Page 30 of Arrogant and Merciless

“One cocktail. But I’m a lightweight.”

“You know who I am?”

“Yes, I do, Dr. William Randolph Marshallthe fourth.”

He pulls back just enough to see me properly. “Let’s get out of here. I’ll take you home.”

“Oh no you don’t. If you just came here to ruin my night, you can turn around and leave. Jackie said she’d wait for me on the dance floor if you acted like a jerk.”

“Who’s Jackie?”

“My friend. She’s having fun, and she told me I could go back to her if you didn’t treat me right. But for the record, you moved up in her estimation by coming after me,” I finish, laughing.

He steps in closer, and I feel a wall behind me. “You wouldn’t find my showing up so amusing if you knew I intended to seduce you.”

My heart pounds even harder. “Seduce me? There’s nothing between us. You don’t trust me. You hinted that I let your father come on to me.”

“I don’t trust anyone but Maryann, so it’s nothing against you specifically.”

I both hate and admire his candor. “But you still want me,” I say, basically echoing his words.

He lowers his head and grazes my earlobe with his teeth. “I want you like I’ve never wanted another woman. But when I do finally eat you up, you’ll be sober. You’ll remember it—and more importantly, you’ll feel every inch of my cock claiming you.”

A delicious pressure builds deep in my lower belly, and I clamp my thighs together in an effort to keep some control. Otherwise, I might end up jumping into his arms. “For someone so powerful, you’ve got a filthy mouth.”

“For someone so young, youenjoymy filthy mouth—or you wouldn’t be squeezing your thighs together. You’re dying of desire.”

I lick my lips, feeling like I’m parched. I know it’s not from the alcohol I drank—I’m thirsty for him.

“Go on. Do what you want to do,” he says.

“I don’t want to do anything.”

“You’re a lying drunk.”

“I’m not drunk. Not really.”

“But you are lying.”

I shrug, pretending his warm breath and intense gaze aren’t making me soaking wet between my legs. “You do kiss well. It was the best kiss I’ve ever had, but that’s not saying much,” I lie.

“Not saying much? You’re hungry for me too, Taylor,” he whispers, pressing his lips to mine. “You really want my tongue inside you.”

Good Lord, this man has a gift for making me think dirty thoughts.

He doesn’t wait for my answer and lightly licks my mouth.

The softness and heat of his lips make me surrender in the blink of an eye. I part mine, and when I feel his tongue teasing mine, I let out a sigh and give in completely.

William’s kiss isn’t the harsh kind; it’s seductive. Possessive and firm. As dominant as he is in every other way.

Everything his tongue does in this simple kiss has me moaning, wanting more—wanting everything.

I stand on my tiptoes and grip his hair, showing him the only way I know how just how affected I am, that I wouldn’t deny him anything at this moment.

I feel feverish, silently praying he won’t stop kissing me. But then someone bumps into him, sending his body crashing into mine, and he breaks our connection.

“Come on, let’s go upstairs,” he says.

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