Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 52133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
My head tilts in question and confusion. “No, you can’t.”
He shows the ceiling his palms on a little shrug of his shoulders. “Then I can’t buy anything that takes my fancy, can I?”
I don’t think I’ve ever met such a forward, cheeky, and charming male in my life. It should deter me. It doesn’t, and I’m not terribly comfortable about that. So I ignore his statement and get on with winning our little bet, feeling my competitiveness building. “First one back to this exact spot with their gifts wins.”
The excitement clouding his hazel eyes is really something. “It’s a deal.”
“Who do you have to buy for?”
He pulls a face to suggest he’s thinking about it. “My mum, dad, niece, and brother-in-law.” He holds up his little Harrods bag. “I’ve sorted my sister.”
I tap my bag. “Snap. So the toy department is next for your niece, right?”
Dread evidently fills him as he glances around the department. “Any idea what to buy a six-year-old girl?”
“Might have,” I tease. “But I’m not telling you.” I dash off, hearing him cursing behind me, and head straight for the dolls. It’s like the pressure he’s applying is helping me. I’m great under pressure, and I know exactly what I’m buying my niece.
I watch him like a hawk as he follows me around the department, keeping an eye for what I might chose. Sneaky. I stop and turn to face him. “What about that over there?” I point past him. “Apparently, it’s the latest craze.”
He turns to look, and I grab a LOL Pearl Surprise Doll and sprint to the nearest checkout to pay. By the time my niece’s gift is safely in a carrier bag, Mr. Sexy as Fuck is behind me, nudging me in the shoulder. And he has a LOL Pearl Surprise Doll in his hand too. “Playing dirty, eh?” he asks as I scowl at him.
“It’s the only way to play.” I walk off and make sure there is a good amount of sashay to my step as I do. I’m not trying to appear seductive. Really, I’m not. And with that thought, more sway. I peek over my shoulder, finding Mr. Sexy as Fuck frozen in a stupor, his wallet loose in his hand, his eyes on my backside. Yes, I’m playing really dirty, and as he blinks and looks up, he realizes that. He narrows an eye, his lips straightening. I can’t figure out if he’s pissed off with himself for staring, or with me for distracting him from his mission. Maybe both. I don’t care. It’s actually rather nice to know I can still attract the opposite sex when I put a bit of effort into it. He is a hot specimen and was checking me out. Thank you, sexy stranger. Strangely, this is turning out to be a rather fun game. Not to mention the fact that he seems to be getting better looking with each minute that passes.
I flip him a coy smile and a cheeky wave as I round the corner to the elevators, checking my watch as I go. “Shit.” Time is ticking, and I still have to sort my ma, brother-in-law, and dad. The doors open and I jump in, selecting the ground floor. The doors are almost touching in the middle when a hand appears between them, stopping them from meeting. I know who I’m going to see before the doors part again. The man can move fast. “Going down?” I ask evenly as he steps in, rearranging his suit as he does.
“I wish,” he quips, and I’m forced to press my lips together to stop my laugh. I can’t, however, stop my smile.
“That won’t be part of the prize if you win, just so you know. Not that you can win.” I look out the corner of my eye as he turns toward me, staring at me, though all playfulness has gone. Now, he’s serious, and it has me momentarily wavering in my confidence. His hand slowly lifts and extends toward me, and the closer it gets, the smaller my smile becomes until it has completely disappeared. His fingertip meets my cheek and rests there, and I swear I feel charged with something I haven’t felt before.
Energy.
Desire.
I breathe in a long, slow breath as he drags it down my cheek. “And just with one finger on your stunning face,” he whispers. “Imagine what I could do with both hands and my tongue.”
I gulp, my eyes close, and then I’m seeing a million sordid visions of us naked, kissing, touching . . . screwing. I bet he’s an animal in bed. An expert. Skilled and talented. Oh, yes, a master. His body suggests it. His confidence suggests it. What he could do to me . . .
Lost in my fantasy, it takes me a moment to realize the elevator has stopped, the doors have opened, and Mr. Sexy as Fuck has left the cart. Then the sound of a wicked laugh hits me, and I open my eyes and see him jogging backward, his satisfied face slap-worthy. “You bastard,” I breathe, stepping off the elevator on wobbly legs that I know he hasn’t missed.