Page 47 of Arrogant Heir

I’m confident we can put out that fire with some well-chosen copy, but the fire between us rages and is burning out of control.

CHAPTER30

Damian

I watch her pink lips as she forms the words and points to the papers, but my head is elsewhere. Her hands are pale and petite, and I imagine what they’d be like holding my cock. I could fuck her right now across this table. She’s not the only one who's getting carried away with their imagination.

The dream she monopolised last night is still swirling around my head and I’m growing harder as I look at her. I haven’t wanted a woman like this for years. I’m not sure I’ve ever wanted a woman like this. Something about our hate-at-first-sight scenario, followed by getting to know her as we worked together, but unable to come onto her, has me hard as a rock.

I shift my thigh away from where it’s touching hers and slouch further beneath the table before she notices the bulge in my pants. I curse myself for not showering and changing into regular clothes, and I feel like a dog in heat. The lack of sleep has lowered my resistance, and I’m tempted to tell her she’s driving me crazy. But I know I can’t put her in that position. There’s definitely sexual chemistry between us, but that doesn’t mean she wants to act on it. And if I make a move on her, I’m no better than my twat of an ex-best friend who ran off with my girlfriend.

Red’s floral scent wafts up my nose and clings to me, making me ache to pull her close and breathe her in.

What the fuck is going on with me? I hope Caspian has some hot potential girlfriends lined up for me because I’m going to burst if I don’t have sex soon. I try to focus on what she’s written, but my mind keeps wandering to what it would be like if she really was my girlfriend. And the more I think about it, the more I want to tangle my hands in her long wavy red hair, peel her kit off and pull her onto me.

She’s not dressed to impress today, but it only makes me want her more. I love the tomboy look and I complimented her before I could stop myself. I saw my words startled her, and the surprise registered in her beautiful caramel eyes. Poor girl. I’ve probably never paid her a compliment before. In my determination to keep things business-like, I’ve taken it to the other extreme.

When she was hobbling about the London store, not complaining as she followed me about in obvious agony, I had to rein myself in from telling her to help herself toanythingshe wanted fromanydepartment. I could tell the invitation to choose all the shoes she wanted excited her, and I see she’s wearing the new flat pumps today. Most women I’ve dated would have taken me for all they could and come out of there with a hundred pairs of shoes if I’d let them.

But not Red. She took her time to choose the ones she liked and thought five was extravagant. It’s lovely to hang out with someone who isn’t with me for my money, which I get isn’t exactly accurate because we hired her and so technically, she is here for my money, but it’s different. She’s a professional and really putting in the effort to create a fantastic book for us. I don’t think my ex worked a day in her life. That’s what happens when you date society types and social climbers. The wealthier the better. So as a billionaire heir, I have a bullseye on my back.

I don’t think Jamie sees the bullseye, but maybe I’m just being fanciful because she’s not available, anyway.

I bring myself back to reality and focus on what she’s written. It’s clever and punchy. She thinks the best angle is to just tell the truth.Who knew?Honesty is a novel concept in the media. She says we should mention the upcoming book because it’s great promotion to get some advance buzz going and capitalise on the nasty headlines.

‘And will we deny you being my mystery girlfriend, then?’ I ask.

I notice she’s blushing slightly beneath her porcelain skin as she nods. There’s a light smattering of freckles on the bridge of her pert nose, and I wonder what she looks like when she’s suntanned.

‘Yeah. We can say I’m your ghostwriter. It’s not like you’re pretending you wrote the book yourself. Most celebs and big names openly work with a ghostwriter. It’s your content, so you’re the official author, anyway. Publishing houses love it because they know the manuscript will be delivered on time and will be of high quality.’

I laugh out loud at the vision of me writing the book on my own. ‘Yeah, got it. That would never happen. The book wouldn’t see the light of day if it wasn’t for you. I would never write it.’

She glances sideways at me and asks softly. ‘Is that why you were so angry when I arrived? You didn’t want a book at all?’

I feel a physical pain in my groin and my cock twitches. How did I not see how damn sexy she was straightaway? I was so busy being pissed off and seeing her as enemy no.1, I just missed it. ‘Something like that,’ I say. ‘I’m not a great one for self-promotion, to be honest.’

‘And now?’ She continues in that dogged way of hers to poke and prod elegantly until she gets answers to her questions.

‘Now, I understand how it works and you’ve done such an amazing job. I’m a lot more comfortable with it. It’s not about me specifically anyway, it’s about the Rochester dynasty, so as Grandfather would say, it’s time to get over myself. Thanks for helping me do that.’

She looks so thrilled by my words that her face lights up and her eyes glow. It makes me wish I’d said it sooner, but I can be such a stubborn arse. This I know, because many people have told me so. I protect my heart by pretending to be hard and cold. That’s why I only indulge in one-night stands, or perhaps one-hour stands is more accurate.

I shift in my seat again and imagine I’m standing under a cold shower.Concentrate, Damian. Concentrate.

It had better be a freezing shower, actually, if it’s to rid me of this feverish desire to lift her onto the table, tug her jeans down, and fuck her until neither of us knows what day it is. I’ve got a full-on raging hard-on and am thinking about pounding into her instead of cold showering. It hurts. I cross my legs and fix my eyes on what she’s written, praying for my cock to calm down. Understand, I am not a religious man, so this is a desperate measure.

The way she’s sitting there, all prim and sensible with her reading glasses on, is undoing me. I fantasise about her screaming as she comes and begs me not to stop. My heart’s racing. I wonder if she feels the sexual tension emanating from every pore of my body. No woman has managed to get close to me since Stephanie, and the realisation that I’m falling for this fiery redhead, despite my most determined efforts never to feel for a woman again, terrifies me.

Surely, she must feel it, too. Can this be all one-sided? Am I doomed to a miserable existence of wanting another man’s fiancée?

CHAPTER31

Jamie

Either he’s got an enormous hard-on, or he’s naturally huge. I can’t decide which, and I’m trying not to let him see my fascination with his cock. It’s impossible to ignore, and his masculine scent is driving me wild. I’m so hot for him I’m tempted to tell him which is most out of character for me. I’m sexy once I’m confident with my partner, but I’m not the promiscuous type.Usually.

I don’t think I’ve ever made the first move and come onto a guy, and the possibility makes me quiver with an equal mix of excitement and terror. Which will win? I’m not sure, but I’m definitely wilder than my regular self.

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