Maybe it’s not him who’s the cause of my infuriation. Maybe I’m annoyed with myself that I’m attracted to him in the first place. He’ll use and discard me like he does with everyone else.
But am I really any better? I’m probably slightly more discreet about my, well, indiscretions, that’s all.
He was my first crush.
Back then, before the harsh reality of real life took hold of me, I hoped he’d be more.
I scrutinised every picture ever printed of him. At the time, I thought it was out of disgust. What if it was because I secretly wanted him?
I don’t want a relationship with him, but I’ll take his body in mine.
Is it possible that all the things I don’t like in Jayden are a mirror image of the things I don’t like in myself? I snap the elastic band on my wrist and ping away that thought before it consumes me.
I don’t need to glance up to know his eyes are firmly fixed on me. The heat of them sears my soul from across the room. I’m practically ready to blow.
No matter how spacious the office is, it’s nowhere near big enough to hold the magnitude of sexual tension radiating between us. ‘Hungry?’ I mouth, looking for any excuse to get out of here for an hour.
Cool grey eyes drop deliberately to my breasts.
I roll my eyes even as my thighs press together. Turning to Ruby, who’s on the phone to a supplier, I whisper, ‘I’m bringing our guest to lunch. Can you man the fort?’
She presses her hand over the receiver. ‘Not fair.’
I shrug, my nonchalance fooling nobody, and grab my clutch from my drawer. ‘Got to keep him sweet, I suppose.’
‘I’m sure you can think of better ways… if you haven’t already?’ She wiggles expectant eyebrows, but I shake my head. She leans across her desk and whisper-shouts, ‘Did you add him to the list of your breakfast dates yet?’
What is it with Ruby and Sasha and this obsession with my breakfast dates? If only they knew the truth, that I kick them out before breakfast. Eating breakfast together is every bit as awkward as waking up with them.
‘No, I did not.’ My lips twitch at the prospect of what might happen later. ‘But ask me again tomorrow.’
‘Oh, you bad girl.’ Ruby raises her hand and gives me a high five. ‘I need details.’
Jayden joins us from across the room. ‘Listen hard from wherever you are in this city, and you’ll get your “details.”’
Ruby picks up a stack of papers from her desk and theatrically fans herself.
‘Don’t mind him.’ I shoot her a wink. ‘He’s from Hollywood. He has a flair for the dramatics.’
‘We’ll see about that, Princ- Chloe.’
I stalk towards the elevator to hide my grin, with Jayden following closely on my heels.
‘Where are we going?’ he asks as the chrome doors slide shut.
Resting my bum against the metal handrail, I reapply a touch of lip gloss. ‘For lunch, I told you. Mexican, Italian or seafood?’
A frown flickers across his face. ‘Not Mexican.’ Snatching the tube from my fingers, he says, ‘And you won’t be needing that.’
His hot breath brushes my lips as he lowers his face to mine, licking the gloss with torturous strokes of his talented tongue.
‘Strawberry. Not bad.’
‘Boundaries? Much?’ Apparently, he’s as ruthless in his pursuit of his conquests as he is in business. I’m torn between outrage at his audacity and a blinding lust.
It’s just a crying shame the source is the man I’m supposed to hate.
The lift pings a split second before the doors slide open. Thirty-six floors suddenly seem like an inadequate journey. After sharing Jayden with my entire office all morning, I’m enjoying this brief stolen time together.
