Crave (Billionaire Bachelors Club #1)(6)

“I pretty much did buy into it,” I offer with a shrug. Going for nonchalant. “I’m surprised you didn’t take it to the next level. Grab my dick and claim it as yours.”

A dark brow rose, her lips quirked to the side. Damn, she’s hot, even when she’s irritated. Especially when she’s irritated. “You are so crude.”

If only she knew the extent of my so-called crudeness. I want her.

Having her in my arms is not helping my plight, but she’s soft and she smells so damn good I can’t resist her. Her dark hair shines beneath the golden lights and the top of her strapless dress appears fairly easy to tug down if I wanted to do such a thing.

Not that I do. Not really.

Liar.

It’s not just her beauty that does me in though. There’s so much more to Ivy. How she listens to me, how proud she seems to be when I tell her what I’m doing in my career. It’s like she really cares.

“You’ve always appreciated my blunt honesty,” I assure her, pulling her in just the slightest bit closer as I twirl her around the dance floor. Her br**sts brush against my chest, her hand slides over my shoulder, and her touch burns me. Through my suit jacket and shirt, like she’s touching bare flesh, branding me.

And I want to be branded by her. Despite my reluctance of ever becoming involved with a woman, Ivy’s the only one who I both want to be with and want to run away from.

Yeah. I make no damn sense.

“Really? According to whom? When was the last time we had a scintillating conversation, hmm?” She smiles. It’s faint but there, and the sight of it encourages me.

Plus, she just made the word scintillating sound hot. The woman is either some sort of sex goddess or I’ve turned into a complete pervert. “Maybe we need to renew our friendship. Get to know each other again,” I suggest, trying my best to sound nonchalant.

“Like you care about getting to know me again.” She rolls her eyes. “We’ve known each other for years. It’s not like you’ve ever shown any sort of interest in me before.”

“I’ve always been interested, you just never noticed.” I pause, taking in the way her eyes widen the slightest bit. I bet my revelation surprises her. “Every time I see you, Ivy, I remember what you looked like when you were twelve, the first time I met you. All gangly and skinny with braces.” Look at her now. She’s filled out in all the right places and she’s the sexiest woman at this stupid reception.

“Great. So you see me as an eternal twelve-year-old,” she mutters, curling her lip.

Shit. I’ve somehow stepped in it with a few choice words. Could I be more of an idiot?

“I definitely don’t see you as a twelve-year-old,” I murmur, tightening my hold on her hand. “You have to realize that, right?”

She meets my gaze, her eyes full of wariness, her pouty lips curved in the tiniest frown. “What do you see me as, Archer? Gage’s pain-in-the-ass little sister? The girl you made fun of her freshman year when you were a mighty senior? Remember how you did that?”

Well hell, is she going to list all of my faults or what? I’m not proud of the way I acted when I was younger. I’d been a self-centered bastard. Some say I still am. “I was a jackass back then,” I mutter.

“From what I’ve observed, you’re still holding on to some of those jackass tendencies.” Her hazel eyes flash as she lifts her chin in subtle defiance.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Damn, maybe I avoid her because we tend to argue every time we’re around each other. Yet I want her. I’ve wanted her for what feels like forever. But she acts like she despises me. Like my very presence fills her with disgust. No other woman has reacted to me like this—ever. I don’t get it.

I don’t get her. And I definitely don’t get my attraction to her.

Glutton for punishment maybe?

Yeah. I shove that nagging little voice straight to the back of my brain.

“Forget it.” Her gaze cuts away from mine.

“Tell me what you’re talking about, Ivy.”

“Nothing.” She meets my gaze once more. “Drop it, okay?”

I let her drop it and we dance quietly, the sharks still circling. I can spot at least three women who are contemplating me standing on the edge of the dance floor. Ready to jump on me the moment the song is over.

I gotta get out of here.

“Let’s go outside,” I tell Ivy, my gaze trained on one woman in particular who’s vaguely familiar. I swear the groom tried to set me up with her once. We went out to some dinner when Jeff and Cecily were first dating.

“Are you serious? No way will I go outside with you. You’ll probably try to maul me.”

That sounds like a fantastic idea but I know she won’t go for it. “Maybe you need a good mauling to get that stick out of your ass.”

“What did you just say?” She stops dancing so abruptly she nearly trips over my feet, what with those f**k-me high heels she’s wearing.

Tightening my arm around her waist, I save her from sprawling. “I speak the truth and you know it. You need to loosen up, chicken. No wonder the last guy didn’t stick, what with how uptight you are.” Her eyes widen and her jaw drops open. She looks ready to tear into me and I immediately regret what I said. “Ivy, I’m sorry,” I start, but she cuts me off.