Page 25 of Takeover
"All right, if I don't do this, what happens?"
"Perhaps I marry Morgan.That’s what your father would prefer."
Another roll of queasiness made me push my plate aside, which was a damn shame because I lovedshrimp étouffée.And I was starving.
"No,” I said emphatically.“That’s not happening.So when we leave here, we are the real deal."
"Yes,” he agreed.“From the moment we walk away from this table, we are together.So if what you said last night was true and there's someone else lurking around, get rid of him.You have until tonight.If you don't get rid of him, then I will.And I promise you, the way that I get rid of him will be unpleasant to both of you.So do it now."
"Is that a threat?"The words tore out of my throat.
Atticus cocked his head.And in that moment, I sensed a lethal edge to him.It was just under the surface.And unfortunately, instead of repelling me like it should, it made something pull in my core again.
"There isn't anyone."
"Excellent.So Lakewood isn't going to be a problem?"
I frowned."Lance?He's my best friend.There's never been anything romantic between us, and I'm not getting rid of my best friend.You’ll have to just work around that."
He pursed his lips then."If you say so.Friendships are fine.I'm not bothered."
"And you said I was supposed to live with you?"
His brow furrowed."Yes.The Park Tower.Upper West Side."
"And what about my apartment?"
"You can keep it if you like,” he said.“Or sublet it.But you won't be sleeping there."
All my tightly held reins of control that had kept me going for the last year were slipping between my fingers like they were water.I sighed."Why are you doing this?You don't want this.You can get a wife any way you want."
His wintergreen eyes searched mine for a long moment before he spoke."I'm old enough that a wife brings great value.It looks good to my board and my shareholders that I am settled.Happy."
He was going to make me ask.Shit.“You still haven’t been clear, so I have to ask.What about sex?”
His gaze dipped to my lips instantly, and I licked them nervously once I had his attention.“What about it?”he asked.
“Well, I assume you’re going to want it.You want me to have no one, but does that stipulation extend to you, or is it one sided?”
His teeth grazed his bottom lip as he leaned forward.When he spoke, his voice was low.“I won’t be fucking anyone else.”
Holy Sheeeeit.I tried to calm the pulsing between my thighs by pressing them together.I swallowed then cleared my throat.“I—I need to like someone at the very least to sleep with them.Right now I’m hovering at barely tolerating.”
“Interesting,” he murmured.His gaze swept over me then, his slow perusal making me hyperaware of every inch of my skin.“I’ll only kiss you in public while we get to know each other.I won’t touch you until you beg me to.”
“Until I—” I narrowed my gaze at his arrogant smirk.“Did you say beg?”
He shrugged.“That I did.”
The laugh whipped out of my throat before I could pull it back.“You will have an epic case of blue balls long before I beg.”
“We’ll see.I should probably mention that you’ll only be getting your orgasms from me for the foreseeable future.”
“You scared a toy can do it better?”
“No, Ness.Toys are tools.But I’m the one you’ll be using them with.Not as a replacement.”
His arrogance was truly next level.“My name isn’t Ness.”
