Page 39 of The Tycoon

My woman is a voracious reader, and for the first time in my life, I feel as if she is completely out of my league. I am genuinely impressed.

“I don’t know how you can read in the car without getting sick,” I say, my voice lifting in awe. “It’s a talent I didn’t know that I wish I had until now.”

Laughing softly, Dolly carefully marks her place with her bookmark and closes her book. Turning her head to look at me, she adjusts her Saint Laurent LouLou sunglasses.

“It’s not that hard, Sir. You read your phone in the car, don’t you?”

Trying my best to keep my eyes on the road, I can’t help but give her another quick glance. I’m so glad she chose to wear the heart shaped sunglasses. It makes her look even more adorable in her lacy pink minidress.

“I do,” I respond, turning on my blinker.

Shrugging her shoulders, she runs her hand along thecover of her book. I’ve noticed she does this a lot; it must comfort her in some way. She also moves her feet over the sheets as she’s drifting off to sleep, almost like when a cat kneads into a blanket. I doubt any of the other men in her life have noticed her idiosyncrasies. If they had, they would never have let her go.

“Well, it’s the same principle. I’m sure you’d be able to, if you really wanted to. But that means you would actually have to, you know,read,”she teases.

Letting go of the steering wheel, I slap my open hand upon my chest. Widening my eyes behind the dark lenses of my sunglasses, my mouth falls open in faux offense.Oof,she is definitely growing bolder. I may have created a little, bratty monster.

“That hurts, Princess. I’ll have you know, Idoread,” I reply.

Quirking her head, she leans in her leather seat towards me. I can feel the heat of her gaze, but I can’t tell if she’s admiring how handsome I am, or how much of a liar I am. I’d like to think the former.

“Uh huh.”

“Oh my God, I do! I’ll have you know I read all damn day long!” I retort, turning onto the street leading us to our dream home. “Meticulously going over reports and million-dollar contractsdocount as reading. I assure you, I amverywell read!”

Snickering under her breath, I catch her nodding herhead. Wiggling her perfect body, her attention moves around as she takes in the newly built neighborhood. Her growing excitement is palpable. I start to feed off it.

“Ok, ok, I guess you do read. I’m sure it takes a lot of brain power and concentration to go over those very important documents,” she says.

“Thank you,” I reply.

“What I meant to say was reading forpleasure,”she retorts.

Humming low, I slow down my truck to allow her more time to soak in every little detail of the adorable street. Once the Magnolia trees mature, and all the sod takes, this neighborhood will be picturesque. I can already see us going for long walks during sunset. First with a dog, and then with a cooing little baby in a stroller.

Did I just say that? Who the fuck am I? God, I am so whipped.

“Well, you got me there, beautiful. Maybe you can ease me into reading. Why don’t you start by reading to me at bedtime?” I ask, looking her way.

Lifting her lips into a full smile, she practically beams from my suggestion. I could kiss her senseless, she is too cute for words.

“I would love that, Sir!”

“Well, good! Let’s start when I come back from San Antonio on Saturday. I already know that I’m going to need yoursoothing voice to calm me down after this meeting,” I say.

“Of course, I’ll choose something extra smutty to read,” she says in a flirty tone.

Giving her a sly grin, my mind starts to drift towards tomorrow night. There’s no doubt in my mind that I will need Dolly’s sweet voice and soft body to make me feel something again. I don’t want to dwell in the letdown after this kill as I normally do. In fact, I pray the beast wipes my memory as soon as the act is over. I don’t want to remember this one.

“Yes, please. Something very,very dirty.”

Reaching towards me, she dances her fingers over my thigh in a calculated move. If I wasn’t already slowing down my truck to turn into the driveway, I’d probably be crashing into the realtor’s Mercedes that’s parked on the street.

“Maybe we could then act it out, after?” she asks, her silky voice pushing all my buttons.

Taking in a shaky breath, I try to wrangle my immediate lust. I should make her pay for teasing me when I can’t do a damn thing about it, and I just might. I only have to wait a half an hour at most before I can give into my carnality. I can be patient; I can practice what I preach. Right?Sure.

“Oh, you know that I’m always up for that Princess,” I reply motioning towards the palatial house in front of us. “But first…welcome home.”