Taming London (Warwick Dragons #1) - Milly Taiden Page 0,10

she knew, he made no indication.

“Hmm. Well, if we’re going to be honest, you need to start with yourself, Miss Russo. You know that shifters have a keen sense of smell and are gifted when it comes to sussing out how people are feeling.” He leaned over, placing his elbows onto his knees. He was nearly filling up her space again. He might have meant for it to be aggressive, but it was magnetic. “I can smell it when you lie. You can sit there in that tight skirt and jab at my career and all of my choices, but make no mistake. I knew you wanted to climb onto my dick the second I opened the door.” He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. When he looked at her again, his face full of meaning, he had the audacity to wink at her.

Well.

Bethany inhaled sharply, and she got to her feet. Surprised, he sat back into his seat.

“If you’re quite finished,” she snapped. “That was inappropriate. Not to say, it was downright wrong. I think you’ve grown way too accustomed to being catered to. I can assure you, Mr. Warwick, that I have no intention of climbing onto your dick. Now if you will excuse me, I have work to do. I respect your mother, and I care for her very much. I will do this job for her, but I swear, if you make any more comments like that, I will kick you right in the dick. You won’t be able to get hard or get laid for weeks.” She made her way to the door, bolstered by the fact that her legs were not shaking. “If you find your good manners, call me.” She dropped one of her business cards on the small table by the door and swiftly closed the door behind her.

She all but ran to the elevator.

It wasn’t until she was encased in the stainless steel box that she let out a deep breath. It nearly turned into a sob, but she stopped herself from being too hurt. She should have known that a man like London Warwick, who had every privilege and access to more money than god, would be a prick.

She had been fooled by his pretty face. By his insanely lickable body. By his keen intellect.

But no more.

The war was on. She would save London Warwick from himself, get paid, and never let her heart be involved with the likes of him.

Chapter Five

London

No sooner was his mother gone, than London made his way to the gym that took up most of the second floor of his building. He had run a few miles, he had pumped some iron. He had even gone so far as to do laps in the Olympic-sized pool. Nothing was working. He was still entirely too pissed off to head into work.

His boss should never have disclosed the intricacies of his career with his mother. But that wasn’t entirely true. The Warwicks had invested in the museum for hundreds of years. Johanna had every right to know how her interests were faring. It just so happens that her wayward son was the one leading the Early Modern Period wing of the museum down a bad path.

With a loud grunt that made one of the other gym occupants jump, he went back to his penthouse suite to shower. The hot spray was pelting his skin, and he even let his dragon fill the room with steam. The warmth was comforting and soothing, but it was all a frail attempt.

He knew why Johanna’s visit had been so painful.

London was very much aware that he was on a self-destructive path, but he didn’t know how to stop himself. He had to find a way back to his priorities, to himself. Was it his fault he was thoroughly bored with life? The sound of the doorbell echoed, and he swore. James had gone back home, leaving him to answer his own damn door.

With another swift curse, London wrapped a towel around his waist and made his way to the front door. He swung it open and nearly dropped his towel.

Standing in front of him was a tiny, curvy beauty.

Mate.

His dragon, a beast he had been neglecting as of late, had to be mistaken. There was no way his mate had just knocked on his front door looking so delectable. He could have unwrapped her slowly like the most precious, sexiest gift he had ever received.

Not that he would actually mate her.