Page 36

“Every company matters. If you’re on a board somewhere, it means you’re pretty influential, right?” Arianna’s Mandarin had such a feminine lilt to it that Elle had to concentrate. “Let me guess… finance.”

“I do work with finances, but my company isn’t in finance.”

“So, what kind is it?”

Elle struck a balance between the truth and keeping the peace between them. “Transportation. Adjacent to the airline industry, which is why I know a lot about it. We’re partnered with your employer which is why I am always flying Royal Asia.”

“I see! That explains a lot.”

“Does it?”

“Yes! And now absolutely no one can know about us, because you’d probably get in trouble too.”

Elle hid her smile behind the cup of her hand. “Yeah. Unfortunate. Suppose that means we should make the most of the time we have together.”

“Suppose so. Because I don’t intend on quitting Royal Asia anytime soon.”

“And I don’t intend on leaving my company, either. Although…” Elle moved her head, ensuring that her date was looking at her. “I do make a lot of money. If you get in trouble for dating me, I’m sure we could arrange something to get you by until you have another job lined up. It would be the right thing to do in my case.”

“Ms. Sparrow,” Arianna lightly said, “I am nobody’s sugar baby.”

“Damn right. You’re a proud working woman.”

Arianna laughed. “I like my job. That’s all there is to it.” She maintained a thoughtful demeanor in the ensuing silence. “Although…”

“Yes?”

“If you make a ‘lot’ of money, perhaps I won’t feel too bad if you’re paying for our dates. I’m still saving up money for myself.”

“Naturally. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Another laugh tickled the table. “I feel like I’m in a fairytale right now. But if I’m going to risk my job, I guess I should have some fun.”

Elle had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to slip her foot out of her heel and rub it against Arianna’s leg. The crisp denim of brand-new jeans didn’t have much give beneath her foot, but that wasn’t the point – it was about eliciting a sweet response on that sweeter face.

“What if I said I wasn’t in the mood?” Arianna teased.

“I would be disappointed but respectful toward your feelings.”

“Spoken like a true businesswoman.”

Elle got out of her seat and slowly approached Arianna’s side, kicking off her other heel. “But would you be open to changing your mind?”

Arianna slid her elbows off the table but kept them crossed as she leaned back in her chair. The stance only made her chest more prominent, particularly with the top two buttons of her shirt undone and her collar slightly askew. Elle placed her hand on Arianna’s shoulder and bent down to kiss the top of her head.

“Depends on how convincing you are, Ms. Sparrow.”

“Must I seduce you each time?” Elle’s hand teased the flipped collar before resting atop Arianna’s collarbone. Isn’t she warm? Was that how Arianna always felt or did Elle’s presence make her particularly… flushed? Not that it mattered to Elle. She liked a little sweat on her skin.

“Maybe I like being seduced,” Arianna muttered.

“Well, I know better than to mess with your hair.” Elle nuzzled her nose in that crisp bun as her hand slipped between Arianna’s shirt and bra. “I like to give agency, though.”

“Do you?”

Elle squeezed her girlfriend’s breast. “Shall we start in the bed or the shower? Either way, I’d like to get you naked in the next ten minutes. Get a scream out of you within twenty.”

Arianna moved to tuck hair behind her ears, but finding everything was up in its tight bun, she played it off as her gently grasping Elle’s arm. “The bed, if you don’t mind.”