I moaned as he tore past my lips.
A month ago, I would’ve curled into myself and hid.
Today, I reached for him and gave in.
But the moment I touched him, the sudden attack was over.
He backed away, running a hand through his hair with a disbelieving scowl on his face. “Sorry.”
I pressed my bruised mouth with shaking fingertips. “Don’t be.”
“I shouldn’t have done that.”
“It’s fine.”
He bared his teeth. “It’s not fine. I slipped. I never slip.” He prowled away; his hand still clutched in his blue-black strands. “Fuck.”
I didn’t know what to do, so I just stood there. I didn’t think it would be sensible to mention he’d slipped the other night too. He’d slipped until he’d slipped inside me.
“Sir?” Elder’s staff manager reappeared, glancing between us, understanding something wasn’t quite right but interrupting anyway. “The design team are gathered. If you’re ready?”
Elder groaned. “Christ, I forgot.” Looking up, he somehow managed to hide away the argument, the kiss, and the intensity from before, once again becoming impenetrable. “I’ll be right there.”
“Great.” Charlton nodded, smiled at me, then moved out of hearing distance.
Elder stormed toward me, his arms ramrods by his sides as if he was under strict instructions not to reach for, touch, or manhandle me in any way. “I have to go.”
My belly warmed at the annoyance in his eyes. Annoyance I liked to think was caused by his unwillingness to leave me. “Okay.”
“I won’t be long.”
I nodded.
“You’re free to wander around and explore. Learn how your new yacht is built. I’ll come find you when I’m through.”
“It’s not my yacht.”
“It is.” He held up a hand when I went to argue. “Nothing more to say on the subject.”
“But—”
His eyes shadowed. “But nothing. It’s yours. Figure out a name. If you try to fight me again, you’ll lose.” His voice slipped into a threat as he stepped closer. “Is that what you want, Pim? To pick a fight with me and lose?” He licked his lips. “Because with the way I’m feeling, we wouldn’t fight for long before I lost control and hurt you again.”
The image of him forcing himself on me didn’t send as many rescue flares off as I thought. He’d entered me, but he hadn’t fucked me. If someone had that much willpower—to be inside a woman and not move or seek a release—then threats like the one he’d just given weren’t nearly as scary because he’d already revealed he had morals he refused to break.
He hung his head, his shoulders weary under immense pressure. “Look, I’m sorry for kissing you. I took advantage again. It won’t happen a third time.”
My voice that’d been silent now blurted with no censorship. “You didn’t—”
His eyes snapped to mine.
I withered beneath his stare, swallowing before continuing. “You didn’t take advantage. I—” I didn’t have the courage to talk about feelings and strange desires, but I had to force myself if I stood any chance at claiming normalness. “I like kissing you.”
My cheeks impersonated a burning building as Elder made a weird grunt as if he’d been told everything he believed was a lie.
Once again that signature awkwardness we seemed to dance around returned—a nasty third wheel. He moved toward me slowly, stiffly, keeping his body under strict control. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Pim.”
I sucked in a breath at the blazing desire on his face.
“You should’ve left when you had the chance.”
I turned soft while he glittered hard. I turned meek while he glared power.
I turned breathless. “The moment you found me, I didn’t stand a chance.”
His lips turned down, his eyes becoming sad. “I hate that that’s true. For both of us.”
We stared without words until he murmured, “Do you remember the pickpocketing lesson? How I taught you to creep up and steal my wallet?”
Did I remember? Of course, I remembered. How could I forget the thrill at being so close to him—of inserting my hand against his ass and pinching his money? How could I forget the joy of playing with him?
“I remember.”
“Good.”
I didn’t like the gleam in his gaze.
“Put what you learned into practice. Steal me something of value and bring it to me. You don’t want to accept this yacht? Don’t want to accept what’s rightfully yours? Well, too bad. You still owe me for other things, so consider this task the first instalment.”
“Instalment for what?” I cocked my head, schooling myself not to stare at how regal he looked. How sharp jawbones and elegant cheekbones made him so handsome but so untouchable.
“Instalment for your room and board, of course.” He gave a half smile, even though it shimmered with challenge rather than amusement. “Hunt my staff, Pimlico. Patrol my warehouse. Pick your victim. Steal something for me before I finish my meeting. Otherwise, I’ll make the task a lot harder.”
“I don’t steal.”
He chuckled. “Oh, yes you do.” He leaned forward, his cheek brushing mine as he murmured, “I should know. You’ve stolen more from me than anyone.”