Touched (The Untouched Trilogy #2)(9)

“Do I?” he asked, stepping away from me.

“And if you ever do something like that again, I’ll-”

“I was caught up in the moment,” he said, his eyes focused on my mouth.

“There was no f*cking moment,” I replied. I glared at him as he coolly raked his hand over his assaulted jaw.

He donned that crooked half smile that previously made me want to rip his clothes off. Not today. Today I was livid; how dare he be that presumptuous with me. I wanted to wipe that cocky ass smile from his face with another smack.

“What? Are you going to slap me again?” he asked, as if reading my mind.

“If I thought it would make a difference,” I replied, looking at the red mark on his cheek.

“Are you assessing the damage?” he asked.

“No and don’t expect an apology because you don’t deserve one. You can’t just do whatever you want with me anymore.”

“When did I ever do what I wanted with you without you negotiating the hell out of it?” he asked, incredulously.

“Regardless, if you do it again, you’re going to find yourself on the receiving end of much more than a slap.”

“Calm down Aria; it was an impulse,” he said.

“It was what it has always been … you taking what you want – when you want it.”

“Is that what you really think of me?” he asked.

“Quite frankly, I don’t give you much thought at all,” I replied.

“Oh, but I think you do. You wouldn’t be this worked up otherwise.”

“Still arrogant.”

“And you’re still uptight. If your offer to shove something down your throat still stands, just say the word” he replied, as he leaned in closer.

“This is a place of business, not your bedroom.” I said, backing away and taking a seat at my desk.

“So kisses are reserved specifically for the bedroom? I clearly recall a different scenario in an office that went much further than a kiss.”

He’d obviously taken the slap as a joke. Did he see this as a game? I’d been in his presence for approximately two hours and he’d already started a new campaign. And it was already affecting me. Would he always get under my skin? Had he any idea how badly he’d hurt me? Would he care if he did? For him to come at me like this, he obviously didn’t.

“You know, I was thinking it wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing if you did get on the inside of Little Brown. We’ve been looking at that company for a while now, hoping to absorb it as an entity of RPH,” he said, changing the subject.

“What? Are you kidding me?” I asked.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“You’d actually consider planting me inside LB & C? Is that how you do business?” I asked.

“Aria, don’t be naive. Raine Industries is successful for a reason; we didn’t get where we are today without stepping on a few toes,” he threw out casually.

“I had no idea you were so unscrupulous. I can see why it was practically effortless for your own deceit.”

He cocked his head to the side, assessing my reaction as if my deduction was unfounded. “I’m a businessman Aria; I do whatever it takes to get the job done.”

“Obviously.” Lucky me, I get to see yet another side of Aiden Raine.

“Just how ambitious are you?” he asked.

“What?” I asked, confused as to where this was going.

“If they were to offer you a position and you accepted, you could give us the edge we need to do this swiftly and quietly.”

“You can’t be serious,” I said.

“Very serious. You’d be perfectly positioned for us to move on this but I take your response as a cue that you’re not interested,” he replied.

“And you would be absolutely correct. Besides, Blake is there now,” I said.

“That could also work to our advantage.”

“I said no. I’m not going to be the person to Blake that you were to me.”

His face briefly betrayed him. What was that? Was he actually remorseful?

“Aria, you know that I hate how –”

“Aiden, are there any additional business matters we need to discuss? If not, I’m late for a lunch meeting.”

“Actually there’re several things we need to re-examine that were left pending with Blake’s departure but first I really think we should talk about us. I know I’m going about it all wrong and I –”

“Aiden … please,” I said. My tone, which was undoubtedly mirrored in my eyes, was laced with the pleading and agony I felt. I watched the vibrancy of his eyes dissipate. I couldn’t do this with him.

“No. I think we’re done,” he said, backing down. I could see that he wanted to say more but was relieved that he didn’t.

“Good,” I replied, reaching for my cell phone to check the text that I’d just received. It was Kellan. I sent a quick reply asking that he meet me downstairs. I didn’t want to chance any unpleasantness with Aiden. I looked up to see Aiden still standing in front of me, watching intently. What was his f*cking deal?

I slid my chair away from the desk and walked toward the door to grab my purse. He could stand there for an eternity if he so chose but I was leaving. I opened the door and was surprised to see Kellan seated outside my office. He stood and walked towards me.