Page 4 of Crashed
He moved back in, so close she could feel the heat of his body against hers. Her traitorous nipples puckered at the contact. He leaned in, his mouth a mere inch from hers, and whispered, “I know I have.”
His breath tickled her lips, and despite her anger, she struggled to find the strength to shove him away. “Back the hell up,” she ground out.
He didn’t budge, gaze dipping to her mouth. She sucked in a breath. He wouldn’t, would he? Oh, yeah, it was time to call the men in white coats, because, dammit, she wanted him to, wanted more of those demanding, hungry kisses the man excelled at.
But he stepped back suddenly, and all the air trapped in her lungs came out in a rush. He circled his desk, like he couldn’t get away from her fast enough. “I don’t have time for your temper tantrums today, Alex.”
She was still trying to get her heart rate to slow down and stop her knees from shaking, and he looked unruffled and emotionless. “What are you going to do?”
“I’ve told you what I’m going to do.” He didn’t look up from his laptop, dismissing her completely.
“This will kill your sisters.” It’s killing me.
He looked up then and stared at her for a long minute until she wanted to squirm. Instead she scowled.
He picked up a pen and tapped it on the desk. “You really think you can make it work?”
“I know we can.” They were getting new clients every week. It was only a matter of time till the place was back in the black.
He leaned back in his chair. “Okay. I’ll give you three months.” She let out a relieved breath, until he added, “On one condition.”
She was almost too afraid to ask. “What is it?”
His gaze moved from her face, across her shoulders, then blazed a heated path over her small breasts and down her belly before lifting to meet hers. “I often need someone to accompany me to functions…”
She ignored her unease and forced an unladylike snort. “You need a date?”
“Yes, but you didn’t let me finish.” He stayed behind his desk, watching her carefully. “I’m a man, Alex. I have needs like any other. I don’t have time for relationships. I don’t want a serious commitment, and one-night stands aren’t really my thing.”
Was he— No way. He couldn’t seriously be asking her to be his fuck buddy.
“For the next three months, I want you to fill those roles.”
She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “So you’re saying…you want…you want me to…”
“I want you to dress up nice, accompany me to dinners and other events I often have to attend. I’ll pay for your expenses, of course. Clothes, shoes, salon appointments. Whatever you want.” He leaned forward in his chair. “What I’m saying, Alex, is for the next three months, I want you to share my bed. That is what I want.”
Her head spun. “You’ve lost your mind.”
He didn’t look away; his gaze didn’t falter. “Those are my conditions. Nonnegotiable. Take it or leave it.”
Still, she stared at him. Waited for him to tell her he was just fucking with her. He didn’t. Did he think that little of her? That she was just some dispensable piece of ass? “You have to be joking.”
“I’m deadly serious.”
She spun and yanked open the door but looked back before she walked out. “I won’t be your whore. You can stick your deal.”
“Fine. Be ready for the valuer in two weeks.”
Chapter Two
Deacon watched Alex storm from his office and cursed.
The impact of seeing her again shouldn’t have come as a surprise. She looked just the same. Beautiful. Fucking untouchable.
But as soon as he’d laid eyes on her, those feelings, the ones he’d managed to keep on lockdown, had reared up and sucker punched him in the gut. Along with all the frustration, anger, and disappointment he’d felt waking in that bed alone all those months ago. He’d nearly given in to it. Had been so close to kissing that smart mouth, kissing that maddening attitude right out of her, and forcing her to see exactly what she did to him.
And he would have ruined everything.
