"That's why you don't stick with one person?"
"No, I don't stick with one person because I've yet to find the right one." His gaze bore into her and heat spread through her cheeks again. Why did he always do this to her? Reduce her to the most basic of her human instincts?
"I see." She swallowed, and pushed her plate away. "Well, I should probably start getting ready for my day."
"I could be convinced, you know."
"To meet the right person?"
"Maybe. But we could start with convincing me to stay with you instead of going to the gala."
This was a trap. A big, huge trap that she had to be careful not to step into. And still she spoke without consulting her brain.
"What would you do here all day?" She knew the answer, but she needed to hear it from him.
"We could discuss the terms of our bargain."
"I took that back."
"Then let's renegotiate."
She licked her upper lip without thinking and his gaze dropped to her mouth, studying her so intensely that a shiver went through her body. She couldn't sleep with him now. It wasn't right. Wasn't fair.
Or, at least it wouldn’t be if the bargain was still on the table…
But if that wasn’t there, then what was he harm? Sure, he was her boss, but he’d said he knew they could handle it. And the more she thought about it, the more she thought it might be a good idea to satisfy their curiosity.
After all, that’s what he said he wanted, wasn’t it?
"No bargain," she forced himself to meet his gaze, waiting for him to respond.
“So, are you saying you don’t want to—?“
She shook her head. “That’s not what I’m saying.”
“So strings attached?” He asked.
She nodded. “No strings attached.”
When her gaze met his she took a deep breath and continued, "If you want to follow me, the door to my bedroom is open."
* * *
When he stepped into the bedroom, he found himself holding his breath.
He didn't know why, exactly. Maybe it was that it had never been like this with other women. Normally, the women he'd dated would readily fall into his arms, waiting for him to take charge and ravage them.
It had always been fun, sure.
But it was easy, too.
And if he'd learned anything over his past months of attempting to seduce Natalie Gains, it was that she was anything but easy.
When he crossed the threshold, he glanced down to find her plush pink robe on the floor at his feet. Slowly, he looked up and the breath he'd been holding escaped him as he took in Natalie's perfect curves.
She leaned against the doorway of what he assumed was the bathroom, the ends of her brown locks covering her nipples. Even with her hair there, though, he could tell that her peaks were stiff and pebbled.
How had he never noticed how perfect her breasts were before? They were firm and round and...and just big enough to fill his hands.