Page 39 of Sugar (Gilded #1)

His gray eyes widened—and like most of the internet, I wondered if they were colored contacts. “How do you know I wasn’t pissed on by one of the hyperactive furballs?

“Were you?”

“No. But how did you know?”

“Because I think that would’ve made you laugh.” I rushed to add, “You don’t have to tell me what they asked. I just want to know if I’m right.”

He held my eye contact for a long moment. “I like you.” He raised his gaze to Easton. “What the fuck is she doing with you?”

“I have no idea,” Easton rumbled even as his hold tightened again.

Tripp dropped his focus back to me and—unlike the tail end of the interview—there was nothing fake about his contagious smile.

“You’re completely correct. I would’ve found that hilarious.

” He dragged a hand through his overgrown dark hair, and though it looked effortlessly nonchalant, I got the distinct feeling he was stalling.

If he was, he must’ve reached his decision about me.

“And you’re also right that the interviewer pissed me off.

I don’t talk about my personal life. She tried, and when I reminded her of that known fact, she pushed with some tabloid shit. ”

“And the world knows you avoid behavior that would land you in the tabloids,” Easton deadpanned.

Tripp didn’t take offense to the dig. One that I was sure had to do with the club photos that were going viral at that moment.

I took a note from Easton and kept my expression blank like I had no clue what they were referring to.

My attempt failed, but it was still appreciated by Tripp. “Yeah, I was double right. I like you, and you’re out of his league.”

“Aw.” I patted Easton’s hand. “He’s not so bad.”

Tripp’s laughter was cut off when Easton said, “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

“Shit. Yes. Thanks for the help.” He grinned at me. “See you Friday, Maddie B.”

There was no way that specific name usage wasn’t a reference to my entry in the Gilded auction.

I also got the distinct impression that there was no malice behind it.

That it wasn’t a threatening reminder that he had reciprocal dirt on me.

With his easy smile and soft expression, it felt more like a subtle reassurance that there wasn’t any judgment.

He did recognize me.

He was already out the door—with a wink our way before he firmly closed it behind him—when my brain processed the rest of his words.

My head whipped around so I could look at Easton. “Why will I see him Friday?”

“We’re going to his movie premiere.” Like that was no big deal, he clicked his computer mouse. “Italian or Mexican?”

Wren’s quick mention of their drunken tacos flashed through my head. “Mexican. Always. But do you want to run that back?”

“Italian is?—”

“The movie premiere.”

“I’ll explain in a minute.” He lifted me to stand, but only so he could spin me to face him before repositioning me so I straddled him.

“But first, you haven’t kissed me. Second, you haven’t kissed me again because I’ve been thinking about it all fucking day, and one won’t be enough.

Third, I’m fucking starving for your pussy and food because I haven’t eaten either since this morning, but unfortunately, I’m limited to the latter. ”

“Why?” I asked, and every bit of my disappointment was clear as day in that one word.

I would’ve been embarrassed by that if not for the way it made him give me a cocky smirk as his dark gaze heated. “Because I’m stuck here late tonight.”

Damn.

He wrapped both arms around me and buried his face in my neck.

I could literally feel his body loosen. Well, most of it.

There was something incredibly hard pressed to my sex, and it was not helping my disappointment.

Especially when he sat up straight and wrapped his large hand around my throat to tilt it up.

“We still need to deal with those first two points, Madeline.”

“Whatever you say, Tyrant.” Anticipation zipped through my veins as I waited for him to take my mouth, but he didn’t.

He raised an expectant brow.

Piecing together what he wanted, I lifted onto my knees carefully so I didn’t topple us—though that would’ve put us in a better position and out of view of anyone who might enter the room. With said company in mind, I kept the kiss short and chaste.

Or tried to.

Because as soon as my lips brushed his, he took control of the kiss. Of my head. Of me.

By the time he tore away, we were both panting. My heavy breaths turned to a moan when he lifted his hips to press against me. He looked at me through hooded eyes before reaching his thumb up to drag it across his jaw.

God, he’s hot.

And I’m his.

How is this even my life right now?

“Okay, so what—” I started, but my words were cut off.

“That was only one,” he growled.

That time when his lips crashed down on mine, there was no restraint. No consideration to who could see. Nothing but the two of us.

Only it wasn’t only the two of us in the building, and I forced my brain and body to remember that.

Drawing on every ounce of willpower I had, I pushed away. Easton must not have been expecting it because I actually managed to stand.

Well, wobble.

I put a hand on the desk to steady myself and rounded it to put a barrier between us before we did something insane.

Like loudly fuck in a busy office building.

