting through my body.

“Georgina,” I repeat, thinking of what it would feel like to say her name while I thrust into her.

Lord, do I want her.

Just then, there’s a tinkling of a teaspoon against a glass, and I look towards the center of the hall to see most of the guests gathered around the newlywed couple, who are grinning as they stand in front of their monstrously giant wedding cake, preparing to slice it.

Georgina turns away from me, and I catch a glint of a smile in her eyes as she stares at her friend. When I glance at Theo, there is relief on his face as the people around him disperse, heading for the crowd around the newlyweds.

“Your friend will be throwing her bouquet any moment now,” I say, stepping up behind her. Cheers go up when Andrea and Ian jointly drive a knife through the cake and begin feeding each other. “You should go join the other ladies.”

“No, thanks,” she mutters. “I don’t like weddings, either.”

I want to touch her. But I settle for moving closer and bending my head as I whisper in her ear.

“Whatdoyou like, Georgina?”

A soft sigh escapes her lips. “Well…” she murmurs, taking a small step toward me, the gap between us becoming slimmer, “talking to politicians about their agenda, for one.”

I can't resist any longer. Standing just an inch away from me is the most captivating and attractive woman I've ever encountered at any tedious gathering I've had to attend. Without thinking, I reach out and wrap my fingers around her waist. “We've already established that,” I inform her, pulling her in.

Another sigh escapes her lips, a louder, sultrier one, and my groin stirs. I’m thankful we are in an obscure corner of the reception hall and that every single eye is on Andrea as she tries to throw her flower bouquet.

“We have,” Georgina says, her voice huskier than a second ago. She presses herself flush against me.

My stomach burns with pleasure.

She’s caved in.

The bulge in my pants is grinding against her, and I’m almost bursting, thinking about how much I want to claim her. As much as I want to ask her to leave with me, the prospect of dragging this out pleases me more.

I tighten my hold on her waist, loving the way the tiny motion causes another sigh to fall from her lips. I’m close enough to catch the whiff of her fruity perfume and inhale the syrupy smell of her hair conditioner. “My brother and Iarebillionaires,” I say, knowing she’s barely listening. Shecan’tlisten, not now, when we’re both thinking of how much we want each other. “We have invested in real estate over the years.”

“And now he’s a politician,” she breathes, sounding as though she’s trying very hard to focus on the conversation.

I push myself closer to her, a shudder of pleasure running through me as my cock makes firmer contact with her. Her sharp intake of breath tells me she feels my hardness. I wait for her to pull away and make up an excuse to leave.

But she doesn’t, because she’s as much under my spell as I am under hers.

“Yes,” I say, searching the crowd with my gaze to ensure everyone is still focused on Andrea and no one is looking over at us, “but it doesn’t matter, even in the slightest.”

“But…” she starts. I dig my fingers into her waist, and her words trail off as she relaxes against my body. My own body burns with need for her. “But how is he going to fix the homelessness problem? By passing a law that bans landlords from increasing rent at breakneck speed?”