The Bad Guy

“Sebastian?” Two lines appeared between her eyebrows. Had she been speaking and I’d missed it? Fuck.

“I apologize. What were you saying?”

The creases eased. “I was just saying that you must get quite a bit of control as CEO.”

“Yes. It’s the family business, and my father has entrusted me with running it. I keep an eye on all departments, make sure they are sticking to the plan.” Father had to keep me occupied somehow, to make sure I didn’t end up in an institution. Little did he know that psychopaths made the best CEOs.

“Link’s mentioned how involved you are in every little thing.” She stopped moving and frowned. “Oh, I probably shouldn’t have said that.”

You’re right. You should never speak his name again. “It’s perfectly all right.” I pulled the string that set my lips into a practiced smile. “I’m sure my methods are a common complaint among the VPs. People think I became CEO solely because of my father. But I worked for it, spending time with the roughneck crews who cut trees for us, then at the sawmills, and finally touring retail sites.”

“So you were a lumberjack?” Her eyes twinkled with interest.

“I wore flannel and everything.”

She laughed and began to move again, her body melting against mine as her fears eased. “That would be an interesting sight.”

“I enjoyed it. At first light, I’d grab my chainsaw and head out with the crew. We didn’t talk much, just worked.” I told her the truth, a rarity for me. I was a creature of solitude, one who didn’t need or care for the restrictions of society. Being a CEO was its own sort of prison, but I owed it to my father to keep up appearances. “I think I got more done in those two months than I have in the five years I’ve been CEO.”

Camille didn’t notice we’d moved away from the stage and into the darker area at the side of the ballroom. “I don’t know. Seems like you’ve done a lot. Link tries to tell me all the numbers, how much the company has grown and his ideas for how to make it even more successful on the marketing front.”

I leaned in closer, my lips close to her ear. “I take it all that bores you?”

Her breath hitched for a moment, but then she steadied herself. “I wouldn’t say it’s boring, just not my thing.”

I pressed my lips against the shell of her ear and enjoyed the shiver that shot through her curvy body. “Then what is your thing?”

“Plants.” Her voice trembled, setting the animal inside me alight. I wanted to devour her.

“Ah, the Amazon trip.”

“Yes.” She didn’t pull away as her words grew breathy. “It’s a dream of mine.”

You’re a dream of mine.

She took a deep breath and leaned her head back to catch my gaze. “I think you’ve danced me into a stupor. Heavy-handed in the boardroom, but light on your feet in the ballroom.” That smile again, the warmth blooming in her eyes and transferring to me. Did she even know the power she had?

“Let’s test that theory.” I twirled her around, and she held onto me, her breasts pressing against my chest and her head tucked under my chin. I lifted her with one arm and spun. Her laugh against my throat woke up every nerve ending in my body until all I could feel was her. Euphoria, the closest I’d ever gotten to the sensation of happiness, washed over me. All it took was her, one taste of whatever magic she wielded.

The song slowed to its end, and I reluctantly set her back on her feet. Pink highlighted her cheeks, and I couldn’t miss the sparkle in her eyes. She was exquisite, a treasure hidden in plain sight. One that I wanted for myself.

“Thank you for the dance.” She ran her hand across my bicep and rested her palm on my chest.

“My pleasure.” It was. And I didn’t want it to be over. I kept her small hand in mine and pressed my palm against her lower back.

Her breaths came in shallow flutters as the skin along her chest and neck turned a matching pink to the shade on her cheeks. Arousal. She found me attractive, enjoyed my touch.

“There you are.” Link stepped up to us as a faster song began to play. He’d been watching the entire time. I could feel his possessive tendrils streaking through the crowd and trying to wrap around my Camille. He was foolish enough to think he still had a claim on her. The moment I saw her, his flimsy hold on her began to slip. I intended to sever it completely, by any means necessary. I’d heard about love at first sight, though I couldn’t claim that emotion. The need to possess her was what fired through my veins, not the sentimental nonsense of hearts and flowers.