“WTH, Bennett?” but was too exhausted to confront him yet again. And getting Candy into trouble didn’t seem like a great idea. The woman had been through a lot and had been kind enough to warn her.
Taylor looked at her trembling hands and for a moment envisioned wrapping them around Bennett’s neck. Oh, stop, Tay. You know that’s not going to help anything. The worst part was she could no longer afford to buy a ticket to…anywhere, frankly. She’d maxed out her last emergency credit card buying that one-way ticket home.
I can’t believe Bennett is going to can me after he kissed me and insisted I come to Paris.
No. This is so irrational. It has to be some sort of misunderstanding. Or maybe he was just angry when he said it. But then she remembered the one key thing she’d forgotten. Telling a man like Bennett “no,” only revved him up and made him more determined to win.
Was that what his coming to carry her off caveman-style was all about? And then, just for fun, he decided to kiss her in a way that made her panties want to go on an extended vacay? And for good measure, he let her have a little taste of his hard, thick, long cock so she’d salivate and come running like a dog for a…well…bone?
No. I’m not going to play this sick game anymore. She unbuckled her seatbelt and got up to go talk to him. As she made her way down the aisle, she watched Bennett talking on his phone, looking out the window. “You think I care?” he growled at whomever was on the other end. “No. Fuck no. The only thing that matters is this deal. Period. And anyone who gets in my way can go fuck themselves.”
Taylor’s eyes went wide. What?
She was about to turn back when he looked at her and smiled—just as the plane jolted forward unexpectedly. Taylor flew past Bennett into the small galley at the back, landing with a belly flop on the floor and smacking her head right into a cupboard.
“Owww…” she groaned.
When she rolled over and opened her eyes, Bennett kneeled over her, cupping her cheek. “Taylor? Don’t move.”
“Motherfucker, sonofabitch that hurts.”
Bennett gave her a look. “Wow. You’ve been possessed by an angry sailor.”
She slid her hand to the throbbing spot on the top of her head. “I have a dirty mouth,” she groaned. “It’s part of my charm.”
“I don’t know. Your mouth tasted pretty clean to me.” He flashed a devilish smile.
She grumbled in response.
“Think you can get up?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
He stood and held out his hand. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s dangerous to get out of your seat during takeoff? You could’ve been seriously injured.”
She took his warm hand and tried to ignore how good it felt when he pulled her up.
“Sorry. Wouldn’t want to do anything to get in the way of your deal.”
He gave her a look. “That was a discussion with one of my attorneys who’s being difficult.”
They stood face to face, and she stared up into his eyes. He hadn’t let go of her hand, and the other arm—large and well defined beneath his tailored white shirt—lifted as he reached out to cup her face again. His thumb traced along her bottom lip as he stared lustfully at it.
Jellybean wants.
Shut. Up.
“Bennett, can I ask you something?”
“I already told you. We had our little honesty session for the day. I’m not ready for more.”
“Fine. But I need to know if you really want me to come with you and stay or if this is just one gig.” Because the ride on the Bennett roller coaster was giving her whiplash.
He gave her a strange look.
“I mean,” she clarified, “changing the way you do things will take time. Are you in this for the long haul, totally committed? Or am I just a quick fix to get you across the goal line?”
He smiled at her. “Have dinner with me tonight.”
What sort of answer was that? But if that’s how he wanted to play, she could reciprocate with a non-answer, too. “You need to sleep and rest.”
“What are you, my mother?”
She laughed. “I’m afraid my balls are too small, so that would be a no.”
He chuckled. “Right you are. So am I to take your lack of an answer as a yes for dinner?”
Back to square one, are we?
“Long haul or goal line?” she asked.
“You’re difficult.”
“Mmmm…Yes.”
“Great,” he said. “I’ll have Robin change the reservation to four people.”
“Wait. That wasn’t my