“You didn’t have to be rude.”Her chastising tone makes me bristle.
“If you were a man, I’d have told you to put your dick back in your pants.”
“Excuse me?”She blinks, eyes dampening, and her vulnerability only incenses me more.
“Do you throw yourself at anything with a dick?”
Speaking of dicks, I’m aware that I’m being one but can’t seem to care.That scene moments ago with another man and my supposed future fiancée was a train wreck and something I don’t want to have to go through again.Maybe I was wrong, and she isn’t the right woman for this arrangement.
“Stop saying dick every time you talk to me.”She seethes, teeth bared, and hands clenched into tight balls at her side.
“You seem to like dick, or do you prefer cock?”I lean in closer, bending to get in her face and her hot short breaths skate across my jaw.“Some might not know the difference, but something tells me you do.”
Too quick for me to see it coming, a crack rents the air as her palm connects with my jaw, smacking me across the face.Stunned, I step back as my eyes water and my nose stings.There’s no one to blame but myself and I should have anticipated her reaction.Paige certainly has it in her.
Rubbing at my biting flesh, I eye her warily.Coiled tight, she’s still poised to strike and her eyes darken to the color of night.
“This was a bad idea.”Her body shakes and before I can even say her name, she’s out the door and down the hall.Dammit.
Briskly, I trail her, several feet behind.I could easily catch her or call out her name, but it might be wise to let her cool down.My jaw still aches, deservedly so.
Of course, who else but Donovan is waiting for an elevator.Shit.Never one to rush into things, I hang back, out of sight, and listen as they talk about us.She doesn’t really confirm, nor does she deny that we’re an item and at first, I’m content with their idle chit-chat.I almost leave, giving her space she likely still needs, and plan to call her tomorrow because as much as she might think the deal is off, it isn’t.
Then I overhear him inviting her to grab a drink.Red is all I see.Or more accurately, green.As close to jealous as is possible.This is new for me.
My gut clenches at the idea of them having a drink and reminiscing or lamenting their missed moment.No fucking way.And knowing Donovan the way I do, he has a one-track mind and will spend every effort trying to get her into bed.
Possessiveness is a trait I’m very familiar with given I run a highly successful empire.I’m accustomed to acquiring and owning; I want something, I take it.Typically, this mentality doesn’t lend itself to women.Where the fairer sex is concerned, it’s usually the reverse.Women want a piece of me, and I’m not bragging.They want to own me for multiple reasons, but mostly my wealth and power.
But tonight, right now, it’s different.
Paige Hayes isn’t available to Donovan or anyone else for that matter.She’s taken and they both need to be reminded of that.
I brush past him, and in the moment I hear them both say my name, I capture Paige’s mouth in an unforgiving kiss.
My hands hold her face and I dip my head down to press our mouths together.Her lips are the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted.A hungry groan releases from my mouth and she responds with a cute mewl of her own, melting into me, and I lose all reason.
8
Paige
Berating myself for being a fool, I rush from Zachary’s office, torn between grateful and disappointed he isn’t trying to stop me from leaving.
Whatever.
I’m not surprised our arrangement is over although I am surprised at how quickly it ended.We have nothing in common and trying to make people believe we’re a good match is just insane.
Now I’m back to solving my problems with my landlord.I’ll have to look for my own lawyer, or hopefully Drew can point me in the right direction.This will also mean paying legal fees and that’s a problem.I don’t have extra cash lying around.
That’s the very reason I agreed to this stupid arrangement.Zachary Rothwell was supposed to be free.I should have known the adage ‘nothing is free’ would bite me in the ass.Turns out, Zach’s deal comes with a hefty price tag.
Where the hell does he get off insulting me like that?And for what?Because I was talking to a man?
I’m so caught up in my thoughts, I don’t see Donovanstanding at the bank of elevators until he speaks.
“Paige.”He smiles warmly and I wish I’d been paying more attention.I would have taken the chance to slink out of sight.
“Hi.”I plaster on the biggest smile I can muster.
