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She should answer affirmatively, say she’d hoped for such a career-building role, but she couldn’t lie. “No.”
“Before this goes further, I need to admit something. I just can’t pretend anymore.” He edged closer, towering over her with smoldering intensity. “Do you know how much I want you?”
Cheyenne bit back a gasp, forced herself to stand still under his penetrating gaze. “You do?”
“Of course, I do. Haven’t you noticed how I can’t keep my eyes off you?”
No. But maybe yes. She’d been busy doing the same to him. “You can’t really feel that way.”
“I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it. I almost lost it when I saw you with those other men.”
He had seemed rather upset when she cozied up to the actors on the set. Then he’d warned them off, effectively sabotaging her mission, and all but threw her over his shoulder.Again.
“You need to stay away from them.”
Cheyenne bristled. “You can’t tell me what to do.”
His smile widened as he stalked closer, barreling through her personal space. Her breasts brushed against his chest. “Actually, I can. Haven’t you seen how everyone treats me? I’m in charge of this whole operation.” He pressed closer. “And of you.”
Unbidden desire played villain amidst a dastardly concoction of anger and attraction. He couldn’t really feel this way, couldn’t be propositioning her like this. And yet, she could barely stop herself from matching his steps and showing him who was in control. “We need to stay professional.”
“Actually, I can do whatever I want. It’s one of the perks of my position.”
He was absolutely outrageous. And narcissistic, arrogant and audacious. And gorgeous, handsome and sexy. His actions during the game and subsequent conversation must’ve been an act, a ruse to loosen her up. How could she have thought he was a nice guy? He’d probably even lied about medical school. And like one of the naïve starlets, she’d fallen for it. “This needs to stay professional.”
“It stopped being professional the first time I put my hands on you.”
Oh yeah, it did.How far should she let this go? No matter what, she couldn’t betray her identity. He pressed even closer;now they touched along their entire length, upending her senses and weakening her resolve. “I suppose I’ll just have to prove it to you.”
Before she could ask what he meant, he swooped down and took her lips.
The kiss was everything he was: heated, powerful,bold. His lips were smooth and firm and tasted of spice, peppermint and pure need. He did more than kiss her – he caressed her, tangled their breaths, inhaled her resistance. He wrapped his arms around her, pressing her against endless muscles. She fought to stay strong, to stay unaffected.
Her resolve lasted two seconds.
She was no weak maiden, no naïve starlet or vulnerable character. She pushed into him, deepening the kiss, its intensity escalating like a star gone supernova. They pushed against each other, tasting, nibbling, devouring. When he pressed his tongue into her mouth, she matched it, unable to stop a low moan as she opened herself up fortheirpleasure.
Yet just as suddenly the kiss ended.
He pulled away, stared at her through passion-filled eyes. Cheyenne also backed up, licking swollen lips. How had she let this happen? She should chastise him, demand he back down, but she had kissed him right back. How could she get out of this without compromising her position?
His expression was inscrutable. “Do you know how beautiful you are?”
She shook her head, erected a mental wall against impossible words. “We shouldn’t be doing this.”
He rubbed her shoulders, a seemingly innocent gesture that couldn’t have been more intimate. “It would be easier if you accept.”
“No, buddy, it’s you who has to accept. This isn’t happening. Not now. Not ever.”
A strange light entered his eyes, like excitement before a battle. Instead of defeat, it held bold anticipation. She’d just issued a challenge to an alpha male, and he’d accepted. “You’re fighting yourself, Diana. You can’t win.”
Fantastic.Now he couldn’t ever remember her name. For inexplicable reasons, it infuriated her a thousand times more than the liberties he’d taken. “It’s Destiny,” she ground out.
His eyes clouded. He stepped back, taking his oh-so-wonderful hands with him. He blinked. “Destiny?”
If the Academy Awards created a category for biggest jerk of the year, he’d be a shoo-in. “Yes, Destiny, if you don’t remember.”
“Of course, I remember.” He absently stepped closer. That was better. “I don’t understand.”