Page 39 of Captivated By You

Heat rushed to my face. I pressed the button for the elevator and declined to respond.

“Friends, remember,” he said. “Your rules, not mine.”

“As long as you play by them, we won’t have any problems.”

“Oh, I’ll play.” His eyes twinkled. “For as long as you wish.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “There’s a double meaning in there, Kingcaid.”

His features formed into the epitome of innocence as he pointed to himself. “Who, me?”

I gave him a dig with my elbow just as the elevator doors opened. “Am I going to have trouble with you?”

He shuddered and gave me a full head-to-toe eye sweep. “I sure hope so.”

I stepped into the elevator, and he followed. The second the doors closed, I realized my mistake. The smell of his cologne and the addictive scent ofhimfilled my nostrils, sending my head into a spin. I felt his eyes on me, and I didn’t need to look at him to know what I’d see.

Hunger. Desire. Raw need.

Exactly what he’d see in mine.

Shit, shit, shit.

I kept my gaze averted, but it didn’t help. The heat from his stare warmed every square inch of me.

Luckily, I only lived on the fifth floor, meaning the ride down to the lobby took less than fifteen seconds. I slipped through the doors before they’d properly opened, sucking in lungfuls of Asher-free air. The man should bottle that scent and sell it. He’d make a fortune.

I walked ahead of him, spilling out onto the street. The air was chilly, the breeze strong, and my hair blew across my face and stuck to my lip gloss. I freed it, tucking it behind my ear.

“We’re just along here.” Asher gestured to the right. “There wasn’t anywhere to park right outside your building.”

Ahead, I spotted a uniformed driver standing beside a stretch limousine. My jaw slackened. I’d only been in a limo once. For graduation. Mom and Dad had arranged it as a treat for me and Gia to arrive in style.

“Is this yours?”

He nodded. “It’s easier to get around if you have a driver. I love to drive, but not in the city. Give me an open road and a car with some grunt, and I’m in heaven.” He leaned in close enough that his warm breath feathered my neck. “Have I moved up from a five?”

I shivered, and not from the cold air. If this was how my body chose to react to him every time he came close, then I was in for a long, lust-filled night, one I couldnotact upon.

Nope. No. Absolutely not.

“Let’s call it an eight. There’s a long way to go. Don’t want you peaking too soon.”

Asher’s amused chuckle brought a smile to my lips. Not for the first time, I cursed whoever the God of relationships was for playing such a cruel trick on me. I’d found the perfect role to kick-start my career, in the perfect company, and the perfect guy I’d spent a perfect night with happened to be the fucking CEO. Gia thought I was being stubborn and stupid, but I could write a book for how it would go if I gave in.

Every time we had a disagreement, the first thing I’d think of was how he held my career in the palm of his hand.

Chances were, everyone at work would treat me differently.

They’d put the first promotion I achieved down to the fact that I’d slept with the boss rather than my hard work and determination to succeed.

If we broke up, I’d have no choice other than to leave. Which would suck big-time.

As he sat beside me, and the smell of leather and Asher filled the cabin, those four reasons for resisting him were going to have to become my mantra.

Otherwise, I was doomed.

“Where are you taking me?”

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