Page 76 of Dangerous Temptation
He shook his head. ‘I have two more sets to go.’
‘Are you sure?’
He finally rolled his head towards her. When he caught a look at what she was wearing, his arms dropped in slow motion to his sides. ‘Damn.’
She ran the toes of her right foot up the line of her left shin. She’d hoped she could get his attention. Looping the tie of the hoodie around her finger, she watched him, smoky-eyed.
He sagged on the bench, some of that enormous cloud of anger over him dissipating. ‘Elena.’
She walked towards him, feeling his gaze stroke down her legs. She’d never felt like she had long legs before, but his stare dragged on for ever. It made her feel slinky and sexy.
Even if all she was wearing was a plain grey hoodie.
He sat up as she came near, but she caught his shoulders and stopped him standing up. Swinging her leg over the bench, she straddled him. Watching his expression, she lowered herself onto his lap.
His hands settled naturally upon her waist. Curious, she pressed her palms against his chest. His skin was warm and sweaty, but underneath his muscles were fiery hot. No wonder they looked as if they’d been chiselled from steel. He pushed himself to the extreme.
‘Was the meeting that bad?’ she asked.
‘I’ve been to better.’
‘I watched the streaming video of the shareholder portion online. Bankruptcy?’
‘It’s the only way. Better to bury this thing and move on.’
The muscles under her fingertips quivered almost imperceptibly. The tiny fibres had been broken down so they could repair and grow back stronger. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said.
He scowled. ‘Why?’
‘That company was your family’s legacy. It’s been around for generations.’
‘Until my grandfather killed it.’
And her father. Guilt settled in her chest. ‘Are you sure it can’t be saved?’
‘Only at the expense of the shareholders, and I won’t do that. They’ve already been through enough.’ He wiped the sweat from his brow. As confident as he sounded in his recommendation, it still had him worked up. ‘Besides, I’ve already started another company. If there’s going to be any family legacy … Well, that remains to be seen.’
Her caress slowed, and the rest of that thought remained unsaid. For a legacy to be passed on, he’d need to have a family first. Something shifted inside her chest.
But that was a subject for another day. In the distant future.
Right now, they had other issues to address, primarily his bad mood.
She was sitting on his lap, wearing nothing but his favourite fleece jacket. He was bare-chested in nylon shorts and cross-trainers.
And leather gloves.
A few ideas came to mind.
She trembled as his hands stroked her thighs. The weight-lifting gloves covered his palms and the base of his fingers. They protected his hands from blisters, and the wraps around his wrists lowered the chance of injury. The combination of leather and bare flesh felt foreign. Erotic.
He squeezed lightly. ‘Speaking of shareholders, why didn’t you tell me about your mother?’
Her gaze jumped up to his. ‘What about her?’
‘She’s an investor,’ he growled. ‘One who got burned.’
Elena looked away. ‘It’s old news.’
