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Instantly, any sort of warmth she’d been feeling disappeared. Why was the world conspiring to set her up with David damned Blake? Was she not allowed to hate someone in peace? And where did Christopher, a guy she hadn’t seen since she was, what, twenty-one, get off on giving her advice?
He seemed to read her feelings straight off her face because he raised his hands in placation. “It was only a comment. What happens, happens. Just… don’t take this the wrong way, Ro, but you look like you need to relax. I don’t remember you being quite so… stiff when we were younger.”
Stiff?Stiff?Crap, Maia was right.Worse, Samantha was right. She gave him a wry smile. “It’s true, I don’t make nearly as many spectacles at parties anymore. Funny how that changes once you grow up. That doesn’t mean I don’t have fun though… I was going to ask you out for a drink, but now I think I’ll refrain.”
He gave a short laugh. “It wouldn’t be worth my life.”
She just stared at him incredulously and then jolted as a warm hand touched her back. Maia and Blake had come around without her noticing and Blake was looking between her and Christopher with a frown on his face.
“Did you come up with some good ideas?” she asked Maia somewhat breathlessly. Her earlier lust had returned in full force with Blake’s hand still on her back, rubbing little circles into the sensitive flesh there, burning so hot that for a second, she wasn’t sure if his hand wasn’t directly on her skin. Maia continued to tell them about the design plans they’d settled on, Christopher nodding along, but she didn’t hear a word of it. She couldn’t, not with Blake standing so close, not with his hands on her.One year,her brain taunted her.I bet Blake gives good orgasms.Maia’s voice sent her thoughts in a spiral she couldn’t accept.
“Rose,” Blake said. His mouth around her name almost made her shiver. “Can I have a word, please?”
“Sure.” She meant for her response to come across clipped, bored even, instead she sounded breathless. Maybe there were other ways for her voice to become hoarse that didn’t involve shouting at Blake.
She didn’t dare look at Christopher or Maia as Blake led her out of the ballroom and into a room just slightly farther down the corridor that turned out to be a study. He gestured her in and closed the door behind her. The room was surprisingly tasteful, just like the rest of the house, with dark wooden furnishings and lots of natural light spilling over the large desk at the back of the room.
“What, exactly, are you doing?”
She was surprised by his question, mostly because it came wholly out of the blue. “What do you mean?”
“I mean,” he said, teeth gritted, “with Chris.”
Her mouth dropped open. “I’m sorry –what?”
His eyes burned into hers as he moved closer until there was no more room between her body and the door, his strong arms falling into place on either side of her. “He’s my business partner and my best friend. If you want to get back at me for the interview, then fine. But keep him out of it.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Really?” Blake huffed out a laugh that she felt on her skin as he stroked a hand over his stubble. “You never were a good liar.”
“And you always were an asshole,” she hissed, narrowing her eyes. “You made me look like your flavor of the month.”
Blake hummed and pushed his body flush against hers. “Maybe you are.”
Disgusted, Rose slammed her hands into his shoulders and he immediately stepped back even as his eyes seemed to burn brighter. She was proud, then, of the steadiness in her voice, because she certainly didn’t feel it. “The roses were a nice touch, I’ll give you that, but I don’t care how you like me best. I’m here to do a job, nothing more.”
Blake’s eyebrows rose as he tucked a hand into one trouser pocket. “I didn’t send you any flowers.”
“Now who’s the liar?” she challenged, and he rolled his eyes. “Pink roses for Rose? How original.”
“I don’t need to send a woman flowers,” Blake smirked as he lounged back against the edge of his desk, “for her to know I want her.”
Rose snorted. “Good to know, and ifIwant to hook-up with Christopher, then I will. It’s none of your business.” The hot flush stealing through her, warming her skin, made her bold, and she tilted her chin defiantly, half-curious to see what he’d do next. If he thought he could control her, he was wrong. He may have her mother wrapped around his little finger, and the press to boot, but she couldn’t be swayed so easily.
Blake stood upright and strode forward until they were eye to eye, his jaw clenched and his mouth a set, edible line.Wait, edible?Rose shook her head free from its daze as she paid attention to Blake’s words and not his mouth. “He’s off-limits.”
“I don’t care,” she challenged, and his nostrils flared as she moved to leave the room, his hand catching her wrist and sending a bolt of electricity through her.
“What would your mother think?” Blake said, his voice smoothing as he tried a different tactic.
“She knows I loathe you, and she’s so desperate to see me settle down she wouldn’t care if it were with an ax murderer, let alone Christopher.”
“And the press? The world thinks you’re mine, Rose.” Blake’s eyes were like molten pools she could fall into and not realize she was drowning until her breath ran out.Hate sex is the best kind.The words pounded through her so forcefully that she clenched her jaw, speaking through her teeth.
“I’m not yours.”
“Maybe not yet,” he said, shocking her as he dragged her against him and she felt his hardness against her. Her eyes widened in shock. Did he…? Was he getting off on this? Why didn’t that knowledge disgust her? In fact, why was it having the exact opposite effect? Blake’s face slackened slightly as he watched this play out on her face and he stroked a finger across her bottom lip. “Why fight it?” he whispered.
