Page 12 of Tempt

Theo was so many lines I shouldn’t cross, and not one of them mattered enough to stop me. Not when this powerful man who no one else seemed to really know was standing in front of me looking as open and confused as he ever allowed himself to be.

“Are you still trying to scare me away, Theo? If you are, you’re not very good at it.”

He smiled. Just a little. It made his scars disappear and lit up his eyes. “You were right. You don’t scare easily.”

“You’re not very scary.”

He shook his head. “Most people wouldn’t agree.”

I looked at his suit and his beard, the faint hint of a dimple hidden under his whiskers, and the way his eyes were boring into me. “I don’t think most people know you the way I do.”

He froze. I’d challenged him. Called him out. But was he going to run or stay?

“You think you know me after a dance and a minute in the lift?” He swallowed.

I nodded, looking him directly in the eye. “I know you don’t say ninety-nine percent of what you think. I know you care a helluva lot about other people. I know you can dance.” I bit my lip as memories of his body moving in time with mine flashed through my mind. “I know some things.”

He didn’t move or breathe for so long I wondered if I should say something else, but then he shook his head a small smile pulled up one corner of his mouth. “I think I’m the one that should be scared.” He paused and took a slow breath. “I don’t think I’ll be able to stop at a kiss with you.”

“That’s perfectly fine with me.”

His eyes darkened again and I could see a million thoughts flying through his head. “I don’t want to lead you on. I don’t have time for—”

“A relationship?” I interrupted. I could put those fears to rest real fast. I wasn’t looking for one either. I just wanted in his pants. I needed these daydreams and fantasies to stop taking up my free time. I needed to get Theo Sutherland out of my system.

“Yes,” he said. “I work ungodly hours and half of what they write about me is true. I don’t get out much, I’m not a friendly person, and I don’t have time for fun.”

I slid backward onto the conference table and crossed my legs. “No fun at all?” I was willing to bet he was at least alittlebit fun.

He didn’t play along with my game. “Do you understand, Allison?” His voice dropped back into the sex-growl I already loved so much. It bordered on that cold, angry personality he was famous for, without crossing the line.

I quite liked it.

“I understand much more than you realize.” Now that we were having a real conversation I could finally put all the pieces together. Theo didn’t keep his distance from everyone because he didn’t care. He kept his distance because he cared too much. I could see how much emotion and need was running wild in his eyes.

Running with nowhere to escape to.

I could be that escape. “I know you’re all big and important, but have you stopped to consider my needs?” Theo was over focused on himself. I needed to flip the script before I lost him to his doubts. “I’m not here for very long. I don’t really know anyone all that well. My focus is to advance my career. I have goals, Theo. Very important ones. And it would be nice to have a little fun and let off some steam with someone I like.”

He stepped into me and placed his large palm on the exposed part of my thigh. I sighed and closed my eyes, relishing every moment of contact between us.

“You like me?”

I opened my eyes and looked directly into his. “I like your body. I love the way you dance. And I appreciate that you have your own life—and you will not complicate mine.” I didn’t say that I also liked his eyes and his smile, or the way my heart raced out of control when he was around.

“Two way street then?”

I uncrossed my legs. “How does it make you feel when you touch me?” I already knew the answer. I could see his erection.

“Honestly?” He squeezed my leg. “It feels terrifying.”

This time my breath hitched. The way he said that… Oh, it was a promise that sex would be good. The kind where neither of us could maintain any control. The kind that led to dark places filled with intense satisfaction.

“It doesn’t sound terrifying to me. It sounds perfect. This is really very simple, Theo. I’m attracted to you, you’re attracted to me. If we fuck like we dance then we’re both going to have a fantastic time. We’ll both keep this quiet and if we haven’t ended things by the time I head home, then we’ll have a nice clean break when I do.”

Except I had no idea when I was headed home anymore. Margaret had already extended my contract by a month and Luis was lobbying for another six months.

But Theo didn’t need to know that.

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