Chapter 1
Peyton
“So, have you decided on what you’ll be wearing tonight?” Ethan’s tall frame overshadows my own as he holds me in his arms.
“I have narrowed my options down to about seventy-five.” His hands brush over my hair as he traces his fingers down my bare neck.
His deep set eyes gaze into mine, “Do I even want to ask what the original number was?” His mouth creases into a soft smile. The curtains are drawn in his bedroom, the morning sunlight peaking through our privacy. But no one can see us up in the clouds of his penthouse apartment.
I part my lips and stand on my toes to whisper in his ear, “No, but why are we talking about clothing garments when we should be stripping them off.”
His hands dig into my hips, toying with the lacey straps, “You’re a temptress, you know that?” He kisses me deeply, but then quickly pulls away. “I’d love to spend the entire weekend glued onto this bed, with you on your back, but I have to get to work now, hun.”
I pout, but make for the chair to grab my silk blouse and the pair of pants that found its way underneath it. “Since when does your boss make you work weekends? That’s such bullshit to make you do that.”
He’s hunched over tying his shoe laces, “Well… I’m not exactly an heiress of the Montclare fortune—you know, that ‘small’ investment firm that made billions in its first trimester.”
I roll my eyes. “Seriously, Ethan? You don’t have to shove my parents’ success in my face.”
“Don’t give me that look, Peyton. You know what I mean. Your whole future is set out for you, I get it, but all I have is this career and nothing else. No trust fund, no family to fall back on–” His head is hunched over, resting his elbows on his knees as he sits on the mess of sheets on the king-sized bed.
I begin to walk towards him, sympathizing with his situation. Damn, I was only criticizing his boss, I didn’t mean to make him feel like shit.
He can’t even look me in the eye, “And–you of course. You know I care about you, but just by associating with me, you could risk everything I’ve built. And I’d take the brunt of it.” He scratches his head like he doesn’t know what his next move will be.
Is he seriously questioning our relationship after we just fucked?
I freeze right where I had flung my heels off onto the floor just moments ago. “If you’re insinuating what I think you are–you’ve got some god damn nerve–” He whips his head around to face me, “What? No! I’m sorry, I’m just rambling my thoughts aloud. I’ve just been under a lot of stress lately.”
I cross my arms, “And my presence has been a big chunk of that stress, hm?”
He sighs, “Yeah–well–not because of you, it’s just the fact that–”
“That you could lose your job because you’re hooking up with your company’s top rival’s daughter–soon to be–CEO?” I interrupt, now standing in front of him. He rests his head on me, I feel his warm breath breeze through the thin fabric of my blouse, “Pretty much.”
I rest my hand on his head, “You do realize you’re not the only one with high stakes. I could lose it all–the title, the fortune, the company–if our relationship is exposed. My parents will not tolerate nor accept a traitor as their successor.” I take a step back from him and grab my purse from the nightstand, “That’s how they’ll view me, you know.”
He looks up at me, rising from the bed, “I–I didn’t think.”
“No, you didn’t.”
I can tell he feels like an utter fool just by the look on his face, “It’s okay. We’re good,” I kiss him on the cheek, “Are you absolutely sure you can’t make it to the gala tonight? You’re still on the guest list.”
“Yeah, I’m sure. I have loads of paperwork I need to file through, so I’ll be at my desk by the time the party’s over.” He grabs my waist, “Besides, everyone would know about us if I was there. There’s no way in hell I’d be able to take my hands off you wearing that red velvet dress of yours.”
I raise a brow, “How’d you know I decided on a dress? That’s a very specific one of mine too.”
This time he lowers to whisper into my ear, “Because, hun, that’s the dress you seduced me with the first night we met.” My cheeks flush red. “And because it’s my favorite color.”
He strides out the door, leaving me standing here wanting more.
