Page 70 of Playing Pretend

“What is it?” I kick off my shoes and pad to the bed, nervous butterflies filling my stomach.

“A gift.”

“I can see that. What’s it for?”

“Tonight.” He prowls toward me, stopping a foot away. “Call it part of the challenge. Or consider it a tool to prove you’re not the woman Julian thinks you are. Either way, it’s also punishment for leaving me alone all day.”

I grab the package and tear at one end of the wrapping paper, only to have his hand clamp down over mine.

“Before you get carried away, I want you to know I’ll be walking out of here as soon as it’s unwrapped. You made rules on this room being a friends-only zone, and what’s inside that box is far from friendly.”

A shiver skitters down my spine.

Far from friendly?

“I’ll keep up my end of the bargain, little Pip.” His expression turns intense, those hard, dark eyes quickening my pulse. “I won’t break my promises. And in return, you’ll make use of what’s in that box until I tell you otherwise.”

“I’ll make use of it?”

“You’ll wear it,” he clarifies. “At all times.”

Lingerie? Sordid underwear? “I guess this means you decided dirty words weren’t going to be enough.”

“I never said they would be. You assumed.”

Maybe it’s crotchless panties. Or edible. I could handle either. No big deal. As long as the rest of my body is covered and not scandalizing my co-workers I can breeze through a night in erotic unmentionables.

“I’ll wear it,” I say with confidence. “No problem at all.”

His lips kick, and the tantalizing thrill sparkling in his eyes grinds my confidence down a gear. “Don’t get too cocky, Pip. It’s a turn-on.”

My heart gallops. Sprints. “You don’t get to play the boyfriend role inside these four walls, remember?”

“My apologies.” He jerks his chin at the package again. “Go on. Open it.”

I ignore the goose bumps taking hold of my flesh, unfasten the tape on one side of the box, then peek around the paper to see bright pink writing against a black background.

Bluetooth. Whisper quiet. Silicone.

Excitement and nausea wage war in my gut as I inch more paper aside.

Versatile. G-spot friendly. Interactive.

I clamp my mouth shut. Aghast. Terrified.

“I’ll be waiting for you downstairs.” Rome retreats for the hall.

“Wait…” I keep my eyes locked on the box, my heart a rampant vulture in my throat.

“A promise is a promise, Pip. I won’t touch you. We won’t kiss. But you will wear it.” He opens the suite door with a whoosh.

“Stop.” I turn my gaze to his as he stands outside our room. I don’t know what to say. What to do. This is too much. The only thing I can think to ask is, “Why?”

“Because I can,” he states simply.Confidently. “It’s also the perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. Tonight, you’re going to prove to yourself that you’re far from cold. And there will also be valuable business lessons to—”

“This has nothing to do with business.”

“No?” He raises a brow. “Haven’t you already learned a valuable lesson—not to underestimate your counterpart?”

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