Page 34 of The Man of the Hour

“Hi.” Sonia squinted at him.

Her close inspection made him prickle. At least she’d given him a greeting. “Is everything okay? “

“I’m trying to detect a soul behind those pretty eyes.” Sonia peered closer, then shrugged. “I give up. Come in.”

Brendan entered, closing the door behind him. The dark house yawned behind Sonia. Long, narrow windows on either side of the door let in the last streaks of post-sunset light.

“No soul, huh?” He offered a smile. “I thought your opinion of me had improved.”

“I still think you’re a manipulative bastard,” Sonia said casually. “You’re just more interesting now.”

“Got it. Don’t you want to know what I think of you?”

“I don’t care what you think of me. You want to fuck me; that’s all that matters.”

Okay, then.Brendan glanced around the front hall. “Beautiful house.” His eyes lingered on an oil painting, a silk tapestry above a carved wooden table, and a gold-framed mirror on the opposite wall. This was not early-twenties, recently-out-of-college décor. Who the hell did Sonia live with?

“We can skip the small talk,” Sonia said abruptly.

Brendan’s hand twitched at his side. Cocking his head, his eyes roved over Sonia. “You’re doing what I want, right? Well, I like small talk.”

“No, you don’t,” she scoffed. “No one does.”

“Sure I do. It’s relaxing.”

“One more piece of evidence that you’re not actually human.”

Brendan blinked. “Well, that’s a new one. Does it go along with being the devil incarnate?” A reluctant laugh left Sonia’s mouth. “See? I got you to laugh. Feels good, doesn’t it?”

“Is this your version of small talk?” she countered.

He took a step toward her and curled his finger under her chin, lifting her jaw to make her eyes meet his. Her full lips parted, and he pictured his cock sinking between them.

“I’d like to chat for a minute,” he said softly. “Just a friendly little conversation.”

Sonia heaved a sigh of annoyance. “Fine,” she said. “Nice suit. Did you come straight from work?”

He patted the lapels of his navy-blue jacket. “I did. But I put this on just for you.”

“Liar.”

“It’s true. I keep a spare in my office.”

“How well-prepared.” Her chest heaved, inches from his. “I can’t wait to find out how fast you run in it.”

Behind Sonia, Brendan saw that she’d obeyed him to the letter, turning off every light. She was ready as soon as he gave the word. Her body arched with tension, poised to turn and flee.

Doubts poured in. Sonia was strong,but her head didn’t even reach his shoulder. As she gazed up at him with those big brown eyes, she seemed softer. More vulnerable.

How could he do to Sonia what he really wanted? The darker fantasies that kept intruding as he tried to plan the evening?

It wasn’t a fair match.

She’d find out just how bad he was.

Worse still — so would he.

He had no idea what would rise to the surface once he yanked off his golden-boy mask. Or if he could even remove it.

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