Page 34 of Pleasure Payback

It grew worse when his elbows landed on the hard wooden surface, his bare forearms drawing my gaze to the wispy hairs that covered his golden skin.

It was hard to swallow, just thinking about his hard, packed body. Only the sound of his voice drew my attention back to his insanely gorgeous face.

I grimaced inwardly. This was going to be much harder than I’d thought. Relief spiked through me when my phone buzzed. I pounced on my clutch, fished out my phone and read the message.

‘It’s Tyler. They’ve arrived in Westport and are already setting up.’ I sent a quick reply and placed my phone on the counter.

His lips twisted. ‘Now that we’ve established where we both stand from two years ago, are you going to clue me in on whatever you have planned?’

I didn’t even bother to deny the allegation. ‘No.’

‘Getting back to business for a minute, I’m prepared, if the trial period is successful, to throw the PR and marketing skills of The Mortimer Group behind this project. For free.’

My hackles rose. ‘I don’t need your charity, especially if you think it’ll grant you special privileges of the sexual kind.’

‘I prefer to see it as goodwill. You seem to think this is just a whim for me. I’m giving you my word that I’m committed to this project and will stick to the agreements we make.’

‘I have a solid marketing department of my own, thanks.’

He eyed me. ‘You don’t have to give up control to get what you need, Neve. Not unless you expressly wish to.’

My heart lurched, then kept on falling as I spotted the astute intelligence in his eyes. Somehow he’d latched onto my governing essence. The one that warned against giving in to the reckless lust prowling inside me. Not until I could handle any fallout.

We sized each other up for a long stretch. And even after my gaze dropped I knew he was still staring at me because my whole body tingled wildly. I set my glass down between his outstretched forearms and resisted the temptation to trail my fingers over his skin.

‘I have an early start. I’m going to call it a night.’

‘You haven’t finished your drink.’

I shrugged as my phone buzzed again. Tyler, with gushing remarks about the Westport resort that made me smile. Soothed me in ways I hadn’t known I needed.

‘Tyler again?’ Damian asked curtly when I set the phone down.

‘Hmm. He likes the resort.’

Damian snorted.

‘Problem?’

His smile was cocky. ‘None that I foresee.’

His arrogance grated.

‘You sure?’ I goaded.

‘You want me, Neve. You might be a little conflicted right now about how much but we’ll work through it.’

The grounded assurance in his voice made something fragile lurch inside me. ‘Why should I go through the trouble? Why not pick someone else entirely to scratch my itch who isn’t you?’

Thunder rumbled over his face, devouring his cockiness. ‘If you’re trying to pick another fight with me, forget it. You want me just as badly as I want you. You’re not going to fuck anyone else just to spite me.’

Again his conceit grated. Badly. I forced a smile as I rounded the bar. ‘I guess if you say so then it must be true,’ I mocked.

He caught hold of me before I could walk past him. ‘Tell me this is another game,’ he breathed, irritation stamped all over his face that made me want to smile and smile and smile.

‘Why, Damian? Would it bother you?’

His lips flattened as if he didn’t want to answer. Then, ‘Yes, it’ll fucking bother me. I don’t know what the hell you think you’re playing at but—’

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