A Mess of a Man (Cruel & Beautiful #2)(36)

I glance at it. “Share a Coke with Samantha, huh?”

She grins, forcing me to smile as my throat dries up. I want to kiss her pretty lips and I can’t. This lunch is just as frustrating as dinner was the other night. So why am I here?

“Are you going to tell me what you wanted to talk about?” I ask before I put the bottle to my lips.

She turns her Coke around to show me what’s written on hers. Share a Coke with Someone Naughty. “I thought you might want to tell me what’s involved with being your f*ck buddy.”

I turn my head just enough so the liquid that spews from my mouth only hits my sleeve and not her as I choke on more than the soda. Her perfect tits are practically shoved in my face as she thumps my back. I continue to cough and choke, sure I must’ve heard her wrong.

My nose is lodged in between her breasts and she smells like wildflowers. It seems to be the balm I need to stop choking. She stills a second before her hands cup the sides of my face to dislodge me from her breasts.

“You okay?”

I bobblehead because words are out of reach.

Her mouth turns into a shit-eating grin before she presses her lips to mine. There are many reasons why I shouldn’t have dove in like I would find treasure. But her taste is like a magic carpet ride that takes me out of my head and to a secret place where everything in the world is fine.

When she pulls back, I’m the one left with uneven breaths.

“Sam—”

She shakes her head. “Don’t ruin this, Rhoades. I’m a big girl and I’ve done a lot of thinking. Like you said, what’s wrong with a little fun between consenting adults?”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

Her spine straightens. “What makes you think you can hurt me? Cocky much? I think you should quit while you’re ahead. I’m in, only I have one condition.”

She stands gathering the remnants of our lunch and holds out the basket to me. I slowly get to my feet, not sure I’m capable of denying any of her requests at the moment. The idea of getting inside her tight * makes me stupefied.

“I can do this casual thing, but we have to be exclusive.”

“Samantha.”

“I mean sexually. You can go out with anyone you want, but if you’re sleeping with me, it’s only me.”

Her request is full of holes and I know in the end she’ll want more. But my hard won control is cracking. I want to be inside her with a single-minded purpose. And she’s right. She knows what she’s offering. Still I have to ask. “Are you sure about this?”

The smile she rewards me with is brighter than the sun. “Absolutely.” She hooks her arm in mine and starts to lead me to the back door.

“Actually, I need to get another shirt.”

I lead her to my car and open the trunk where I keep a change of clothes. I pull out a shirt on a hanger and place the basket in my car. When I close the trunk, she sits on it. Her brow is arched when she glances at the shirt I hold.

Sighing, I say, “You never know when you need to see a client and you have an accident like this.” Of course, there is the other reason … if I end up at an unplanned overnight visit, but there is no way I’m copping to that.

“So, how do we shake on this deal of ours?”

I place my hands on either side of her. The hanger makes a clanking noise against the car. I don’t even care if I scratched something. I lean over. “With a kiss.” I press my mouth to hers. It starts out gentle until the scrape of her nails glide over my scalp. I pull back a little to say, “You look f*cking amazing on my car and I’m going to have you here one day.”

She giggles before I lean in again.

“What if I told you I wasn’t wearing any underwear?”

I groan and practically swallow her tongue as I grip her hips pulling her into my erection. I hear a car pull up, but I don’t care.

“Well, I see you don’t need lunch.”

I pull back, smoothing Sam’s skirt, afraid Jeff would get a glimpse even though she’s well covered.

“Isn’t that the event planner?” I hear a female coworker say.

That’s when I notice another girl getting out the other side of Jeff’s car. Mark looks sheepish as if the comment’s somehow his fault.

“Maybe that’s how she got the job.”

I straighten and face Lisa. “I had nothing to do with her being hired. So don’t start rumors.”

My glare lets her know I’m not up for any bullshit about this. I never use my status as the boss’s son. But I will be damned if Sam gets a bad rap for me not being able to keep my distance from her.

Jeff herds the group into the building.

“I’m sorry about that.”

Sam gives me a lackluster smile. “It’s fine. I really should go.”

She slides off my car and I help her because I need my hands on her.

“I won’t let your reputation get ruined for this.”

She nods. “Maybe we should keep this out of the public eye until after.”

Something in me wants to fight the idea. I realize I want her on my arm, but that’s foolish. She’s willing to be casual, Rhoades. Don’t blow it.

Before she can get away, I hold her wrist. “When can I see you?”

“Any time,” she says, finding that sexy grin to flash at me.