Page 123 of Sugar

“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.

Hedidrecognize 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 positionandout 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.