“I want you to stay close to me tonight,” he says, not bothering to look at me. “If this is going to work, we’re going to have to pretend to be in love. It might mean I touch you more than normal or kiss you, so if you don’t think you can handle that, you need to let me know now. Otherwise, like I said, stay close to me. At all times. My father will take any opportunity he has to tear you apart, and I don’t want to give him one. Not to mention some of the women might be less than circumspect.”
My anger bubbles over. He’s used this tone with me before, the morning he handed me the contract. Do this, sign this, ask me questions, do what you’re told. I do not like this side of him at all.
“It might help me sell this well if you stop being a gigantic asshole to me, you know.”
He blinks and shows no other reaction to my outburst except for his hands curling into fists in his lap. His shoulders pull tight and he heaves in a deep breath before skewering me with a glare that makes me want to shrink back into my seat.
I’m somehow brave enough, or stupid enough, to resist.
“I’m simply explaining my expectations for the night.”
“And you’re doing it acting like a complete prick and not the nice guy you’ve been all week. If I’ve done something to upset you, we can discuss it, but don’t treat me like trash and expect me to silently submit. If I’m not mistaken, our contract also states we will be respectful and cordial to one another.”
I have no idea where my boldness comes from. I don’t tend to stick up for myself, at least not in the moment. Years of staying with a man for comfort and not love is the perfect example of it. Yet I’m liking this new version of me.
He sucks in another breath and turns to me, leaning in so I am forced to move backward or his chest will be on mine. Not necessarily a bad thing, but dangerous. The mere thought of his chest brushing against mine makes my nipples harden.
Thank the good Lord above for my new satin bra that can hide the effect he’s having on me.
“You want respect? The way you look in that fucking dress tonight is making me think this agreement is a very bad idea. Trust me, Teagan, I’m thinking anything other than cordial thoughts right now and you’re testing my control.”
Holy freaking snickerdoodles.
A rush of breath escapes me and my chest tightens. Nipples salute him and a rolling heat hits me in all the perfectly hidden away places.
“Corbin.” I breathe out his name, unable to say anything else. He’s left me tongue-tied and turned on without any hope of escape.
One perfect brow arches. “Nothing to say to that? No rambling like you’re prone to do?”
Clarity and common sense flee. There’s no thought in my mind other than,Yes. Please. Do it. Take me. Kiss me.
Bad idea. Very bad, stupid idea.
“I don’t think—”
“I don’t really care what you think right now,” he whispers. Has he moved closer? He has. I’m plastered against the door and he’s so close I can see every small line around his eyes. His dilated pupils have almost entirely erased the blue. His breath ghosts across my lips. “You’ve been tempting me since the moment I met you, and I’m trying to keep my distance. This dress, though. Fuck, Teagan.” His hands land on my thighs, gripping me firmly.
My body shudders. He’s not doing this. He’s teasing. He has to be. He’s given me no indication he finds me attractive in the least.
My bravery flees. Hopefully it meets my common sense and returns to me.
Until then, I say the only thing I’m thinking.
“Do it.”
Strong, firm fingers dig into my thighs, clamping me in place, but there’s nowhere to go. He’s consuming all the space around me and to hell with it.
Iwanthim to kiss me.
“What?”
I can’t take it back. Lust for the man in front of me and no sex for way too long are overtaking me. I lick my lips, his gaze dropping to my mouth and following the path of my tongue. “You said yourself we have to touch and kiss tonight.” Oh God, this is stupid. I’m being stupid. I no longer care. “We should practice it once. Get it out of our system.”
“You want me to kiss you?”
Yes. Please, please, please, kiss away this crazy maelstrom of emotions you’ve started in me. Rationality flickers in my mind. “I want to sell our arrangement.”
One side of his mouth lifts into a sneer. “Of course you do.”
