Page 26 of The Prince's Game
“I have that effect on people.” Sarcasm was my defense mechanism. His words were touching me in places they shouldn’t. “So what’s this about the yacht?”
“Episode four. Tomorrow is a Mississippi River cruise with the girls who didn’t go to Bourbon Street. Monday is elimination day, and Tuesday is yacht day with all fourteen of the final contestants. Unless Paul gets his way and we have a dance class instead.”
Well, that sounds wonderful.“So I’m adding wine to my list. At least two bottles with the phone charger.”
“Yeah? In exchange for more kissing andheavypetting?”
“Bring them with you tomorrow night and find out. As well as the contract. I need that so I can call my boss and give him the bad news.” I cringed at the thought of that conversation. “He’s going to hate me for giving no notice.” Explaining I was on a dating show would not help my case. Chances were he would laugh and assume it was all a joke.
Evan tucked a strand of hair behind my ear before tracing my jaw with the pad of his index finger. “Tell him I offered you a job you couldn’t refuse. It wouldn’t technically be a lie, and it saves you from explaining your involvement on the show.”
“Until he hears about it a few months from now.”
“Maybe, maybe not. Is your manager the kind of person who watches the Romance Network for Women?”
I laughed at the idea of Greg watching a cheesy romance film. “Yeah, he’s not the type.” But I saw his point. My boss would never know I went on this ridiculous show unless his wife watched it. “Does it break the contract if I tell him I’m working for you?”
He shrugged. “I’m not worried about it. If he looks into it, he’ll find out you’re on the show and assume that’s what you meant.”
“Then he’ll think I lied.” Better to tell Greg the truth about the show and bite my pride. Rachel was right about kissing any recommendations good-bye. Accepting his offer was a gamble, but the promise at the end was worth the risk. Spending time with him like this was an added bonus. He made an excellent pillow despite being ninety-five percent muscle. “When do you get time to work out?”
His hand was on my back again, exploring my shoulder blades and fondling my hair. “First thing in the morning. I like to run, but I lift at least three times a week. How about you? All these curves are underlined with some serious athleticism.”
I snorted. “I also run in the morning, but I haven’t since coming here. The curves are compliments of my mom. It doesn’t matter what I do; they stay. Not that I’m complaining.”
“You shouldn’t.” He palmed my ass and pulled me back up so our lips were only an inch apart. “They’re perfect.”
“Sweet talker.”
His fingers slid into my hair, knotting with my strands. “So about that heavy-petting requirement. I’m ready to fulfill that contractual obligation.”
I smiled against his mouth. “Are you?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He led with his tongue, twining it with mine in an open-mouthed kiss that was all passion and exploration. It was addictive, pulling me under a wave of seduction that threatened my senses. We couldn’t take this too far, not without the contract in place, but he lit my body on fire like no one else. I clung to his shoulders as he flipped me onto my back. His thigh remained between mine, tight against my hot center.
The friction was luscious, hitting me right where I needed it. He didn’t hold back, his palm gliding under my shirt to my chest. I arched into him, loving that my breast more than filled his hand. He kissed a path to my neck, pausing to suckle the tender midpoint. Goosebumps rained down my arms in response, my body tingling from his touch. My neck had always been sensitive, a pleasure point that wasn’t as obvious as some of the others. He nibbled along my collarbone and down to my cleavage. “Heavy petting includes licking, right?”
“It does now.” My hands were in his hair as he lifted my shirt and took one stiff nipple into his hot mouth. I came off the bed at the impact, my body ridiculously responsive to his. That wicked tongue swirled, creating an inferno in my lower abdomen. A few minutes of foreplay and I was ready to explode.Not good. No one should be this attracted to a man. It wasn’t safe for womankind. He switched to the other breast, repeating his actions and making me squirm.
Orgasms were not part of our negotiation. Not tonight. I barely knew him. None of those realizations stopped the fire consuming my body. He was hazardous to my health, but in all the right ways. His phone started to vibrate again, this time on the wood, making an obnoxious sound neither of us could ignore.
With a sound of annoyance, he picked up the phone. His scowl turned into a grin. “Talk to me, Garrett.”
“Your girl has a good lawyer.” The phone was on speaker this time. “She drew up some stern language about your involvement in this firm you’re promising to fund. She also stated financial figures for the record and wants them in the contract.”
Finances weren’t something we discussed. This was why I had Rachel. She thought of specifics I failed to negotiate. Like how much he was going to lend me to start my firm.Probably important, Sarah. Good job.
Evan rolled onto his back beside me. “Yeah? Am I going to hate this provision?”
“It’s modest, but it’s more than I would want to give for this deal. Not when you could just keep the girl there without giving anything in return.”
I popped up onto my elbow, pulling down my shirt in the process, and made sure he could see how I felt about that statement. His lawyer sounded like an ass, and practical, too. A bad combination.
“I’m asking her to give up a lot to stay on and refuse me in the end. She could stay and accept.”
“So you draw up the prenuptial agreement, knock her up like your parents want, have the kid, get divorced, and go back to your life. Not hard.”
My frown went to full-on scowl at the lawyer’s callous words.
