Page 26 of Highest Bid

Galan nodded. “Get someone to cover for Layla. I need to talk to her...in private.”

Ned’s lips twitched. “Of course. Colleen should still be floating around here somewhere.” He glanced Layla’s way and added with a real smirk, “I’ll look forward to that cartwheel.”

Galan didn’t particularly care what the hell Ned meant. He needed to get Layla out of there fast before he did something he might regret. Like punching Billy in the mouth and taking out one of his perfect white teeth.

Layla reluctantly nodded, and Galan took her stiff hand as he led her past some of the potted plants.

Layla pulled back a little, slowing him down. “What is this about? You ignore me for days, then expect my full attention and cooperation when it suits you?”

He stilled in front of his private elevator and stabbed in its code before he turned to face her. “I’ve been doing everything possible to keep away...and I’ve never been more miserable.” He shoved a hand through is hair. “I don’t know what is expected from me in something...long-term, but I’m ready to see if we can work something out.”

“That’s what you wanted to talk about?” She glowered. “You’re willing to put my heart on the line to see if being with me is worth your time?” She shook her head. “No thanks. I’m doing just fine all on my own.”

With that blond prick, Billy?

Red again hazed his vision when she turned to walk away. Oh no, you don’t. He reached out and hauled her inside the elevator and pressed her against the wall. The doors slid closed and he hit the button that would take them to his penthouse before clasping her hands and pressing her arms high above her head.

She gasped, her chest rising and falling. But not with fear. Excitement and lust burned deep in her eyes, her white T-shirt riding high to bare her slender midriff and make him even more aroused.

It hadn’t even been a week—not that he was counting or anything—since he’d last fucked her, and his dick throbbed so hard it bordered on painful. He placed his legs apart so he was closer to her height, before he ground his erection against her mound.

He wasn’t much of a gambler, but every atom he possessed screamed this was a make or break situation, and Layla desired him too much now to choose break. But it took every bit of his willpower not to strip her there and then and fuck her senseless when he said, “Tell me this is what you really want, firecracker, and I’ll make you come over and over again.”

She glowered, though her voice was a husky crack of need, “And if I tell you it’s not what I want?”

Then I’ll go quietly insane.

Because no other woman would ever compare to his firecracker.

He held her stare and said, “I’ll let you go, and never bother you again.”

Chapter Ten

Layla panted, so full of lust she was blind to anything but the man dominating her. It was nothing short of outrageous for Galan to manhandle her after he’d turned a cold shoulder on her for almost a week, yet she was as needy as a bitch in heat.

So leave already, a little voice mocked.

Except her body screamed no! She’d been so restless without him, so out of sync when deprived of him in her life, that her mind constantly replayed what he looked like naked. What he looked like in a suit. What he looked like smiling. Stern. Passionate...

Shit.

“Layla,” he prompted gently, though a whole world of stark need sounded in his voice.

She ran her tongue across her bottom lip, her pulse thudding in her ears as his stare darkened, heated. “Just kiss me,” she croaked.

He groaned an instant before their mouths crashed together, no holding back, no restraint, just pure, lustful greed. She grabbed hold of his shoulders as he grasped her hips, their lips mashing, moving, tongues sinuously sliding.

The elevator stilled and the doors opened with a ping. Galan tore his mouth free, then lifted her to his chest and strode into the sitting room. Opening the front door of his penthouse, his long strides ate up the distance to his bedroom.

She whimpered a little, wanting his mouth on hers and needing his touch like an addict needed a fix. But a part of her was glad he had the willpower to wait even a handful of seconds to seduce her thoroughly.

He carried her effortlessly, his strength and passion tangible as he entered his bedroom and laid her on his bed. His eyes gleamed bright under the automated downlights as he moved over her.

But he didn’t take possession of her mouth. He planted kisses along her midriff even as he worked her T-shirt up. Layla pulled it the rest of the way over her head and tossed it aside. Her bra followed right after.

Galan groaned at her exposed breasts. “So beautiful.” He bent and drew the tip of one into her mouth, flicking her nipple with his tongue, back and forth, round and round. She gasped at the fizz of liquid pleasure that quickly gathered as heat between her thighs.

God, she’d missed this...missed him.

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