Page 65 of House of Payne

London’s eyes flash with anger. “I’m not—”

I press a finger to her lips and drop my voice. “I’m not going to keep having this argument with you, London. It’s pointless.”

Her eyes widen, but she says nothing.

I step closer to her, and she moves away this time. A flicker ofuncertainty and fear flashes in her eyes before she lifts her chin and purses her lips. For a moment, I wonder if the chase is already over.

London is waging an internal war she won’t win.

Each day that passes, her defenses grow weaker.

It’s only a matter of time.

But I can’t help the surge of disappointment that courses through me at the thought of it being over.

I want London to hold out a little longer. The longer she does, the better it’ll feel.

Watching her give in to her dark side will be so much sweeter if she’s still reluctant, and if she still thinks she can return to her old life.

I want to savor every minute of this, knowing that no matter how far she runs, I will catch her.

London thinks this game is meant to give her a chance, and she has no idea it’s designed for the thrill of the chase.

She will be mine, come hell or high water.

“Get back to work before I drag you into my office and bend you over my desk,” I whisper, my mouth inches away from her ear. London shivers, and another long moment passes between us. Finally, she inches past me, and it takes everything in me to let her go.

How can one woman cast such a heady spell on me?

Why does the thought of stripping away her innocence make me want her more?

When she glances back at me, a brief look passes between us, and I pause. A surge of guilt rises through me, and I stamp it out, forcing myself to smile. A moment later, London frowns and disappears into a crowd, leaving me with the blood roaring in my ears and the smell of her sweet perfume lingering in the air.

Scowling, I storm past a couple pawing each other in a hallway and stop outside my office.

Katia is waiting for me, an expectant look on her face. “Problems?”

I level her with a menacing look. “Everything is going according to plan. Don’t you have something better to do?”

I don’t need Katia lurking in the shadows and watching me.

Knowing she is always there used to make me feel powerful and high.

Now, I don’t like knowing that she sees me salivating over London like a lovesick idiot. I don’t want her to see how obsessed I’ve become, and how many of my waking thoughts are consumed by thoughts of London and how it’ll feel when I finally have her.

Unbelievable.

Why am I letting her get under my skin?

Whatever I feel for her is just sex and the excitement of knowing I’ll be the one to rip off her rose-colored glasses.

It has nothing to do with the way she looks at me or the softness of her voice when we’re alone.

Get a grip and figure out a way to scratch that itch, or else you’re going to keep being distracted.

Being distracted is a luxury I can’t afford and the quickest way to lose the power I’ve worked so hard to build.

I didn’t claw my way through the naysayers and disbelievers just to prove them right.