Page 22 of Pleasure Payback

‘No,’ Tyler piped up. ‘We hoped you’d be on board too but Nevirna was always our target. No offence.’

‘None taken. For your sake, I hope your gamble pays off,’ Damian said in a cool tone.

‘So what happens now?’ Sam asked me.

‘Now I get my lawyers to put together a contract package. I expect Mr Mortimer will also do the same. But before that I’d love to see a real-life sample of your work.’ I already had my ideal fantasy room in mind.

‘Of course,’ Tyler responded immediately. ‘We’d love to show you a full scale of our work. We put a few of our outfitters on notice on the off-chance we might need them. We’re at your disposal to start immediately if you wish.’

Impressed by their forward thinking, I reached into my jacket and handed over my business card. ‘You’ll have my email with specifications within the hour and I’ll tell my hotel manager to expect your call. She’ll have a room ready for you to start on tomorrow. But that means you’ll have to travel to Westport tonight.’

‘No problem,’ Sam said.

‘And when you’re done with Neve’s place, you will do one of mine,’ Damian added. ‘I’d also like a demonstration before I fully commit.’ He addressed the twins but his gaze was fixed squarely on me.

Immediately lewd images invaded my brain, supplying reel after reel of every hot, dirty fantasy I wanted to indulge in with him.

‘Will it be at Mortimer Plaza?’ Sam’s excitement broke into my lurid thoughts.

Damian’s gaze darkened, as if he’d read my filthy fantasies. ‘I’ll decide on a location later. But we’ll both inspect the finished work to make sure we are on board. Which means I’m coming to Westport too. Any objections?’ He directed the question to me.

I forced an easy shrug, despite the wild blaze invading my pelvis. ‘Not at all.’

Damian shot a few pertinent questions at them. I parried with a few of my own. Then we parted company.

The moment our mics were taken off, Damian stepped closer. Against my will my breath caught, every sense vividly aware of the way his broad shoulders blocked out the rest of the room. Hell, even his five o’clock shadow made my fingers itch for its rough bristle against my skin.

‘You think you can let go now, express how you really feel?’ he rasped.

‘Excuse me?’

‘The buttoned-up poker face thing is great when you don’t want to give yourself away but surely you can crack a smile now you’ve won?’

‘I’ll consider it a true win when you’re not affiliated with any of this.’

Dammit.

I pressed my lips shut but it was too late.

Laser eyes narrowed. ‘Why does my presence bother you so much?’

‘It doesn’t,’ I snapped with excessive heat and instantly knew I’d left myself wide open to the dark speculation growing in his eyes.

‘Then you won’t object to a sit-down tonight to discuss the best way forward with this deal,’ he parried smoothly. So smoothly, I didn’t feel the shackles closing in until I was trapped.

He knew I’d planned to return home to Westport tonight, having heard me say as much to the director when we’d discussed the final segment of shooting.

But he wouldn’t throw me that easily.

I made the exaggerated show of looking at my watch. ‘I can delay my car service for an hour...’ I raised an eyebrow when he shook his head.

‘For a deal worth over half a million dollars, surely you’ll want to devote more time than a measly hour to this?’ he drawled in that laconic way that was at odds with the dangerous fire gleaming in his eyes.

I sucked in a slow steadying breath, aware that his gaze was moving over me again, lingering at my throat, on my breasts. Making me hot and hungry when I needed a cool head.

The goal here was sexual domination. My domination.My win.‘Fine. I’ll give you two hours.’

He nodded. ‘Perfect for dinner. I’ll book us a table at Mortimer Plaza—’

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