Fuck.
"Jesus, Maya." I run my hand over her knee. "You're driving me crazy here."
"I lied to you." She rests her forehead against mine. "Technically, it wasn't a lie, but it feels like a lie to me."
As long as what she feels for me isn't a lie, I can deal with anything else.
"Explain what you mean." I cup her chin in my hand. "What feels like a lie, Maya?"
She lifts her hand to her forehead and rubs. "I saw Isadora at your office. I heard you make plans with her and then I tried to make plans at the same time. I wanted to see which one of us you'd choose."
I gulpdown both glasses of champagne from the tray before I move to sit next to her again.
Her confession about Isadora took me to my feet. I was angry, embarrassed, frustrated and so aroused that I could have fucked her on the sofa with the chef and server looking on. I wouldn't have cared if all of the city would have seen me driving my dick into her.
"I should have said something." She drags her hands through her hair. "I heard her call you darling. I heard you tell her that you wanted to see her at seven. I was mad, Julian. I was so fucking mad at you."
Christ, I need to fuck her.
"You believed that I was meeting her for what reason, Maya? A date? A prelude to a night together?" I keep my tone neutral.
She shrugs. "I have no idea. I was blind with rage at that moment."
I replay the events of the afternoon in my mind. "Isadora left a good fifteen minutes before we spoke. Were you waiting for me that entire time?"
She nods. "When I first arrived your assistant said you were in an important meeting. I told her I'd wait. She went for a break, and when she came back, that's when I told her to call you."
"She's aware that if you ever need to see me or speak to me, that I'm available," I say under my breath.
She turns to look right at me. "I didn't tell her who I was until she called you."
"I hate games, Maya." I drop my gaze to the floor. "I'm sorry that you had to witness that exchange between Isadora and me, but you were wrong in not confronting me on the spot."
Her bottom lip quivers. "She called you darling. You made plans to see her."
"So you hatched a plan to test me?" I feel my jaw tick.
She folds her arms in front of her. "Yes, and you failed that test."
I shake my head slightly. She's infuriating and I'm still hard as stone. "I'd argue that you can't fail a test that you're not aware you're taking. I didn't have all the facts, Maya."
"You had all the facts you needed to make a choice." She rubs her temples. "It doesn't matter now. You obviously canceled your plans with her to do this for me."
I won't lie to her. I can't. "I saw Isadora an hour ago."
"Where?" she spits the question about between clenched teeth.
I move closer to her but she backs away, her hands flying in the air to ward me off.
"Where did you see her?" she hisses the words out this time.
"In the bar downstairs."
Her gaze floats over my shoulder before she levels her eyes on mine. "Did you bring her up here?"
I love the jealousy. It's stirring my need for her even more. I want her this possessive, this willing to fight for me but I know what this is doing to her inside. "You know that I didn't. You know I wouldn't fuck her again. Don't think with your head, Maya. Feel with your heart."
She swallows. "Why didn't you choose me at your office? Why did you choose her?"
