Page 26 of Rival Desires

I ordered another, but Fury slid up next to me, raising an eyebrow before I could down it. “You sure that’s a good idea?” he asked, nodding at the shot glass in my hand.

He had a point. The last thing I needed was to lose control, especially here. With a sigh, I pushed the glass towards him, and he downed it in one smooth motion. “You think Nadine will go for our pitch?” I asked, trying to steer my thoughts toward business.

Fury shrugged, his casual gesture belying the importance of the situation. “I hope so. We need the Seaworth account,” he said. But for me, beating Rylee to this account had become more than just business. It was personal.

As we worked the room, playing our parts perfectly, I couldn’t focus. My mind kept wandering back to Rylee, wondering what she was up to. So, I retreated to a quiet place for a moment’s peace, and that’s when she appeared, coming around the corner with a look of surprise on her face.

“Rylee,” I said, trying my best to keep the venom out of my voice. “Fancy meeting you here.”

She stopped dead in her tracks, recognition dawning in her eyes. “Cory,” she replied as if we were old pals. “Are you here to avoid the drama, too?”

I stepped closer, my frustration bubbling up like a volcano. “It's more like trying to avoid you,” I quipped, trying to sound casual.

A hint of surprise flickered across her face. “Avoiding me? You’re not here to try and win over Nadine, are you?” she asked, her voice teasing.

“No way!” I shot back, my heart rate picking up. “Just being professional, unlike some people.”

Rylee’s eyebrows furrowed, skepticism written all over her face. “Professional? Really? Because from where I was standing, it looked like you two were getting pretty cozy.”

I clenched my jaw, irritation simmering. “Cozy? I’m just doing my job, Rylee. Maybe that’s something you should try.”

She crossed her arms, her lips pressing into a thin line. “So, seducing someone at a masquerade ball is just part of the job?”

Heat flushed my face as memories of our encounter in my car came flooding back. “That was different, and you know it.”

“Different?” she scoffed. “Please. We’re both playing the same game, McCrae. Don’t act like you’re above it.”

I stepped closer, my frustration reaching a boiling point. “Playing the game? Is that what you call sleeping with someone to get information?”

Rylee’s expression wavered for a moment before she regained her composure. “I don’t need to sleep with anyone to get what I want. I’m good at what I do.”

I gave a humorless laugh. “Right. So, what’s your excuse for Bennett Seaworth? Are you just networking?”

Her eyes blazed with anger. “You don’t know shit about it.”

“I know enough,” I shot back. “I know you’re using him, just like you tried with me.”

“Use you?” Her laugh was bitter. “You think you’re so important that I was using you? I had no idea who you were that night.”

I shook my head, disbelief clouding my thoughts. “So, it’s just a coincidence you’re after the same account as me?”

Rylee stepped back, her gaze icy. “Believe whatever you want, McCrae. But don’t kid yourself into thinking you’re the center of my world.”

The tension between us was a heavy fog. Part of me wanted to believe her, to think there was something genuine beneath all the games. But every word she spoke felt like another layer of deception.

“Alright, enough’s enough,” I blurted out, breaking the silence. “You need to back off, Rylee. And that includes Nadine Seaworth.”

She cocked an eyebrow, challenging me. “Or what? You gonna throw down?”

“Oh, you don’t wanna find out how good I am at this game,” I warned her, trying to sound tough.

She poked me in the chest, and I swear, it was like she’d shocked me. “Don’t try to play the big shot with me, Cory McCrae,” she said, her voice low and serious. “We both know the score here.”

Before I knew what was happening, I grabbed her hand and pulled her close. She looked surprised for a second before our lips met, and damn, she tasted like everything I’d been craving. As we pressed against each other, my hand found its way to her hair, and it was softer than I could’ve imagined, like finding a long-lost treasure.

Next thing I knew, I had her pinned against the wall, our hearts beating in sync. I could feel her responding, her lips parting as my tongue met hers, and she let out this little sound that sent electricity through me. Without realizing it, I let my hand wander, feeling the goosebumps rise on her arm as I moved up to cup her breast. Even through her clothes, it fits perfectly in my hand, and I couldn’t resist the urge to brush my thumb over her nipple.

But just as things were heating up, we heard footsteps nearby. We sprang apart, both of us trying to catch our breath and get our bearings. Rylee’s eyes were wide, and I could see the same desire in them that I felt pulsing through me.

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