Page 20 of Between Desire and Denial

Fuck. This wasn’t going well. “Look, Kee is a part of the HEAT empire too now. We won a bid on developing a borderarea and some of the land within Paradise Grove. It’s a vibrant community that I want to make better.”

She lifted a brow. “I highly doubt you’re doing this out of the goodness of your heart.”

“Fine. I purchased a house there so I can understand why their little community meetings that they mask as HOA meetings are somehow pulling strings within all of New Haven City.”

“Sounds about right. Paradise Grove always has been able to influence all of New Haven. So, they invited you to a meeting?”

“Not really. But I’m technically living there so I’ll just show up. I bought the place merely to go to these ridiculous meetings that seem to hold so much weight. I haven’t put much effort into the house at all.”

“And I’m sure all of Paradise Grove is seeing that you’re not putting in any effort.” She rolled her eyes. “Great. They probably think you’re just going to flip the thing. And they don’t allow flips. And they don’t really allow anything to change in New Haven unless they’re completely on board. So good luck.”

“Ah, so just everyone knows about Paradise Grove influencing the city ordinances?”

“Sure.” She shrugged. “My father and stepmom talked about the meetings and the happenings in town enough.”

And that’s how I knew right then and there that Olive had to help me. She had a knack for retaining irrelevant information most of the time, but in this case, I needed it. “Right, well, it’s an exclusive community, as you know, but we need to revamp some of the buildings, and I need the board to agree.”

“They won’t.” She actually chuckled, shaking her head at me. “I mean, seriously, Dimitri, I wish you good luck. Not that you deserve it after selfishly asking me for information.”

“I was making conversation that night, Olive.”

“You don’t make idle conversation.” She bit her lip and then whispered in a voice that held pain, “Were you disappointed I didn’t stay over the next morning because you missed out on asking me more questions?”

My gut twisted with her query. I wouldn’t have her think that, I couldn’t. I stepped close to her before I could stop myself to remind her of the chemistry we had. “I wanted you to stay until the next morning so I could fuck you again. My business is separate from me touching you, Olive Honey.” I pulled at the collar of her sweatshirt, yanking her close so that we were chest to chest.

She gasped out my name. “Dimitri.”

“I’m trying to be professional because we’re in our friend’s office, but I’m happy to remind you of how my cock feels in your pussy if you want. I don’t think about much else when you’re around as of late.”

She licked her lips, and I saw her amber eyes glance down before she shook her head. “That was a one-time thing.”

“I know. Want to make it a two-time thing right now?”

Her breathing had accelerated, and I was suddenly ready to forget about the fact that we were in an office if she said yes, except she closed her eyes tight and admitted, “I have a date tonight.”

Immediately, my hand dropped from her collar as if it’d been electrocuted. “A date? What the hell for?”

“Yes, a date. Some guy I matched up with on an app.”

“Just a guy on anapp? That doesn’t sound safe.”

“It’s fine, Dimitri.”

“How the fuck do you know? You haven’t met him,” I scoffed.

“I’m a big girl, I can take care of myself.” She chuckled like this was all fun and games. “Anyway, I’m trying to get back out there. I want to see who else can make me feel like, well, you know.” She waved a hand in the air like I was supposed to get it.

“Feel like I made you feel?” I finished for her. “You’re not going to find that on any damn date,” I practically snarled.

She dragged her teeth over her bottom lip as she looked me up and down. “Well, I want that, Dimitri. So I’m going to find it. Even if I have to go on a million dates.”

I leaned forward until my mouth was close to hers as I placed my hand on the wall behind her. “If you’re saying you want someone to fuck you like I do, just askmeto fuck you, Olive.”

She shook her head, but I swear her pretty eyes dilated. She wanted this as much as I did, and when I reached down to trace the rip in her leggings so I could feel her bare skin, she sucked in air like the chemistry that ricocheted around the room was making it hard for her to breathe. “Dimitri, we’re in Kee’s office space.”

“So? You think I care who sees me touching you?”

“You should. Your brothers are out there somewhere too. What if someone walks in?”