bedroom despite her protests. He knew he could overcome any arguments she might bring up simply by kissing her once again. She’d be clinging to him in moments.
“Listen to me, Eva.”
“No. I have to go. Please let me go.”
“I enjoyed tonight. And not just kissing you,” he explained, ignoring her plea and forcing her to listen. “You’re an exceptionally passionate woman.”
“Please don’t,” she begged and closed her eyes, humiliation at what she’d just done overwhelming her.
“Don’t be embarrassed that we can do this to each other. I feel exactly the way you do,” he told her and lifted her hand so that she could feel his erection. She quickly pulled her hand away and curled her fingers against his chest. “I’m not embarrassed by what you make me feel. And you shouldn’t be ashamed by how I can make you feel either. We work well together. Don’t forget that.”
“Fine. I have to go,” she said and pulled out of his arms. She rushed out of the family room, her head bowed.
“I’ll drive you home. Just give me a moment to get my keys.”
Eva shook her head and grabbed her purse. “No. I can get home on my own,” she countered.
Damon looked at her flushed cheeks and her wary eyes and gave in, against his better judgment. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Thank you for dinner,” she replied, manners ever present despite her need to race out of this room as quickly as possible.
“Fine. But we’ll talk soon.”
Eva knew that she’d probably ignore every cell phone call she received for the next month if it would help her avoid talking to Damon again.
She rushed out of the penthouse, aware that Damon had his security guards follow her to her car to ensure that she got out okay.
Chapter 6
Eva stared at her reflection in the mirror, smoothing down the black crepe dress. Was it too overboard? She hoped so. The neckline came clear up to her collar bone and the hem ended just above her knee with no snugness on any part of her body. It was the elegant equivalent of a potato sack. It was perfect! She’d bought it about two years ago when she was about ten pounds heavier and it had looked good back then, but it was just barely outside of the ‘frumpy’ description now.
Thinking back to two nights ago when she’d shivered in Damon’s arms, she was fighting for survival now. She had to arm herself however possible and this dress would hopefully send the right message to Damon.
Just thinking about that night made all of her body remember the frustration she’d endured as she’d tried to sleep that night. She’d tossed and turned, punching her pillow, even trying a cold shower but nothing had helped. She hadn’t gotten to sleep until she heard the birds just before dawn that morning and then her alarm had gone off. In total, she’d gotten maybe two hours of sleep, all because he’d kissed her and touched her that way.
A pair of pearl earrings and she was ready. Just in time since the doorbell rang at that moment and she surveyed her appearance one more time to make sure there wasn’t any femininity visible, no indicators that she was trying to impress him in any way. She walked across her bedroom ten times to keep him waiting, knowing that a man as robotic as Damon Kelopatros values punctuality. If he was going to demand she attend these functions with him, she was determined to make him as irritated as possible.
And if it drove her just a bit crazy to be late, that was just something she’d have to deal with herself. She could do it, she told herself as she walked across the room one more time, circling her bed and even walking through the en suite bathroom as well just for general purposes.
When she finally walked down the stairs, expecting him to be standing in the foyer waiting impatiently, she was severely disappointed. Instead, he was in her father’s office, discussing business! How rude! She walked into the room and the two men continued discussing P/E ratios and the merits of one company over another for investments. Despite herself, her attention was captured by the knowledge he had of so many companies and she took mental notes, praying that none of this information would be considered insider trading.
After several minutes, the men realized she was standing at the doorway and stopped their conversation. So much for making Damon wait, Eva thought,