Fanning my face for a few seconds to calm myself down, I take a deep breath and open the sliding lock of the door and pull it open.
“Can I help you?” I grumble, feigning annoyance. Anderson’s naked chest comes into view, as does the white towel secured haphazardly around his waist. And his wet hair that’s slicked back. And the lips that definitely weren’t that raw a few hours ago. His arms are muscled and corded with veins, and his skin—it’s almost translucent.
Draco Malfoy—if Draco Malfoy had short hair and was a hot, successful businessman. They sure as hell shared an inclination for being pompous assholes.
“I assumed you were trying to get our attention,” he states, rubbing his jaw. Apparently, I’ve forgotten how to breathe or swallow, because I stand stock still.
“Um, no. I was doing a yoga inversion against the door and fell over.”
What the fuck, Natalia.You’ve never done yoga in your life.
I quickly glance behind him and see a beautiful brunette woman staring at me with the covers pulled over her.
“At three in the morning?” Anderson’s eyebrows come together suspiciously, and it’s the way his lips quirk upwards just a smidge that tells me he knows I’m full of shit—and he’s not going to let me get away with it.
I shrug. “Jet lag. I’m usually up at six in L.A., so…” I cross my arms. “I didn’t mean to disturb you.” I hope I seem as nonchalant as Iwantto feel. I move to close the door, but Anderson puts his foot in front of it. He leans forward, and my breath catches in my throat. I can smell the eucalyptus soap he used.
“That’s good. For a second, I thought you were eavesdropping.” His lips turn noticeably upwards before he steps back and closes the door in my face.
For the second time tonight, heat shoots through me, limb to limb. This time, it’s the flustered kind of heat. A disconcerted,holy shit did he just say thatfeeling. Like I’d been caught red-handed… which I had been. My legs feel like Jell-O as I walk back to bed.
Ihatehim.
I can’t sleep. Instead, I toss and turn, trying to ignore the pulsing between my legs. Eventually, I pull the covers over my head and proceed to get the worst sleep I’ve had in months.
8
Anderson
I say goodbye to Elle,walking her to the elevator and relieved that she has decided not to stay the night. I wouldn’t have kicked her out at nearly four in the morning, so I’m glad she came to the right decision on her own. I can be an asshole sometimes, but even monsters have their limits. After I close and lock the door, I sigh and lean against the wall, running my hands through my damp hair.
Glancing at the adjoining door, I tamp down the annoyance that is Luca’s sister. She reminds me of a girl I went to elementary school with—always falling behind, always making excuses. And she’s always on her damn phone. I have no time for people like that—people who are careless and selfish.
She’s also a terrible liar, and I still don’t understand why Luca hired her to freelance for us. As the chief financial officer of Gather, I also don’t see the benefit of flying her here to attend meetings that don’t really have anything to do with her role, unless Luca is really that desperate to revive our social media presence. I make a mental note to talk to Luca tomorrow. She’s his sister, and they’re very close. But this is ridiculous. If she needs a job so badly, I’d be happy to find her something else.
Anythingelse.
I get ready for sleep quickly, and then I climb into bed, knowing it’s futile. My mind never graces me with sleep, even on the days where my body feels as though it might collapse from exhaustion. I roll over to my side.
I was doing a yoga inversion against the door and fell over.
I chuckle—such a bad liar.
I grab the remote and turn the TV on. I can’t deny that she’s attractive, but in a way I’m not used to. She’s the type of girl who went to baseball games and ate four hot dogs, out-drinking you in the process. Fiery, hot-tempered, arousing…
I turn the volume down and stare at the screen.
I think I might hate her.
More annoyed than before, I throw the covers off and get out of bed, doing the one thing that helps me sleep—downward dog.
Child’s pose.
Plank.
Cobra pose.
Repeat.
