Page 30 of The Billionaire's Temptation

Chad tried to stand up, but he was still shaky on his feet. Slowly, he managed it. But his eyes conveyed his fury. Chad backed out of the bedroom, clutching at his now tender throat. “I see how it is,” he grumbled, his eyes flicking back and forth between them. He sneered at Clarissa. “You just wanted me out of the way so you could f…” Chad didn’t say the word, wisely stopping as Levi stepped menacingly toward him.

“That’s fine,” Chad sneered. “You can have the little bitch. You can’t make silk out of a sow’s ear,” he said, and spun on his heel, hurrying out of the bedroom before Levi could reach him.

Clarissa stared at Levi, watching as his muscles flexed along his back. Did he think of her as a sow’s ear? Was it obvious that she didn’t belong in this world?

Well, perhaps she didn’t belong. But had she ever cared about that before?

Levi turned and looked at her. “Are you okay?”

Clarissa stared at Levi and forced her lips to curl upwards. “Of course I’m okay. The harsh words of a man like Chad can’t hurt me. He’s a leech on society.”

He nodded, but didn’t smile. “I have to get to work. Are you going to be okay today?”

Clarissa smiled, curling her legs underneath her as she held the sheet up. “I’m fine,” she assured him. “In fact, I will call in sick to work today because Mr. Silverman scheduled a meeting later this morning with my accountant.”

Her statement was true, but she didn’t give a damn about the meeting. She cared what Levi thought about her. Was she just a one-night stand? Did he see her as some sort of trailer-park trash? The kind of woman that he could have fun with, but not a woman worthy of becoming serious about?

The fact that he was already grabbing his dress shirt and pulling it on over his deliciously broad shoulders indicated the answer.

“You have to leave?” she asked, her voice as controlled as she could manage.

He didn’t even pause as he walked over to collect his wallet and keys. “I have something urgent to deal with,” he told her, looking at his watch as he buttoned up his dress shirt.

Clarissa was more hurt than she cared to admit, even to herself. Trying to appear casual, she pushed a pillow behind her back and tried to smile. “Okay.” She desperately wanted to know if he’d call her, or even better, if she’d see him again tonight. But apparently, thiswasa one-night stand. His rushing out the door as soon as physically possible was enough evidence that he regretted letting down his guard last night. He obviously wanted to get away.

So be it, she thought resentfully. She wasn’t trash. She was a vibrant, beautiful woman, inside and out! So what if she was in a strange, difficult world filled with social and legal minefields? Clarissa was no stranger to difficulties! She’d gotten through too many challenges, overcome too many obstacles in her life. Being rich was just one more obstacle to her happiness.

Levi hurriedly grabbed his tie and draped it around his neck, wishing that he could crawl right back into bed with Clarissa and spend the next two weeks getting to know her amazing body, as well as delight in her intelligent mind.

But he’d let down his guard last night and now she was in danger. He had to speak with Hendrix. They needed to hire someone to protect his…Clarissa. No, he mentally shook his head. He needed to protect his woman. He’d resisted her long enough. Last night had proven that he wasn’t able to resist her any longer. She was just too damn…perfect!

“I’m going to…” he stopped, his body aching to rush over to kiss her goodbye. But if he did that, he wouldn’t make it out of the house.

“”You’re going to…?” Clarissa prompted, biting her full lower lip worriedly.

Levi groaned, watching those pretty, white teeth as they nervously bit down on her swollen lower lip. She was so damn sexy! Did she even know what she was doing to him? Clarissa was the epitome of sexual temptation. With just the white sheet draped over all of the tempting bits, she was driving him wild.

“I have to go!” he announced again and turned, determined to resist her siren’s call. No kisses! He paused at the door, wanting just a soft, sweet kiss to get him through the next few hours. He turned and looked back at her. For a few seconds, he contemplated going to her and just ignoring everything he needed to do. But he knew he’d never leave her bed if he didn’t go now.

Would that be a problem? He could protect her properly if he was here. But what about when he wasn’t here? Who would protect her then?

Of course, he could just stay with her forever. Hell, he could create a job for her at his office and then she’d be with him all day, every day!

He liked that plan! It could work. But what if she went shopping? Or wanted to get her nails done? Levi wasn’t exactly sure what getting one’s nails “done” entailed, but he was pretty sure that she couldn’t do it at his office where he could protect her.

Wait! Why couldn’t she? Hell, he could even have someone bring her clothing when she wanted to shop!

Rubbing a hand over his face, he sighed heavily. “I have to get some things…set up. Can I call you later?” he asked, knowing that he couldn’t keep Clarissa nearby all the time. He couldn’t put her into a prison, even a gilded one. So he’d have to do the next best thing. He would get her a bodyguard. And a better security system. Obviously, Chad and Blaire knew the codes to the current system, so everything would have to be changed. Levi wanted everything in this house upgraded and better, more advanced systems installed immediately!

“Okay,” he heard her reply in a small voice.

Was there hurt in her tone? He turned to look back at her. Clarissa was staring down at her lap. Immediately, his heart ached at the sadness there. He couldn’t leave her like this!

Retracing his steps, he knew the moment she stiffened from his closeness. Bending over her, he braced one hand on the mattress beside her and another on the ornate headboard behind her.

“You’re so beautiful!” he growled, then kissed her gently. When her lips trembled under his, he nearly gave in to his need and rejoined her in the bed. However, the need to keep her safe was stronger than his need to make love to her again, so he pulled back, determined to do the right thing.

“I’ll see you later.” And then he pushed away from the most tempting woman he’d ever met.

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