Big Dick Energy - Cindi Madsen Page 0,23
fill in option. You ask if the sky is blue or clear and people write in purple.”
“Well, it is purplish during sunrise and sunset.”
A low growl came out, along with a huff of breath. “What I’m saying is that you don’t want that.”
“Maybe you don’t, but I know our clients better.”
“If you did, it wouldn’t have taken you six weeks to close the deal.”
The punctuated clacking of her shoes filled the air as she closed the last foot or so space. She opened her mouth and jabbed a finger to my chest. “I swear, Arche—”
“You gonna yank on my tie again?” I bumped my chest into her extended finger, the blood in my veins pumping so hot I was moving before thinking. “Go ahead. I liked it.”
Whatever Penelope had been going to say died on her tongue, and satisfaction sang through me, along with a sensation that edged far too close to desire. My gaze dipped to her lips, and her tongue darted out to wet them.
If she accepted the dare to grip the silky noose around my neck, she’d undoubtedly feel the rapid pounding of my heart, and I couldn’t decide if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
Then she took a step back, unscrewed the lid of her water bottle, and downed a couple of gulps. She swiped her thumb over her lips, and I curled my hands into fists so I wouldn’t do something stupid like yank her to me and kiss the hell out of her. “You never answered my questions, and I don’t owe you even an ounce of an explanation, but I’m going to give it to you anyway. The reason they went with me instead of all the cocky pricks exactly like you was because I didn’t push. It might work with other clients, but the city doesn’t work that way and neither does Scott. He’s all about deep thinking, time to assess, and the long term.
“But go ahead and try your way. Then I’ll have a solid reason to request Mr. Bishop remove you from the account before we lose it.” She strode closer again, evidently rethinking putting distance between us, which was hardly wise right now, but I’d let her learn that the hard way. “If you want to turn this into a competition, that’s fine. But don’t expect me to be a demure little woman who won’t call you out whenever you interrupt or speak over me. I’m sick of holding back punches, so prepare for the fight of your life.”
With a huff, she spun around. Her heel snagged on the rug, and like one of those slow-motion car wrecks, she tripped into the chair someone hadn’t fully pushed underneath the table. The legs of rocked, and I lunged forward to snag her before she faceplanted and broke her neck…
Right as she flung up her leg in the perfect scorpion-kick.
Whack! Pain radiated through my skull, from the vicinity of my mouth or nose. My watering eyes provided a blurry view of Penelope struggling, belly and thighs over the arms of the chair, like an overturned turtle.
One of her palms braced the floor, but whenever she attempted to let go and haul herself upright, the chair threatened to tip.
She kicked her leg again, and I snagged her ankle, gripping it tightly to prevent another kick to the face. Warm liquid trickled into my mouth, and I used my tongue to confirm—yep, the coppery tang meant blood.
With my fingers still circling her ankle, I grabbed the arm of the chair, anchoring it in place and maneuvering Penelope into it. Then I lifted my finger to confirm that her sharp pointy heel had split my lip. Mark that as a 10-4, good buddy.
“You okay?” I asked, swiping at the blood.
She groaned and tucked her knee against her chest. The fabric of her skirt bunched high on her hips, and in an attempt to be the gentleman I wasn’t, I glanced at the tabletop. She rubbed her ankle and flinched. “Just my luck.”
Slowly, her gaze drifted up to my face. “Oh no, you’re bleeding,” she said, and then she was out of the chair and hobbling toward the sink before I could stop her. She yanked free a couple of brown paper towels, ran the scratchy paper under the faucet, and then then limped back to me.
She lifted her arm to dab my lip, and I almost told her not to bother, but then I got completely caught up in the up-close-and-personal