Page 48 of In Love and Revenge

Her cheeks flush and I know my hidden meaning isn’t lost on her.

I try to remove my hand from the tube so I can eat the bloody crisps and make my point. Make it while I hold her eyes and let her wonder if I’m really picturing devouring something else entirely.

Nothing happens.

The tube remains suctioned to my hand like an over-enthusiastic blow job.

‘It won’t ...’ I tug my arm. The blasted thing is covering my wrist and is partway up my forearm. ‘It won’t come off.’

‘What do you mean?’

Aurora’s frowning at the tube as I glance at her.

‘I mean what I bloody said. It won’t come off.’

‘Just pull it.’

‘I’m trying,’ I hiss through gritted teeth.

It’s no use, the thing is stuck like it’s been welded to me.

I place the tube between my thighs and clench around it, pulling with everything I have. My shoulder twinges and I bark out a curse.

‘Let me try.’ Aurora grabs the tube and pulls it as I twist my arm.

‘It’s not budging. I think my hand’s swelling up inside.’

‘Do you have anything we can slick your arm up with? Like lube?’ she asks, her eyebrow quirking just a little.

‘You think I have a top drawer filled with lube in my office? Why would I have that?’ I hiss.

‘I’m just trying to help,’ she bites back.

I clamp my lips together. The number of times she’s had me wanking at work, I should need lube. Only, she makes me so bloody hard that my dick leaks before I can even get it into my hand. The thing’s slicked itself up and is raring to go the moment I click on one of her videos and hear her voice.

‘Let me try like this,’ she says.

Before I can protest, she’s turned her back to me and is pressing her body against mine while trying to prise the tube off.

‘Stop,’ I grit.

But it’s too late, she moves straight back, and her arse grazes the front of my trousers, right over my straining erection.

I suck in a sharp breath through clenched teeth. ‘Aurora—’

‘Hey,’ a smooth American voice says.

The large screen above the meeting table fills with the image of Sullivan Beaufort, sitting alongside his father, Sterling Beaufort,in their meeting room in New York. The Manhattan skyline fills the windows behind them.

I whip the arm trapped in the tube behind my back and clear my throat.

‘Good morning to you both. This is Aurora Thorne. She’ll be joining us to take notes while AJ is away from the office.’

I lead us to the table, keeping one hand behind my back.

‘Nice to meet you,’ Sterling replies, giving Aurora a warm smile as the morning sun catches the silver strands in his hair, making them glisten.

‘Aurora,’ Sullivan repeats as she smiles politely at them and takes her seat. ‘Nice to meet you.’