Page 13 of An Improper Deal (Elliot & Annabelle 1)
He raises his head just a fraction. My nipples bead until they almost hurt, and I gasp at the sharp sensation. I swallow again. How many guests are here? I should check that out before I make my position clear on sex, but I can’t seem to tear my gaze away from his face. Finally he meets my eyes, and I feel like I’m sinking into something warm and decadent, like a pool of melting chocolate.
“Have to admit…I didn’t think this was the direction you’d take when I said stripping wasn’t your calling.”
His voice skims over me like the most luxurious silk. It takes me a while to process what he’s saying. Once I do, anger and humiliation explode in equal parts.
“I hate to break this to you,” I shoot back, “but your input has nothing to do with my career choices.”
“Is that so?”
“I’m not even supposed to be here.”
“Yet here you are.” Something shifts in his eyes. He juts his chin. “Get on your knees.”
The command jolts me. It’s quietly spoken, but there is a steely expectation that I will obey. And the hell of it is, I want to. I want to get on my knees and slinky-crawl up to him so I can press my lips against his bared throat and feel his heart beat under my palm. I want to see if he’s really as unaffected as he looks.
But instead I stiffen my legs. “I’m not here for sex.”
“You think that pathetic song is going to earn you two grand?”
“Keep your money. I’m not for sale.”
“Everything’s for sale.” The small smile on his face is insolent, the kind that would earn a slap in one of those old black-and-white films. “Three grand.”
I blink at him. “Are you seriously insane?”
“No. I just happen to like your mouth and want to know what it feels like wrapped around my cock.”
Something hot fists itself around my throat. My entire body ignites, and sweat mists over my skin despite the A/C in the penthouse. I should kick his ass right now, customer or not. But despite the arrogant note, there’s genuine want underneath his voice, and laser-like intensity in his eyes as he looks at my mouth like it’s the most delectable thing he’s ever seen.
And I can’t help but respond, and I don’t even know why. It’s usually no problem at all to ignore men, even the good-looking ones…but not Elliot. He’s making me throb in places I never suspected I could throb.
But there is no way I’m doing it.
I hug myself. “Look, this is a big misunderstanding. So I’m going to go now, if all you want is sex.”
“You won’t even attempt to negotiate? I can up my offer.”
“No, because I’m not going to have sex for money.” Then Mr. Grayson’s demand pops up in my head. I recklessly add, “Next time I have sex, it’s going to be with my husband.”
Elliot shifts, his gaze cooling. “You have a fiancé?”
“No. But I’m not interested in casual sex. I want someone with a serious commitment to me, and I’m afraid money doesn’t prove that commitment.” I wet my dry lips. “Anyway, sorry about the singing. I’ll talk with…‘Madame G.’ and see if you can get your money back.”
Then I flee the penthouse before I actually give in to the heady, bone-melting heat pulsing in my veins.
Chapter Six
Annabelle
I’m still so pissed off by the time I get home that I barely even nod at Caroline’s parents before I drag her to my room. “What the hell was that about?” I hiss at her.
She gives me a grimace of sympathy. “Oh no. Was he a total perv?”
If commanding me to give him a blow job while looking at me like I’m the most interesting and desirable woman in the universe makes a man a perv, yes. “You said I wasn’t expected to have sex with the guy.”
“Oh. Well.” She shrugs. “I kind of hinted. And I told you about the tip—”
“I didn’t do anything. No sex.”
