“That’s a very flattering offer, but I’m not interested in selling my company. We’ve discussed this before.”
My ears perked up as I escaped from my daydreams to pay attention.
“Ten million,” he offered.
Ginevra laughed. “You’re hilarious, Richard! So funny! But you know I don’t want to sell. What is this really about?”
“You’re the best, Ginevra. I saw your work onTransformations—Charles had nothing but praise for what you did.”
“For what my team did,” Ginevra said, a hint of censure in her voice.
“For what your team did,” the man acknowledged, amused. “There’s no one else I’d rather work with to make my vision happen. Even if you won’t sell to me, I can make the partnership worth your while.”
“We’d have to build an entirely new animation engine to do what you’re asking. I’d have to double my staff and contract out half of the work.”
“I’m fine with that. I want you to take the lead on this, Ginevra. You’re the best in this town. Ten million,” Richard offered. “For the contract, not your company.”
Ginevra didn’t laugh this time, but I could see the tension in her shoulders. “Richard, I’m flattered that you’re so determined to get me to work with you on this film, but it’s not what my company does. As always, it was a pleasure speaking with you.” She made as if to hang up.
“Wait—” Richard said.
Ginevra waited.
“Fifteen plus costs.”
She couldn’t hide her gasp. Her shoulders tensed as she sat frozen in front of her screen. “Fifteen plus costs,” she agreed.
“Wonderful!” he said. “I’ll have my lawyer call Cheryl. I’d like to get this done quickly, and announce it together next Monday.”
“I’m on the East Coast for a family emergency. Can you give me another week?”
The man huffed his surprise. “For fifteen million plus costs, Ginevra, make yourself available.”
“One week, Richard, please.”
Her interlocutor reluctantly agreed.
She slammed the cover of her laptop down and stared at the wall, her breath ragged and uneven. With a soft whimper, she lowered her face into her hands. When her shoulders started to shake, she shoved her chair back and dashed to the bathroom without looking at me.
When she walked out, she stalked straight to the bed and unbuckled my belt. Despite myself, I grasped her wrist, not wanting to cause her more pain. “I’ll take a rain check.”
Her eyes were full of unshed tears when she looked up at me. “How much will that cost me?” she asked, bitter and angry. She shook free of my grip and pulled my cock out of my pants.
Fuck. I wasn’t a goddamn saint. I sat up and swung my legs around the side of the bed. She knelt before me, her chest heaving, her wavy brown hair a halo around her. God, she was gorgeous. She licked her full pink lips, then stuck out her tongue to swipe at the bead of pre-cum that gathered on the tip of my cock.
She hummed before leaning forward and taking me in her mouth, swirling her tongue around me before sucking hard. I groaned and threw my head back, clutching at her blankets, not wanting to ruin the moment by touching her. When she descended on me, taking me to the back of her throat, I stopped caring and threaded my fingers through her hair, struggling not to fist it and fuck her face like her rosy cheeks and plump lips begged me to.
Ginevra ran her tongue up and down my length as she took me into her mouth.Fucking heaven on earth.When she fisted me and started fucking me with her hand in time with her mouth, I moaned out loud, “Fucking hell, Gin, you are so goddamned perfect,” as tears streamed down her face.
Murmuring gentle words of praise as she brought me higher and higher, I pumped into her until I was on the cusp of coming. Then I was emptying myself into her mouth as she sucked me dry, swallowing every drop.
I hauled her up to standing and pulled her into me for a kiss. Her mouth was salty with the taste of me as I nibbled on her lips, stroked her tongue with my own. She opened to me for a delicious moment before coming back to herself and shoving me back. “No,” she snapped, like I was an errant puppy.
Angry Ginevra was a lot more fun to play with than weepy Ginevra. I let her get back to work without another word.
“Hey, yeah, no video today. I’m working out of my parents’ house,” she explained on her next call. “But I’ve got some big news!”
14