Page 7 of The Princess Trap
“Cherry,” he said again, his voice soft. People tended to say her name a lot—as if they couldn’t quite believe that it was really her name. Which, to be fair, they probably couldn’t.
The corner of his lips kicked up in a lazy sort of smirk, the kind that was self-assured enough to speed up her pulse. Confidence was another thing that Cherry loved. Not that it mattered.
She cleared her throat and assumed her most professional voice—not the childish trill she’d put on for Chris that morning, but something closer to her usual self. “How can I help you, Mr. Ambjørn?”
His lips twisted, part amusement and part discomfort. “Ruben. Just call me Ruben.”
I’d rather not. It gives me ideas.“Alright. Ruben.”
He ran a hand through his hair, pushing the dark, wavy strands off of his face. They sprang back into place immediately. “Listen,” he said slowly. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. Feel free to tell me to go fuck myself…”
Fuckyourself? That would be an awful waste.
“But I was wondering if we could have lunch together?”
Cherry blinked. “You mean… you’d like company in the cafeteria?”
He licked his lips, gave her that little smile again. “I mean I’d likeyourcompany. Anywhere.”
“Oh.” Cherry wasn’t usually this slow on the uptake. She blamed the breadth of his shoulders beneath his deep blue suit. Jas had been right. Hewasincredibly well-dressed.
But he’d look far better naked.
He was staring at her like there was nothing else in the room. Nothing else in theworld. But she shouldn’t be flattered. He was that kind of guy, probably—focused. She wondered if he’d kiss like that, with all that burning intensity. If he did, she might faint.
No, she wouldn’t faint. She’d be too busy ripping his clothes off.
“I don’t know,” she said finally. “I am the Deputy Head of HR, you know.”
He rolled his eyes. “Head of this, Deputy of that. This school is ridiculous.”
“Academy,” she corrected.
He smirked. “Ah, yes. How could I forget?” Then he reached out and captured her hand in his. Just like that. Cherry used casual touches herself, often—they worked psychological wonders, after all—but this?
His skin was warm and slightly rough, his hand dwarfing hers. He ran his thumb over the back of her knuckles, and a spark of electricity trailed from the point where they touched to the tips of her tightening nipples. With every stroke of his thumb, the current pulsed harder. Fuck.
“Let me take you out,” he said softly. It was less of a suggestion, more of a command. Everything he said possessed an edge of confidence, the kind that made it clear he was used to being obeyed. That shouldn’t have added to Cherry’s attraction, but she was a grown woman; she’d learned awhile back thatshouldandshouldn’thad little bearing on reality.
“Is this how you usually do things?” she asked. “You find a woman, tell her what you want, and she just… goes along with it?”
He gave her a smile that was almost predatory. “Something like that.”
Made sense. He had some kind of celebrity entourage and was being courted by Chris, so he was probably a prospective sponsor. Which meant he must be rich as hell and powerful to boot.
She opened her mouth to say “There’s no fucking way I’m going out with you.”
But what she actually said was, “Okay.”
Oh, dear.
Before she could think of a polite way to retract her agreement, he smiled.Reallysmiled, a grin that was full and bright and utterly unstudied. He looked happy. Less like a ruthless seducer of not-so-innocent women and more like a kid who’d been allowed a treat.
And then, to make things even worse, he said, “Thank you.”
Well, she told herself, she couldn’t change her mindnow. He might be sad. And she’d hate to make him sad.
Right. Because youalwaysput the needs of random men above your own.
