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“Thank you.” He winds an arm around my waist in a possessive hold. “I’m a lucky man.”

Claire smiles. “I’ll let you two enjoy your evening.”

With a parting wink, she sashays away.

I start to withdraw, but Connor’s arm tightens, keeping me anchored to his side.

“She thinks we’re a couple. Why not keep up the pretense just for tonight?”

“I thought she was flirting with you.”

“Flirting? No, we were just discussing business.” Connor’s fingers caress my waist. “You’re the only one I have eyes for. How could you think I was flirting with her?”

“I-I don’t know. It was stupid.”

“Nothing you’re feeling is stupid. I want to know when you feel like this.”

“I tend to overthink things sometimes. It’s just… I’ve never met anyone like you before.”

I chance a glance up at Connor. His expression is inscrutable, but his focus remains wholly on me.

“What do you mean?” he asks.

I take a deep breath. Might as well be honest if we’re going to move forward. “Most guys I’ve dated have either been completely self-absorbed or just wanted me for my last name. But you...”

“I what?”

“You actually seem to care.” I give a little self-deprecating laugh. “I’m not used to that. It makes me second guess things.”

Connor is silent for a moment. When he speaks again, his voice is low and intense. “I do care. More than you know.”

“Yeah…” Does he really or am I falling into a trap without knowing?

“This doesn’t do.” Connor drags me behind a pillar, caging me against it.

I glance around, but no one seems to notice.

He tuts in disapproval, tilting my chin toward him. “Eyes on me, Blue.”

I look up.

“Do you want to know what flirting really is?”

“No need. I already know.”

“I don’t think you do.” His voice drops an octave. “Flirting is me paying for your lunch, so I have an excuse to ask you to dinner.”

His other hand slides to the small of my back, pulling me flush against him. I’m helpless, my traitorous body melting into his.

“Flirting is me kissing you the first moment I saw you.” His lips brush the shell of my ear. “Flirting is me standing this close, teasing you while you get soaking wet for me.”

I whimper in response. No one has ever spoken to me like this before and normally I would be disgusted, but Connor… He is the exception to everything. Always has been.

“Flirting is me whispering in your ear how I want to watch you come undone beneath me while you scream my name.” His fingers dance across the nape of my neck. “How I want to bury my head between your thighs and lick your sweet p—”

“Enough!” I shove him back, my whole body trembling. Connor smirks at my reaction, clearly pleased with himself. “I get the picture.”

“Do you?” He stalks forward, caging me against the pillar once more. “Because I can give you another demonstration if you’d like.”

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