you going to draw a line under it?’
I laughed. ‘You’d love that, wouldn’t you?’
His face tightened. ‘Remember what I said, Neve. I don’t like surprises. And I especially don’t like the wool being pulled over my eyes.’
‘You should’ve considered that before you dismissed me out of hand two years ago.’
‘How long will it take you to get this out of your system?’
I laughed again. ‘I wasn’t aware I was on a deadline. There is one on how much time I want to spend in your company though, so if you don’t mind I’d like you to leave now.’
He didn’t budge. ‘Whatever you have up your sleeve, bear in mind what adverse impact it could have on our new partnership.’
‘Absolutely none. I want this project with Sam and Tyler to work. My feelings towards you won’t impact that.’
Something gleamed in his eyes. ‘I’m glad to hear it. But you’re wrong on one score. I’m equally invested in this. Perhaps more than you know. So I’m going to be keeping an eye on you.’
Absurdly, I grew hot despite being raw inside from his admission that he’d unapologetically screwed me over. I had a feeling that wound would take time to stop stinging.
Thanks to him, almost overnight my business had dried up, word of mouth already a serious threat to my business. Within weeks the bank had been threatening to pull its funding.
It’d taken the best part of a year of back-breaking hard work, total rebranding and an aggressive marketing plan to ensure that I didn’t go under.
I’d emerged from that ordeal better and stronger but the lesson had been hard and a part of me remained battered and bruised by the experience. And no part of me was ready to let Damian off the hook.
I’m equally invested in this. Perhaps more than you know.
His words ricocheted in my head. I eyed him. ‘Why? This is just a small cog in your family business. Besides, you don’t strike me as someone who’s into fantasies. Nightmares maybe?’
The corner of his mouth kicked up, and that small action fired heat straight to my clit. ‘This is as good a swan song as any. As for my fantasies, they’re many and varied. Maybe when that homicidal look is no longer in your eyes, I might be inclined to show you one of them.’
My ache in my midriff felt at odds with the heaviness in my breasts and the softening in my pelvis. How could I despise him and want to fuck him blind at the same time? ‘That’s assuming you’re still sane by the time I’m done with you.’
His gaze fired up, dropping to my mouth. ‘You do realise the more you hint at your nebulous plans for me, the more I’m inclined to let you go through with whatever it is you have up your sleeve?’
My smile came easier this time and I realised, with a little shock, that I was enjoying tussling with him. Perhaps a little too much.
‘You do realise that was my intention?’ I murmured, keeping my voice low and husky. His gaze flicked to mine, stayed and held.
‘It’s the first time a business partner has threatened to keep me in line. Normally it’s the other way round.’
‘Maybe more of us should do that.’ Still keeping my voice low, I took a single step towards him.
His eyes dropped to my breasts. His lips moved in the tiniest pout, as if savouring my taste, before his scrutiny moved lower to caress my hips and legs before slowly trailing back up again.
By the time our gazes reconnected, I was left in no doubt that he wanted me. Badly.
‘It’s never happened before because my partnerships start with a baseline of trust. Perhaps we should aim for that between us?’
‘I don’t trust easily, Mr Mortimer.’
His nostrils flared as his fingers trailed down my arm. Tingles shot from the point of contact to my needy pussy.
‘What’s it going to take for you to call me Damian?’
You and your rock-hard cock, driving deep into my pussy.
For a moment I thought I’d said the words out loud. I gasped softly as his fingers closed on my elbow.
‘Damian. There, does that work for you?’
The blaze in his eyes grew dangerous and potent. ‘I’d love to say once more, with feeling, preferably as a prelude to sealing our deal the way I’m sorely tempted to, but for now I’ll take it.’
I didn’t need to ask how he would seal the deal. His eyes spelled it out explicitly. And, worse, I wanted to let him. Badly.
I remained still as the sexual cyclone churned and heated up the air around us, making my fingers itch to reacquaint themselves with his hard body, experience that glorious mouth and the magic of his hands.
Unable to help myself, I let my gaze fly up to land on his mouth. Would he taste just as spectacular as he had two years ago?
Two years ago...when he’d stabbed me in the back after sleeping with me.
My insides froze.
Damian made a frustrated sound under his breath. ‘There’s that look again. Tell me how to fix it and I promise to give it my best shot.’ The demand was low and deep. Almost as if he meant it. Almost as if my distrust aggravated him.
I attempted to step away, but he kept hold of me. His thumb slowly caressed my pulse, spiking arousal higher, hardening my nipples into needy points.
‘Give me a starting point, Neve. We can work our way towards whatever goal you want.’
‘Really? Whatever I want?’
He gave a solemn nod. ‘Within reason, of course...but I’d prefer we don’t have bad blood between us.’
Again his words were grave, containing a wealth of unspoken meaning.
But there was no way I was going anywhere near his questionable olive branch. There was one burning question I still needed an answer to, though. One he hadn’t yet answered to my satisfaction.
‘Would knowing who I was, knowing who you were screwing over, have made a blind bit of difference?’
He held my gaze for an uncomfortably long time. My breath froze in my lungs; I was suddenly unsure whether I wanted the truth or evasion of some sort. The truth, my brain and heart demanded. No matter how much it hurt to hear it, I wanted the truth from Damian. Always.
‘No,’ he said after nerve-stretching silence. ‘It wouldn’t have. You weren’t ready for a deal that big.’
I flinched. That stung just as badly now as it had two years ago. As had his addendum to Malcolm Cahill.
‘Was
