The Two Week Arrangement (Penthouse Affair #1)(28)

“Ha, no thanks. I think I’ll pass on those details.”

“Come on, don’t be like that. I like hearing about the things no one else knows.”

“You mean my flaws?” He shrugs. “I have loads of them.”

“Doesn’t seem like it from where I’m sitting.” Which is currently almost touching him.

“Trust me.” He points to himself. “Riddled with shortcomings.”

I can’t help but chuckle. The man is in a ten-thousand-dollar suit, wearing custom-made cuff links and a vintage Rolex, and he’s also self-deprecating. I think I just fell a little harder.

“So, what’s the big secret, then?” I ask. “The thing you don’t want people to know?”

He looks lost in thought, his gaze drifting to the window for a moment while he thinks. And when he speaks, his tone is cooler. “I’m really particular about my coffee.”

I raise my brows. “Your coffee.”

“I’m a coffee snob.” He shrugs.

I roll my eyes. “That’s it? That’s the huge reveal? The extent of your big, dirty secret?”

Dominic smirks again. “For now. Why? What about you? Any skeletons in the closet I should know about?”

I consider his question. It’s insane. And hilarious. Does he really expect me to answer?

“Maybe?” I say, my voice betraying me. My lack of confidence is obvious.

He chuckles. “Spill it, intern.”

“Intern?” I exhale sharply and place a hand over my heart in mock outrage. But the secret truth is that I like his silly nickname. I’ve felt like anything but an intern lately. Everything has felt so intense and real.

“I’m sorry,” Dominic says, his voice turning serious. “To be honest, you’re nothing like any intern I’ve ever met before. You’re . . .”

When he pauses, I find myself leaning forward, eager to hear what he’s going to say.

“Smart. No . . .” His eyebrows scrunch together. “You’re brilliant. Your SAT scores, your GPA . . .” He waves a hand in the air. “Never mind. You’re just . . . different. And very driven.”

“Thank you.” I smile and duck my head, but there’s no need to be modest. I graduated college at the top of my class with a 4.0 average. I’ve had multiple internships at major corporations. Bianca’s right—I’m pretty much a badass. It’s just nice to know Dominic sees me that way, instead of just a pretty face.

A smirk pulls at the corner of his mouth. “You know,” he says, his deep voice lingering over the words in a way that’s decidedly sexy, “to pull this weekend off, we also need to be comfortable with touching each other.”

My eyebrows lift. “Touching each other?”

He nods. “Kissing. Hand-holding. That type of thing,” he says way too innocently.

“I see.” My voice is tight, and too soft.

“We could practice that now.” His mouth twitches with a smile again.

I laugh. “Is that so?”

I’m trying to keep my tone light and teasing, but my heart is hammering a million miles a minute, and butterflies have erupted inside my stomach.

I slide a fraction closer to him and lift my chin, and then his hot mouth is on mine.

My lips part and Dominic’s skilled tongue touches mine, leaving me almost dizzy. We’ve kissed before, but it’s never been like this. This fiery, this intense. His hand moves to my jaw, my neck, his hold gentle but thrillingly strong. I nip at his lower lip, earning a rough growl of approval that makes my inner muscles clench.

His hand slides over my neck and collarbone, caressing closer and closer to my chest. I moan into his mouth in anticipation—only for him to avoid touching my breast as his hand skims down my side. After drawing a tingling trail down my waist, my hip, his hand settles firmly on my lower back.

My whimper of disappointment breaks into a squeak when he pulls me to straddle his lap.

“Intern, I’m going to enjoy taking my time with you,” he murmurs near my ear, raising goose bumps all the way down my spine.

? ? ?

Two hours later, the car rolls to a stop.

I hurry to make myself presentable, but while I can fix my lipstick, there’s not much I can do about how pink my cheeks are. Dominic straightens his tie and smooths his hair, rumpled from me running my fingers through it.

How is he so cool and collected when I’m about to explode from need? But no, when I look closer, his eyes glitter with hunger, and I feel a rush of horny satisfaction that I’ve incited such a response from him.

Our chauffeur opens the door and extends a hand to help us out. If he suspects we spent the entire trip flirting and kissing, he doesn’t betray a hint of it.

A man in a suit has already emerged from the house to greet us. When he starts unloading the trunk, I automatically move to help, only for him to wave me off with a smile.

“It’s all right, miss. I’ll handle your bags.”

With an amused sparkle in his eyes, Dominic offers me his hand. We stroll arm in arm up the winding flagstone path. The impressive house ahead of us, overlooking the breeze-ruffled water, is white with a slate roof and navy trim. The property extends to the shoreline, where a large sailboat floats near a dock, bobbing in the tide. It’s beautiful here. Utterly serene. Too bad I feel anything but relaxed.