Chapter 24
Gen
Ireturn his look with a glare. ‘Meaning?’
‘Meaning you should audition the guys here for their Alchemy membership.’
I don’t like the change in his voice. It’s got deeper, more menacing all of a sudden, its timbre low and intimate and sexy and fucking dangerous.
‘You know we don’t hold auditions. We hold interviews.’ My tone is dismissive, but my nervous system is ratcheting right up. I cross my legs defensively, like that’s going to save me from him.
‘And I’m sure they’ll nail them,’ he says suavely. ‘After all, everyone’s getting on famously today, wouldn’t you say? But I owe you one, and the least I can do is make my team available for your enjoyment.’
God, he’s rude. I glare at him, because this is so far from appropriate in an office environment that it’s not funny. ‘You don’t owe me anything,’ I say through gritted teeth, though I’m all too aware of what he’s alluding to.
That night at Alchemy.
His face relaxes into a broad grin, and it throws me. ‘I’m being disingenuous, obviously. I suspect you already know I’m a self-centred beast at heart. This isn’t about you. It’s about me. You’ve seen me come—or you would have, if you hadn’t walked away so rudely the other night.
‘You’ve seen me lose control and fuck someone like a beast, so you have the upper hand.
’ He lowers his voice. Chooses his words.
‘Now it’s my turn. I want to see you lose control, Genevieve.
You know it’s all I think about. Watching you come undone in the messiest, most glorious way.
I won’t rest until I get you so worked up you’re fucking shameless. ’
Holy fucking hell.
I am in way over my head here.
I squeeze my thighs together, telling myself it’s a sort of emergency chastity belt, but I don’t like the way he’s making me feel.
I don’t like the thud-thud of my heart as he pins me with those devil eyes, and I definitely don’t like the throbbing pulse between my legs as he talks utter filth in front of these total strangers.
‘You’re quite ridiculous,’ I manage with a huff. ‘This is extremely inappropriate.’
He shrugs, unbothered. ‘These guys are fine.’
I drag my eyes from him and dare to glance to my left. I’m so mortified that Anton would disrespect me and his team enough to let the conversation turn to sex, and public sex at that.
It’s excruciating.
But when I look at David’s kind, beautiful face, it’s neither surprised nor outraged. Instead, it’s watchful. Expectant.
A glance to my right is even more unmooring. Max flashes me a grin that’s less appreciative than downright lascivious.
‘We’re very fine with this,’ he drawls, crossing one shapely ankle over the opposite knee. He rests an elbow on the back of the sofa, his hand hanging between us.
Even Athena is unmoved. She’s still perched on the edge of her chair, pen in hand, face politely blank with no trace of discomfort as she watches me, and suddenly I understand everything.
She’s not just his EA.
And I’m not just here to sign a contract.
I’ve been ambushed.