Dark Kings (Feathers and Fate #1) - Sadie Moss Page 0,15
get you to admit to the things you want, and to convince you to take them? To enable your greed?
“What was that?” he asks, stepping closer. It’s like I’m being stalked by a tiger.
“I said ‘handsome,’” I blurt out, then immediately clap my hand over my mouth.
Frick. If he didn’t hear me the first time, he definitely did the second time.
Maybe I can throw myself out the window and hit the ground hard enough to induce amnesia and forget this moment of humiliation entirely.
Beckett smirks. “That’s what I thought you said.”
He steps closer, and my body practically buzzes with the desire for him to do—something. I don’t even know what. For him to rip my shirt open and put his hands on me, his mouth on me—
“I’m here about an opportunity to do a lot of good for animals,” I say quickly, taking a few steps back, putting distance between us. Actually it’s more like I stumble back, because my body is frozen and awkward, and I’m currently useless. “I’m here on behalf of Humane Dog Rescue, and…”
“Ah.” Beckett’s whole demeanor changes, as if a cold front just swept through the room. “And here I was hoping that you would be here for an interesting reason.” He sighs. “Why on earth is a gorgeous woman like you wasting her time at an organization like that?”
I bristle a little. “You don’t even know what the organization does or how effective it is.”
“When it’s got a name like ‘Humane Dog Rescue,’ I’m pretty sure it’s a waste of your time.”
“And what wouldn’t be a waste of your time?” I press.
Darn it. I thought I had him with the puppies thing. Who the frick doesn’t like puppies? But I have to keep digging. Maybe if I can figure out an angle that he’ll find worthwhile, I can get him to back that instead.
Beckett smirks again and takes another step toward me. In fact, he keeps coming toward me until he’s only a foot away, his gaze searing my skin like a brand. “I like developing… intense and personal relationships with my contacts.”
“I-intense?” The words come out on a whisper.
Gah! What is wrong with me?
I’m not some fluttery, easily swayed human. I am an angel. I am a warrior for Heaven! I should—I should—
Beckett reaches out and uses his index finger to tuck a stray curl of dark hair away from my face, his finger trailing down my throat, right to where the collar of my blouse opens and the first button is done up.
For a moment, I think he’ll rip my shirt open and continue his explorations, and my whole body seems to lock up like someone has fused all my joints together.
I think I should slap him in the face, but I’m a little afraid that if I touch him at all, I’ll end up pulling him closer, and I don’t want to risk it. So I do the next best thing I can think of and just remain absolutely still.
Finally, when my skin seems to be on the verge of spontaneously bursting into flames, he pulls his finger away.
“Very intense,” he purrs. “Very personal. But as lovely of an advocate as I’m sure you are, I don’t have time to waste on business ventures that are going to give me diminishing returns.”
“This isn’t a business venture,” I snap, bristling again. “This is a charity; a chance to help out animals. Stray dogs who need good homes and veterinary care. Not everything is about what you can get out of it physically, like money. You can get other things out of it too, like satisfaction.”
“I don’t think your charity is going to give me the kind of satisfaction I’m searching for,” Beckett replies, walking away to stand behind his desk before leaning over it, his fingers splayed over the wood. He’s not flirting with me anymore, or at least, he’s not just flirting. He’s the CEO now, the powerful businessman searching for a deal. “I’m going to need some kind of incentive. Is it going to help my public image? Is it going to be a tax write-off I can’t refuse?”
“It’s going to be helping sweet, fluffy little puppies.” I’m laying it on way too thick, and I know it. But I’m getting a little desperate here. “Look, I have some pictures…”
“I don’t want to see pictures.” Beckett narrows his eyes. He sounds annoyed now. “You think you’re the only sob story who’s ever tried to get something out of me?”