“I’m sorry, Clara,” Belinda—one of my girls—said. “I tried to stop him, but he was very insistent.”
I nodded, but my eyes were still transfixed by this giant beauty before me. I didn’t know who the hell he was, but I damn sure hoped he wasn’t a new client.
I found myself watching him with rapt appreciation as he seemed to drink me in as much as I was him. He had dark, wavy brown hair which was slicked back with perfect precision. His olive skin seemed to glow as his caramel-coloured eyes danced over me with heated desire.
My God, he was perfect!
His broad shoulders and magnificent physique were commanding the room as if he was standing on a stage. Mid-ogling, I caught him licking his ever-so-pouty lips, and that one little gesture caused an ache between my legs to surface—the likes of which I had never felt before.
I let my eyes wander so much that I eventually landed on his feet. Big feet equalled…
I managed to eventually lift my eyes, only to find a slight smile curving up from those beautifully round pouty lips of his.
Dammit! Did he know what I was thinking about just then?
After another few seconds of staring at his five o’clock shadow—and wondering what it would be like to run my fingers through his hair—I finally managed to shake myself out of my stupor and clear my throat. “What can I do for you?”
Please don’t say you’re a client!
Walking forward, the door was shut swiftly behind him. The sexy beast smiled as he offered me his hand. “Luca Belatoni. Nice to meet you… Clara, I take it?”
Shit, it was the life-sucking arsehole!!
I stood firm, not once offering my hand back to him. Instead, I thought I may have given him a disgusted look.
“Ah, I take it from that look that you are fully aware of who I am.”
I am way too aware of you, you sexy fucking prick!
“Yes, I am aware. I should imagine you’re also aware that I’m not one for bullying tactics.” I sat down on my chair and watched as he did the same opposite my desk.
“And I’m sure you will become aware soon enough that I do not take no for an answer.” His eyes sparkled with a hint of lust.
Offer him your body, and maybe he’ll leave you alone. Where in the bleedin’ hell did that thought come from?!
I was about to make a retort when he spoke again. “Do you sleep with any of your clients?”
My eyes widened in shock at his sudden change of subject. “That’s none of your damn business! None of what I do here is any of your business.”
He smiled and shook his head as if he found my outburst amusing. “It soon will be, Clara. You must understand; even if I wanted to relent, I could not. I can’t give into you because if I did, I’d seem weak. Weakness is a trait that is never tolerated in my line of work.”
I smiled despite myself. “So you’re saying now that you’re on to me, you can’t let me go? That you have to see this through because if you didn’t, then you would seem weak?”
“Exactly.” His sexy smile made me fidget in my chair a little.
“You’re a piece of work.”
His smile broadened as I found his eyes dance over my cleavage. “That I am, beautiful.”
I thought my stomach was about to blow with the knots in my stomach. He called me beautiful. I couldn’t remember the last time someone called me beautiful. Sexy or sometimes fucking hot, but never beautiful.
“I… I…” Did I just stutter?
“I require payment for our services,” he finally said, breaking my trance.
Remembering why he was here, I became angry. “That is what I do here—not the other way around.”
“So, you are refusing payment?”
“Err… Hold up a second, and let me think—YES, I bloody well am refusing payment!” Rolling my eyes at him, I swiftly got out of my chair and walked towards the door. I had my hand on the knob when I felt his hand around my wrist. He spun me around and before I knew it, he was inches away from my lips. He was so close I could feel his hot breath invading my own.
“Do you let your clients fuck you, Clara? Answer the question.”
Through my erratic breaths I managed, “It’s none of your business.”
Within an instant, his hand was at my face as he slid his finger down from my eyes to my chin. Gently lifting my chin up to meet his eyes, I shuddered underneath his touch.
“I’m not going to let you go unless you tell me.”
Fuck me; I wanted him to kiss me. I hated him with such intensity that it made me want to push him towards my desk and fuck his brains out. I didn’t want to answer him, but I somehow found myself doing just that.