Page 91

Fuck.

I was falling for him. Right here, right now at this very table. Headfirst. Straight out of the plane. No parachute.

He must have seen something in my face, because he leaned in a little, voice subdued now.

“You’re thinking too hard.”

“I’m thinking exactly the right amount,” I said, but my own tone had softened as well.

He smiled. Just a little. Then stood, circled the table, and offered his hand.

“We’re done here.”

I looked up at him and put my hand in his.

The drive back to the penthouse was silent again, but this time it didn’t feel heavy. It felt inevitable.Like we’d stepped into the current of a rushing river too strong to fight, and now we were just being carried away by it. His fingers brushed my thigh once at a red light, and the heat it sparked made my breath catch.

When we pulled into the garage, I expected him to go around the car to open my door, but he didn’t. He just looked at me.

“You were a good girl today.”

It was a loaded statement. My heart pounded harder than it should have from something that simple.

“Was I?”

“Yes,” he said. “And I will always reward my good girl.”

The elevator ride up was fast and silent. My thighs clenched in anticipation with every floor we passed. My pulse was in my throat. That heavy ache already starting to blossom low in my belly, because I knew what was coming.

Iwantedwhat was coming.

When the doors opened to the penthouse and I stepped out ahead of him, I could almost feel his eyes on me like a tangible caress. On the curve of my spine. On the way my dress clung to my body with every movement.

He didn’t say a word as we entered the space, but I could feel it, the tension between us stretching tighter, like a thread about to snap.

He didn’t touch me right away. He just closed the door behind us and stood there watching me like I was a present he wasn’t done unwrapping. I stood in the middle of the penthouse, the silence swallowing the sound of my heartbeat, the city stretching out around us like it was watching too.

I shifted slightly, not nervous, just aware. My skin prickled under his gaze, every inch of me suddenly more sensitive, more alive.

“You were such a good girl today,” he said again. “You spoke like you belonged at that table. You didn’t flinch. You didn’t hide. You showed them exactly who you are.”

I didn’t know what to say to that, so I didn’t say anything.

He crossed the room slowly. He moved like the kind of man who always got what he wanted. He didn’t demand it; he just waited long enough for you to offer it up yourself. He stopped in front ofme, reached up, and traced the edge of my jaw with the back of his fingers.

“I told you I’m going to reward my good girl.”

I swallowed, breath catching.

“And what’s the reward?” I asked, voice barely more than a whisper.

He didn’t answer, not out loud. He just reached for the black tie at my waist and tugged it loose.

The gray dress fell open like it was meant to, slipping from my shoulders and puddling at my feet with a whisper. I stood there in nothing more than a pair of lacy panties and a matching bra, the necklace still around my throat, my skin flushed, thighs pressing together like I could hide how badly I ached for him.

His eyes dragged down my body, slow and heavy, like every inch of me belonged to him and he was reminding me of that without needing to say a word.

Then he stepped closer.