Though with the possessive way he watched me, I was having trouble remembering why that was a bad idea.

“Friday?” I prompted to distract myself.

It worked on Easton, too. He still looked like he wanted to spread me on his desk, but not like he was two seconds from actually doing it. “Right. We’re attending the premiere of Old Flame with him.”

It was a good thing my hand was still on the desk, or I would’ve staggered back before falling into the chair like something out of a slapstick comedy. “What? Why? What ?”

After dragging his palm down his face, Easton summarized the drama with the movie studio.

“They agreed to let him attend if I’m there to keep him in line.

Which means I want you there to keep me from losing my damn mind.

You don’t have to deal with the entrance or any of that shit, but there will be an after party that he’s obligated to make an appearance at. ”

Even if I was ambivalent about Hollywood, attending a movie premiere was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

I was about to say a resounding yes when he sweetened the already impressive deal. “They’ve also agreed to let you cover your experience for an article since it’ll reach a key demographic.”

That he wanted me there was major. And that he’d thought to ask for that on my behalf? I didn’t even know what to say.

I undid the nominal distance I’d managed to put between us as I launched myself back into his arms. “Yes, I’ll go.”

Easton’s expression was severe, and his voice came out rough. “I know… because I wasn’t asking.”

Asking.

The pieces of what had felt off earlier clicked together, and I whispered, “That’s what bothered me.”

His eyes flared, and his hands went to my hips to lift me to stand before he did.

Towering over me—and making an excited zip shoot up my spine.

“You know what this is, Madeline,” he bit out.

“I—” My attempt to clarify things was cut off when he spun me suddenly so I faced away from him. The edge of the desk dug into my legs as he pinned me with his body.

He wrapped a possessive arm around me with his hand settled low on my belly, and his voice was a harsh rumble in my ear. “I don’t ask you. I control your life. I control you. Or do you need the reminder?”

Yes.

“No, but—” I rushed out instead because that wasn’t the point I’d been trying to make.

Though I was also having trouble remembering what that point was when his hand pushed into the front of my pants and his finger zeroed in on my clit.

“There is no but .” He moved, and something clattered next to us. I realized it was a drawer opening right before a piece of paper was slapped onto the desk. With one hand still working me, he used the other to grip my cheeks and tilt my head to look down at it.

The purchase agreement from the auction.

That he’d kept.

In his desk.

“This is what you wanted.” He took his touch away from my sex, but only so he could shove my pants and panties down. His hand went between us, and his belt clanged as he undid his own slacks. “What you put in black and white even before you gave me all of you.”

“Easton—” I tried again, but he wouldn’t let me get the explanation out.

Releasing my face, he splayed his hand between my shoulders and pushed to bend me over his desk.

Papers, his keyboard, and who knew what else were trapped under me, but he didn’t seem to give a damn.

The tip of his cock nudged at my entrance before he put his palms to the desk on either side of me and lowered his torso. “Can you be quiet?”

If he was anyone else, the answer would be an easy yes. But he wasn’t anyone else, so I told him the truth. “No.”

“You better try.” That was the only warning I got before he plunged so deep, I swore he was in my belly.

My sharp cry was cut off by his hand curling over my mouth. His fingers dug in as he ruthlessly fucked me.

It was hurried.

Brutal.

So unbelievably hot.

With my pussy still tightened around him and aftershocks of an explosive orgasm zinging through my limbs, his pace slowed even as the force in his thrusts remained vicious.

His voice was just as fierce when he gritted out, “I can do whatever I want to you because you’re mine, Madeline. All. Fucking. Mine.”

His last word ended on a groan as he came, each plunge filling me even as it sent the sticky warmth out to drip down my thighs.

When he slipped free, my legs would’ve given out until I fell to the floor in a graceless heap. Thankfully, he used his firm hold to lift me and sit me on his desk.

He moved between my spread thighs and towered over me. “Just because the arrangement changed doesn’t mean the rules did.”

“Are you going to let me finish now?”

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but the way your perfect pussy strangled my dick says you already did.”

Yes, and it’s dripping all over your desk.

I gave him an eye roll that earned a delicious growl. “I wasn’t upset about Friday. But in your text, you asked if the time worked for tonight. You always just tell me. That was what felt off.”

“You didn’t like that I asked?”

I lifted a shoulder because it wasn’t that I disliked it, per se. I just preferred the way he usually did it.

“Noted.” Cupping my cheeks, he kissed me long and thoroughly until the need he’d fulfilled grew again. It skyrocketed when he lifted just enough for me to see the warmth in his dark eyes. “And so fucking made me for me.”