Page 13 of Handsome Devil

He turned around and swanned away to the nearest eager woman, scooping her onto the dance floor and into a waltz.

It was four in the morning when the last of the cleaners and caterers evacuated the premises. I heard the entrance door clicking shut.

I’d hidden in one of his guest rooms, waiting until the coast was clear.

Yes, I was aware that he didn’t want me here, but he had one thing right—if he couldn’t help me with why I came here today, I might as well quit.

I was past desperate.

Positive the flat was empty, I tiptoed out of the guest room toward the master bedroom.

I stopped in front of the double doors, my stomach in knots. Feminine giggling seeped through the crack under the doors.

Raspy purrs of a woman—no, scratch that,twowomen—murmuring and coaxing. I decided it was futile to knock. He’d hardly invite me in.

I pushed the door open.

When I registered the scene in front of me, my breath tumbled down my windpipe, causing me to cough.

Tate was sprawled across his upholstered recliner, completely clothed (thank God), an elbow tossed casually on the armrest, suckling on a cigarette.

He was observing two women in ball gowns—one blond and the other a redhead—stretched on the floor like toddlers, shapely legs dangling in the air, hunched over pens and papers. They were covering their mouths and giggling as Tate supervised the situation with a parental boredom. Their faces were familiar, probably because I’d shoved an NDA for them to sign at some point.

What in the bloody hell did I just walk into?

“Miss Bennett,” he greeted laconically, eyes still trained on his leggy companions. “Did you ever hear the term ‘no means no’?”

“I’m not forcing myself upon you.”

“That’s your version of things.” He tsked. “HR isn’t going to like this.”

“What’s going on here?” My gaze ping-ponged from him to them.

“This”—he pointed at them with a tumbler full of whiskey, taking another drag of his fag—“is Precious and Paris trying to solve an Algebra II equation. The first to work it out shall have the honor of sucking my cock. What do you think?”

“I think…”You are completely, utterly,irrationally unhinged, and no amount of money in the world can justify working for your arse. “I think I could work it out in less than ten seconds.”

He tapped ash into an ashtray, considering my statement. “Why, Gia, I am extremely flattered. Had I known you to have any carnal interest in me, I’d have let you suck my cock every lunch break.”

“Wha—” My eyes widened as realization sank in. “No, Tate. I’ll solve the equation in exchange forspeakingwith you. I wouldn’t have sex with you if you were the last man on earth.”

“Surely, that’s an exaggeration.”

“I assure you, it’s not.”

“I’m tall and have good teeth, and the future of humankind depends on us. Be a sport.”

“I really don’t think you should reproduce. Nothing good can come out of your DNA. If it’s down to us or nothing, then sorry. Civilization had a good run.”

He grinned devilishly, snuffing his cigarette on one of the women’s Chanel bags and snapping his fingers. “Perry, Paisley.”

Weren’t they Precious and Paris a moment ago?

“Get the fuck out. I’ve found superior entertainment.”

“But…but…” The blond bombshell blinked, hot-pink lips hanging open in surprise. She was very pretty and comically busty. “Are you seriously going to give up sex with me?” she whined.

“Darling,” he purred patronizingly, the endearment rolling off his tongue with disdain. “I wouldn’t remember your face tomorrow morning if you tattooed it on my fucking palm.”