Page 56 of The Reluctant Billionaire

‘Are you saying you used me?’ I ask her, raising my eyebrows in a way I hope is intimidating.

‘Absolutely,’ she says decisively. ‘And you railed the living daylights out of me, and I considered it the least you could do.’

I let the hand on her waist slide lower to grab her arse. ‘Is that why you kicked me out afterwards?’ I ask in a low, ominous voice.

She doesn’t flinch. ‘Yep. I may have enjoyed your body, but I wasn’t about to let you get intimate with me up here’—she taps her temple—‘when you had no intention of telling me who you were.’

‘You should have come clean,’ I tell her.

I swear her dark eyes have ignited with anger. ‘You should have come cleanis not a line you get to say to me, dickhead.’

I can’t help the grin that breaks out. ‘Touché.’ I cup her arse harder and press her against my thickening cock as I tighten my hold on her neck, my mouth lowering to her ear. ‘So, are you telling me you’re only attracted to me if you convince yourself I’m some sort of rough ’n’ ready builder? You’re not attracted to me now you see the full picture?’

‘Nope,’ she says breathily against me, her hands flexing against my pecs. ‘No interest whatsoever. I told you, I’m sick of rich pricks. I only want the animal version of you.’

‘Hmm,’ I say, massaging her arse through this very sexy little dress and trying not to laugh, because she is ridiculous. ‘What a shame.’ I flick her earlobe with my bottom lip and feel her shudder gratifyingly in my arms. ‘So I should take you back to that shitty pub again if I want my way with you—you’re not remotely interested in me fucking you in my office.’

She turns her head towards me, pressing her jaw against my mouth. ‘Does absolutely nothing for me,’ she lies smoothly as she grinds her pelvis against my dick.

It’s time to call her bluff. ‘Got it,’ I say and release her, stepping backwards.

She stares at me in shock from hooded eyes before her gaze drops to my crotch. She actually gapes, in fact. Her nipples look set to rip through the fabric of that expensive dress at any second.

‘Not fair,’ she stammers.

I smile, the corners of my mouth curving up in evil glee. I’m really enjoying this.

‘You should know before you go,’ I say, ‘that if you think for a second there isn’t an animal lurking in plain sight here, you’re even less observant than I thought you were, and that’s saying something. Anyway, I’ll see you tomorrow. Tish’ll escort you out.’

She pouts. ‘Aide.’

‘Yeah?’

‘I want you to show me.’ She takes a step towards me.

‘Show you what?’ I ask, although I already know.

‘Show me what’s underneath. I want to see what you’re capable of. All this’—she throws her arms wide—‘has me rattled. I need to know you’re the same guy I—’

‘The same guy you what?’ I prompt gently, because this vulnerable, soft, unsure version of my little hellcat has my heart beating faster even than the cocky, knowingly seductive side.

‘The same guy I couldn’t stop fixating on last week,’ she says haltingly, ‘and all weekend, after you left. Otherwise it’s like I fucked someone who doesn’t actually exist, and that’s just depressing.’

‘Jesus, Lotts.’ I close the space between us and grip her jaw in my hand, angling her face up towards me. ‘I fucking exist.Everythingfrom the other night was real, okay? And I’m so sorry if I made you doubt that.’

‘Then show me,’ she says, her eyes huge.

‘I will,’ I tell her. ‘Get on the sofa, sweetheart. On your stomach.’

22

AIDE

It hasn’t escaped my notice while running my hands over her body that this dress of hers has a chunky zip running its entire length. A zip I suspect will be my ally now.

She turns towards the huge, modular sofa, glancing at me over her shoulder, and I nod my encouragement.

Yep.

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