Page 62 of Maneater

God, right now? Fuck this job if it means I lose the first woman who has made me feel this wild and untamed.

I push off the wall, stalking toward Josie in the middle of the dance floor. Her hips continue to shift against Dax, grinding and moving as I approach, but a smile pulls at her lips like she knows she’s won.

“Hey, Dax, do you mind if I talk to Ms. Montgomery for a moment?”

He stops moving altogether, stepping away and lifting his hands in the air. “Oh, of course not, Mr. Fisher. I’m sorry, I know she’s a guest, but?—”

I shake my head, not in the mood to argue about the fact that we have many times over insisted that the employee events should be employees only, no guests allowed.

“It’s fine. Come on, Josie.” I stand there waiting for her to move toward me, but she doesn’t. Instead, she stands next to Dax, arms crossed over her chest like a petulant child who is mad that their parent ruined their fun.

It makes me want to drag her into another room, put her over my knee, and spank her.

“Josephine,” I say, jaw tight.

She continues to glare before finally sighing and moving toward me. When she’s close enough to touch, she looks over her shoulder, and her smile beams.

“Two minutes, Dax. Then you owe me a dance.”

Dax fights a smile but nods before I finally take Josie’s hand.

“Let’s go,” I say, the words a deep growl as I fight back the suddenly consuming urge to toss her over my shoulder.

“Rowan—” she starts, but stops as I tug her away from the dance floor, my mind moving through options on what rooms are nearby and empty. She stumbles a few times in her tall heels before I tuck an arm around her waist and pull her into my side. The feel of her warmth against me is almost worth the dozen or so eyes following us.

“Rowan,” she tries again once we’re in a quiet hallway, but I’mholding on by a thread of sanity. There’s an empty office right down this hall, and I just need to make it there.

“Not yet,” I say through gritted teeth as my hand reaches into my pocket for the universal keycard that will open the door. The lock gives a satisfying whir and click when I scan the card, and then I’m whipping the door open and pulling Josie inside before closing us in.

Then I’m pressing her against the wall with my body, no longer having any reason not to. Something in me calms at the feel, at having her alone, at her being mine, if only for this moment. That’s when her smile goes wide and cunning, like she knows she just won it all.

“Not jealous, huh?”

I shake my head, unable to fight a smile of my own. “Not even a little.”

“You’re such a fucking liar,” she says with a laugh.

I stare down at her, at her soft, full pink lips, at her wide doe eyes, at the way her chin is tipped up just a hint, waiting for what’s to come.

But I want her to cross the line. I want to get my own tiny win in this game of ours.

“Kiss me,” I order.

“Excuse me?”

“Kiss me.” Then I give her more, a confession of sorts. “Because if I’m the one who breaks, I think I might never stop.”

I feel her body shiver at the promise, and when she looks at me, I think she’s going to do as I asked. Until she smiles.

“Were you jealous?” Her voice is whisper-soft.

“What?”

“Were. You. Jealous? Watching me dance with that man?”

There’s a moment of silence, and I know in my gut that this is the turning point between us. This is the moment where I can either confess the truth and win her, or I can lie and lose her.

And I don’t want to lose Josie.