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My hands clenched into fists at my sides. I was incandescent with frustration.
His eyes narrowed. “You’re lying.”
Feeling utterly helpless, I growled and stamped a foot. “Stop telling me what I’m doing and what I’m feeling. For God’s sake, I want to… to sleep with you. Okay? That’s what I’m here for and I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
He lifted his fingers to my jaw and I flinched, then instantly regretted it. Now he suspected I was bluffing. His fingers curled into my skin and he moved my face with surprising gentleness from side to side. “You have to want it.”
“I know,” I whispered. “I do.”
Holding my face still with one hand, he lifted my dress with the other. It happened too fast for me to wonder what he was doing. Then I felt his rough fingers shove inside my pink lace pants. My eyes stretched wide and I jerked my head against his tightening grip. His eyes might have been on mine but his focus was on the space between my thighs. He drove a finger into the shallow of my opening. I knew it was bone dry.
He whipped his hand back and released me with a scowl. “You’re a liar.”
My mouth dropped open and I walked backwards, hugging my arms around myself. After a few seconds, I cleared my throat.
“I can’t just turn it on,” I said, glaring at him. “You have to put some effort in.”
When he didn’t respond, I continued. “I’m no expert but I’m pretty sure it takes more than a quick dinner and dance to make a girl ready for sex. You have to work for it.”
He arched a sceptical brow. “Enlighten me.”
“Make me feel special. Touch me. Kiss me.” My pitch rose with every demand.
His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed. “You want me to kiss you?”
Blood surged into my cheeks and I dropped my gaze to the floor.
Time stopped and all I could hear were ragged breaths that seemed to get louder in the empty, cavernous room. Long agonising seconds passed before he brushed past me and stalked to the door. The moment he left the room I had to pinch the bridge of my nose.
There was no way – no way on God’s earth – I was going to cry for this man.
Dax
I stormed backinto the main hall and past the central staircase, heading towards the North Tower: my retreat. Anger vibrated through my legs more with each step. What had I expected? Of course she was lying. She was doing whatever it took to get her money and get out of there. She didn’t find me attractive in any way, shape or form. I’d stupidly allowed myself, with each sidelong glance and each spark I felt when we touched, to gather hope. I was a stupid fucking idiot. What normal woman – let alone one with a brain like a shard of glass and looks that could command an army – would ever be interested in someone like me?
I was damaged. Deformed and ugly. A beast.
Sure, I was rich. But as it turned out, that didn’t matter. In fact, my wealth had become my only allure.
I couldn’t put too much blame on myself for dreaming. Guiding that exquisite woman around the dance floor to themost ingenious piece of music ever written was possibly the highlight of my life so far. My heart swelled under the weight of her undivided attention. She listened to the few words I said as though she actually heard them. She rose to the challenge of asking meaningful questions, even though I refused to answer.
I wasn’t ready to tell her what had happened. I wasn’t ready to tell anyone. Even my family. My father was the strongest man I knew but knowing the truth about where my scars came from would break his heart.
My head was full of the sight of her lips asking me to kiss her, the sound of her breath as we skated across the floor. So, when a large figure stepped out in front of me, almost knocking me out cold, I swore like a sailor with a foghorn.
“Jeez, Dax! Look where you’re going.”
My cousin, Rupert, middle son of my father’s brother Sinclair, stared at me, his face fixed in shocked annoyance.
“What the fuck?” I snapped. “Where are you going this time of night?”
He frowned. “I should be the one asking you. I haven’t seen you outside the North Tower in months. If I hadn’t been to visit you on the regular, then I’m not sure I’d recognise you.”
“I just went for a walk.” I shoved my hands in my trouser pockets.
“Dressed in a tux?”
Fuck. I forgot about that. “Just taking it for a spin.”
