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“Penelope.”
I grit my teeth at the way he delivers my name on a silk fucking cushion. I hate how it feels like cashmere against my ears, yet crackles and sparks like an electric current between my thighs.
I’d rather claw my eyes out than bring them back to him, but I do it anyway. Studying my face, he slides his hands out into the space in front of him. First, palm down, then with a slow, sensual roll of his wrists, his palms turn up toward the ceiling.
Smooth, tanned. Thick, long fingers, and a ring worth more than my fucking soul. Sure, I hate how he says my name, but I hate the sight of his hands more. Christ. My breathing shallows, and despite knowing better, my head swims with the thought of Raphael’s fingers tugging at my strands. It’s sordid, but I’m curious to know if the rumors are true about him pulling hair when he fucks. I can imagine the wining and dining part no problem—I’m sure he can turn on the charm like a tap, but he looks too polished to fuck so rough.
“Do you see blood on these hands, Penelope?” I scowl in response. When he cocks a brow expectantly, I force a small head shake. “You’ll never see blood on these hands. You know why? Because I’m a gentleman.
Seemingly satisfied, he leans back in his chair and steeples his fingers under his chin. “Clean slate?”
His smugness cloaks my skin like a fever, and I want to douse myself in ice-cold water to rid myself of him. At this point, I’ll say anything, do anything, to leave.
“Fine, clean slate. Brushed under the carpet. Line in the sand, whatever,” I snap.
I move to side-step the desk, but as I pass Raphael, his hand shoots out and grabs my wrist.
Jesus. Feeling all the blood drain out of my head, I look down at where he holds me. His grip isn’t hard like it was at the wedding, but it has the same effect of gluing me to the spot. It’s firm. Secure. Sure, I could wriggle out of it with a shake of my hand, but when his thumb skims lightly over the pulse on the inside of my wrist and makes my vision jolt, I somehow know I won’t.
Now, his voice has a rough edge when it touches my clammy skin. “If I’m a gentleman, I’m going to need you to be a lady.”
I blink. “Meaning?”
“Meaning, no more stolen dresses and no more stupid quizzes.”
His gaze bores a hole in my cheek and the lump in my throat thickens.
“Better pay me more, then.”
Welp—vow broken. At least I bit my tongue for longer than usual, I suppose. My insolence reminds me that I don’t even know what the salary is: I could be getting paid in Reese's Pieces and way-to-go!’s for all I know.
His grip tightens, confirming what I already knew. For the last five minutes, he’s been in character, playing the Raphael he wants people to see. This cool, calm demeanor is a facade, and he’s about as good at upholding it around me as I am keeping my mouth shut around him.
“Not every man that passes through this yacht will be as nice as me, Penelope.”
“As nice as you? Are you forgetting you came at me with a hammer?”
“Could have been worse.”
“Yeah?”
“Mhm,” he drawls, gaze flashing black. “I could have whacked it on your fucking head.”
Breathless from the unexpected venom in his tone, it takes me half a second longer than usual to regain my composure. When I do, I rip my wrist from his grip and clutch my chest, pouting like I’m super offended by his sudden assholery. “Ouch. You’re so big and scary that I think I just pissed my panties a little bit.”
“Did you steal those, too?”
“It’s probably best we don’t talk about my panties—wouldn’t want to give you a hard-on in the middle of your work day.”
His glare narrows, but amusement now softens its edges. “You talk a lot of smack for a girl that needs a job.”
I falter. Despite the seeds of fury spouting in my stomach, my better judgment tells me I should shut the fuck up. He’s still my boss, after all, and although I’m not happy with that, I really need the money.
Fine.
I straighten my spine. Pin him with a docile smile and pretend like the triumph humming behind his expression doesn’t piss me off.
“You’re right,” I say as sweetly as I can muster. “Forgive my insolence, gentleman. I’ll take you up on that clean slate, starting from right now.”
