No one has the right to look this beautiful, this achingly gorgeous. Too magnificent for his own good. Anger coils in my chest.
"Arrogant wanker."
"I’ll take that under advisement."
"You’re a jerk, you know that?"
He presses his lips together. The grooves on either side of his mouth deepen. Jesus, clearly the man has never laughed a single day in his life. Bet that stick up his arse is uncomfortable. I chuckle.
He runs his gaze down my features, my chest, down to my toes, then yawns.
The hell! I will not let him provoke me. Will not. "Like what you see?" I jut out my chin.
"Sorry, you’re not my type." He slides a hand into the pocket of those perfectly cut pants, stretching it across that heavy bulge.
Heat curls low in my belly.
Not fair, that he could afford a wardrobe that clearly shouts his status and what amounts to the economy of a small third-world country. A hot feeling stabs in my chest.
He reeks of privilege, of taking his status in life for granted.
While I’ve had to fight every inch of the way. Hell, I am still battling to hold onto the last of my equilibrium.
"Last chance—" I wiggle my fingers from where I am sprawled out on the floor at his feet, "—to redeem yourself…"
"You have me there." He places the glass on the counter, then bends and holds out his hand. The hint of discolored steel at his wrist catches my attention. Huh?
He wears a cheap-ass watch?
That's got to bring down the net worth of his presence by more than 1000% percent. Weird.
I reach up and he straightens.
I lurch back.
"Oops, I changed my mind." His lips curl.
A hot burning sensation claws at my stomach. I am not a violent person, honestly. But Smirky Pants here, he needs to be taught a lesson.
I swipe out my legs, kicking his out from under him.
Sinclair
My knees give way, and I hurtle toward the ground.
What the—? I twist around, thrust out my arms. My palms hit the floor. The impact jostles up my elbows. I firm my biceps and come to a halt planked above her.
A huffing sound fills my ear.
I turn to find my whippet, Max, panting with his mouth open. I scowl and he flattens his ears.
All of my businesses are dog-friendly. Before you draw conclusions about me being the caring sort or some such shit—it attracts footfall.
Max scrutinizes the girl, then glances at me. Huh? He hates women, but not her, apparently.
I straighten and my nose grazes hers.
My arms are on either side of her head. Her chest heaves. The fabric of her dress stretches across her gorgeous breasts. My fingers tingle; my palms ache to cup those tits, squeeze those hard nipples outlined against the—hold on, what is she wearing? A tunic shirt in a sparkly pink... and are those shoulder pads she has on?
I glance up, and a squeak escapes her lips.
Pink hair surrounds her face. Pink? Who dyes their hair that color past the age of eighteen?
I stare at her face. How old is she? Un-furrowed forehead, dark eyelashes that flutter against pale cheeks. Tiny nose, and that mouth—luscious, tempting. A whiff of her scent, cherries and caramel, assails my senses. My mouth waters. What the hell?
She opens her eyes and our eyelashes brush. Her gaze widens. Green, like the leaves of the evergreens, flickers of gold sparkling in their depths. "What?" She glowers. "You're demonstrating the plank position?"
"Actually," I lower my weight onto her, the ridge of my hardness thrusting into the softness between her legs, "I was thinking of something else, altogether."
She gulps and her pupils dilate. Ah, so she feels it, too?
I drop my head toward her, closer, closer.
Color floods the creamy expanse of her neck. Her eyelids flutter down. She tilts her chin up.
I push up and off of her.
"That… Sweetheart, is an emphatic ‘no thank you’ to whatever you are offering."
Her eyelids spring open and pink stains her cheeks. Adorable. Such a range of emotions across those gorgeous features in a few seconds. What else is hidden under that exquisite exterior of hers?
She scrambles up, eyes blazing.
Ah! The little bird is trying to spread her wings? My dick twitches. My groin hardens, Why does her anger turn me on so, huh?
She steps forward, thrusts a finger in my chest.
My heart begins to thud.
She peers up from under those hooded eyelashes. "Wake up and taste the wasabi, asshole."
"What does that even mean?"
She makes a sound deep in her throat. My dick twitches. My pulse speeds up.
She pivots, grabs a half-full beer mug sitting on the bar counter.
I growl, "Oh, no, you don’t."
She turns, swings it at me. The smell of hops envelops the space.
I stare down at the beer-splattered shirt, the lapels of my camel colored jacket deepening to a dull brown. Anger squeezes my guts.
I fist my fingers at my side, broaden my stance.
She snickers.
I tip my chin up. "You're going to regret that."
The smile fades from her face. "Umm." She places the now empty mug on the bar.
I take a step forward and she skitters back. "It’s only clothes." She gulps. "They'll wash."
I glare at her and she swallows, wiggles her fingers in the air. "I should have known that you wouldn’t have a sense of humor."
I thrust out my jaw. "That’s a ten-thousand-pound suit you destroyed."
She blanches, then straightens her shoulders. "Must have been some hot date you were trying to impress, huh?"
"Actually," I flick some of the offending liquid from my lapels, "it’s you I was after."
"Me?" She frowns.
"We need to speak."
She glances toward the bartender who's on the other side of the bar. "I don’t know you." She chews on her lower lip, biting off some of the hot pink. How would she look, with that pouty mouth fastened on my cock?
The blood rushes to my groin so quickly that my head spins. My pulse rate ratchets up. Focus, focus on the task you came here for.
"This will take only a few seconds." I take a step forward.
She moves aside.
I frown. "You want to hear this, I promise."
"Go to hell." She pivots and darts forward.
I let her go, a step, another, because... I can? Besides it's fun to create the illusion of freedom first; makes the hunt so much more entertaining, huh?
I swoop forward, loop an arm around her waist, and yank her toward me.
She yelps. "Release me."
Good thing the bar is not yet full. It's too early for the usual officegoers to stop by. And the staff...? Well, they are well aware of who cuts their paychecks.
I spin her around and against the bar, then release her. "You will listen to me."
She swallows; she glances left to right.
Not letting you go yet, little Bird. I move into her space, crowd her.
She tips her chin up. "Whatever you’re selling, I’m not interested."
I allow my lips to curl. "You don't fool me."
A flush steals up her throat, sears her cheeks. So tiny, so innocent. Such a good little liar. I narrow my gaze. "Every action has its consequences."