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“You’re driving me insane,” she whispered, her words so soft that I wasn’t sure if she meant for me to hear them.
“That’s fair,” I said.
“Fair?”
Gripping her hips, I pushed my hips against her ass. “I’ve been going crazy since the moment I met you. Crazy with a cock-stand. So, if you’re having some trouble thinking straight, that just puts us on even playing ground. Come on, Tina…give this a chance.”
I kissed her neck again, and she shivered.
“What, exactly, will it be? I mean…if we were to get involved? This…lifestyle of yours, I’m not sure I understand enough of it.”
Finally, we’re moving forward. “I’ll show you. There’s this place. A club.” I tugged on her hips, guiding her until she faced me. The glitter was back in her eyes, as well as the faint flush to her cheeks. “It’s exclusive and very private. It caters to people with…unusual proclivities.”
“I know you find my word choices amusing,” she said. “I guess you want me to go to this club with you.”
“Yes. Tomorrow night. It’s easier to understand if you experience it.”
An alarm flickered in her eyes. “You mean, you want me to…?”
“No, no.” Catching her hands, I squeezed. “There is nothing that can happen to you that you don’t want to happen. But you could observe. See how you feel about it.”
She licked her lips, nerves still dancing in her eyes. “I…maybe. I’m not sure. Can I think about it?”
“Of course.” No, was what I wanted to say. But I couldn’t rush her. Not if I had a chance in hell of making it work.
Seventeen
Tina
Lost in thought,the sound of my phone ringing startled me.
It rang a second time before I got my act together.
“Hello. This is Tina with Siegler Designs.”
“Tina!” Roseann’s cheerful voice came over the line. “I’ve got news for you.”
Reeling in my thoughts, I sat up straighter and put my pen down. The doodle I’d drawn caught my eye, and I scowled. It was a cartoonish version of Maximus’ face. I put my stapler on top of it as I greeted Roseann.
“How are you today?”
“I’m great, Tina. How are you?” Then, before I could answer, she barreled on. “The meeting with the board went wonderfully, and they approved the plans for the renovation.”
“That’s splendid news.” I tapped on my mouse to wake up my computer, then opened the folder holding Hattie’s Place plans. “I appreciate this chance, Roseann.”
“No need to thank me, Tina. I didn’t give you anything. You worked hard for it, and that earned the approval of the board.” She took a deep breath, then laughed. “Wow, I’m still a little giddy. You do not know how long I’ve been trying to get this renovation to happen. Well, I’d like to get together sometime next week?”
“Sounds wonderful.” I was fortunate to handle stress well. If I accepted the job from Maximus—a job I couldn’t afford to pass up, it would take up most of my time. The other invitation he’d given me… Shoving those thoughts aside, I asked, “Did you have a day in mind?”
* * *
Hours and many notes later,I dropped my pen and rubbed the back of my neck. A few business cards I had pulled from my desk drawer to scan into my contacts partly covered the doodle of Maximus. My gaze kept drifting at it ever since getting off the phone with Roseann.
“I don’t have time for this,” I told the cartoon sketch.
Irritated that I couldn’t get him out of my head, I pushed away from my desk and spun the chair around. I stared at the oversized eclectic clock I’d bought to go with the minimalist décor of my office.
The second hand ticked around, moving at a pace far slower than what seemed normal—and far louder. Oddly hypnotic.