Thomas let out one of his bark-laughs. “Women. Women. Do they bore me? The women I end up in bed with do.”
Sasha narrowed her eyes. “You do realize I’m going to write an article about what a misogynist you are?”
“Why don’t you spend the night with me so I can prove you wrong?”
The question caught her off guard. “What?”
“You heard me, intern. Let me show you how I really feel about women.”
Sasha felt her body grow hot. Had Kelly planned this? Did she know that Thomas Lloyd would come on to her? Was she sent as bait, a way to get an interesting article for the magazine?
“I…,” she began, but her voice disappeared.
“I want you to fuck me,” Thomas said.
Sasha was so shocked she couldn’t speak.
She’d only ever had sex with one man, her boyfriend before college, Chris. They’d had a soppy sort of love, a cutesy romance. Something told her that sex with Thomas would be anything but. The idea scared and thrilled her in equal measure.
But Sasha wasn’t that kind of girl, was she? She was the sort of girl who’d break up with a boyfriend who adored her to focus on her studies, the sort of girl who’d move away from all her family and friends to make sure she got in the best journalism program in America. She was the girl who never went to parties, never missed a class, and never had a one-night stand. There was no way she could act dirty or play a sexy dominatrix! Even if she wanted to, she couldn’t go from three years of chastity to sex with a Hollywood heartthrob!
And even if she could, how would she satisfy a well-experienced man like Thomas Lloyd? He’d probably bedded a thousand women, beautiful women, accomplished women. Sleeping with him would put her job in jeopardy, leave her embarrassed...and leave him disappointed.
“I’m leaving now,” she said, standing.
“Why?” Thomas challenged her, the passion she’d glimpsed before returning to his voice. “I’m offering myself to you. I want to give you a career-defining interview! A life-changing orgasm!”
She laughed and slung her notepad into her satchel. “How very generous of you. But I don’t need to sleep with you to progress in my career.”
She strode to the door, but Thomas was suddenly on his feet. He wedged his hand against the door to stop her from opening it. “You don’t think you deserve it. You don’t think you’re good enough.”
Sasha sighed with irritation. “Deserve what?”
“To be the one to do the interview. To be the one who gets the orgasm.”
She scoffed. “Yes, well done, you’ve read me like a book, Mr. Lloyd.”
“You don’t see what I see. A beautiful, accomplished woman turning down the offer of her life! This isn’t an offer I make for everyone.”
“Oh really?” she said, her voice oozing with sarcasm. She’d seen how he referred to Alicia earlier. Surely sleeping with journalists came with the territory. “Am I supposed to thank you?”
Thomas leaned in close. “You’re supposed to let me kiss you passionately against the door,” he whispered into her ear. The hair of her neck stirred, and she couldn’t help but draw a breath. “You’re supposed to let me run my fingers up your inner thigh until I reach…”
“That’s enough,” Sasha said, snapping back to her senses. “Please move out of the way, Mr. Lloyd. I’d like to leave now.”
“I’ve gone about this all wrong,” Thomas said, his voice suddenly soft. He reached out and touched her hand gently with his fingertips. She paused, letting the warmth from his skin radiate into her.
“Has your usual routine failed you?” she sniped. But when she glimpsed into his eyes, he looked deeply sincere. Could he actually be serious?
“Perhaps we could have a drink?” he said.
Sasha felt her resolve disappearing. Thomas Lloyd may have been a player, but he was damn good at it. Where was the harm really? She wanted him. He, apparently, wanted her. Why not take the interview and the orgasm? If she did embarrass herself and disappoint him, it wasn’t like she’d ever have to see him again....
“Fine,” she said, startled by her own bravery.
Thomas smiled in a way that made her pulse quicken. Feeling somewhat dazed, she watched as he walked over to the minibar. He was so gorgeous, even from behind, his tight ass on display as he bent over to fetch the wine. Her heart was beating so hard. She could hardly believe that she was staying, that she was in a hotel room with a Hollywood actor who wanted to—what had he said?—run his fingers up her inner thigh….
Sasha gasped just thinking about it.