understand what she was asking of him and why, but Max silenced her. “Not until we’re alone,” he said and turned to look out the window.
Clarissa could tell that he was furious with her but she still didn’t understand his anger. Why would he be upset by her proposition? He’d kissed her, hadn’t he? That meant he was slightly attracted to her, right? It wasn’t like she was asking him to marry her or anything. She just wanted experience in a specific area and she wanted her teacher to be a master at the act. He should feel complimented that she was asking him. Not furious with her. Besides, all he had to do was say no, not interested. He didn’t have to act as if she’d committed a felony.
She glanced at his profile, biting her lip in confusion. Was he angry that she’d asked him an inappropriate question in a public place? Was that all this was about? She couldn’t figure him out. She knew he’d been with many women before. His picture was all over the newspapers and he usually had a beautiful woman on his arm. Never the same one of course. She refused to believe a man as dynamic, powerful and virile as Max would leave them on their doorstep with an innocent kiss on the hand as he’d done to her last weekend.
The car stopped in front of a large steel and glass skyscraper and he stepped out, each of his movements reinforcing his anger as he marched her through the lobby and up the elevators. It wasn’t until they were in his enormous office and the doors were closed that he turned to her, pacing back and forth while she stood in the middle of the carpet.
After several minutes of pacing, he seemed to get his anger under control and he finally turned to face her, his eyes glaring at her softer ones. “Explain this request to me again and do it in terms that make sense,” he demanded.
Clarissa wasn’t nervous anymore. In fact, she was fascinated. She’d read so many articles about his businesses but none of the words used to describe him had she ever seen in action. Around her, Max was charming, suave, masculine and all that was kind and considerate.
Now, seeing him in action as he snapped out orders, she understood in a small way how he’d been able to create his empire from almost nothing. If she were in business with him, she could easily be terrified of his anger. She’d read articles about how he destroyed anyone who opposed him. She definitely hoped she didn’t fall into that category simply because she was asking to have an affair with him. Having Max as an enemy would be truly terrifying, she now realized.
Bracing herself, she forced her words to be succinct and direct. “I asked if you would be interested in a short term affair so I can gain some insight into a world I don’t know anything about,” she explained. She waited a moment, watching in amazement as a muscle started twitching in his jaw. “Max, you should be flattered that I asked you first. I don’t know very much about you but what I do know, I respect a great deal. And I think you would be a magnificent lover, especially for my first time,” she said, only blushing slightly at her small speech.
He put a hand to his forehead, leaning his head down in an effort to concentrate. She watched in fascination as a vein on his forehead started throbbing. “And what about the marriage part? Why not wait until you’re married to discover what passion is like? Shouldn’t your husband do that for you? Won’t you be disappointed that he won’t be your first lover?” He paced again and turned to her before she had a moment to respond. “You should wait for marriage, Clarissa!” he snapped out.
Clarissa cringed in horror at the suggestion. “No thank you.” Her heart was pounding and she wished she could just shrink back into the wood work. He wasn’t interested in her in that way and she hated the humiliation that flooded through her body, making her stomach clench painfully. And marriage! What was wrong with a little affair? How could that hurt anyone? Why couldn’t she just enjoy sex?
Max stopped pacing and glared at her, stunned by her furious reaction to what he thought of as respectful ideas about her personality and her future. “Why is that so