I wished I had a camera. Not just because seeing Paige jump and look guilty when I spoke was one of the funniest things I’d seen in a long time, but because I wanted to lock in the memory of finding her like this.

Her cheeks were flushed, pupils dilated so wide that only a thin ring of blue-green was visible. She was embarrassed now, but I doubted that was the only reason she couldn’t look at me.

She was turned on. For a moment, I thought it was because she’d been thinking about me being in the shower, but then she set something on the table as she stood and I realized what she’d been doing.

Dammit, Erik.

If she hadn’t been reading that book, I probably could have let it go. I still should have let it go. We had to keep things professional. That was the only way this was going to work. We had to ignore any lingering chemistry between us. If there was even any left after the way I’d put her off the other night.

But my ability to say no to temptation was part of the reason I was in this mess in the first place.

“Like it?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “I can let the author know if there was anything in particular you thought was…stimulating.”

“You know her?” Paige asked, glancing toward the manuscript. She frowned, as if her question bothered her. “Never mind. It’s not important. I was just bored waiting for you, and it was there.”

“You looked like you were enjoying it.” I couldn’t resist. “I could come back later if you want to be alone…”

“Don’t be an asshole,” she snapped.

Damn, she was hot when she was pissed. Made me want to push her even more, see just how much she could take. That was the part of BDSM that attracted me the most. Testing limits. Not necessarily pain, but comfort levels.

Like going down on her in the back of a limo.

“Come on, Paige, no need to be embarrassed. I had it for a reason.” I walked toward her, knowing every step was a worse idea than the last.

But I didn’t stop.

“Because you…know Erika Summers?”

I grinned. “Is that jealousy I hear?”

She glared at me, crossing her arms, as if that would offer any sort of deterrent. If anything, it made matters worse because it drew my attention to her full breasts. I hadn’t gotten nearly enough of my fill of them.

“We already went down this road, Mr. Union,” she said, lifting her chin. “And I know you don’t want to go there again, so let’s just stick with business.”

“And if I’d rather focus on pleasure?” The words just popped out, but when I saw her blush again, I didn’t regret them. My friends’ words echoed in my head, louder than they’d been all day. I wanted her, despite what I knew, and despite all the reasons I’d given myself why I shouldn’t.

“Reb…”

My name was a warning, but the fact that she’d called me Reb instead of Mr. Union made me think that she wasn’t as opposed to the connection as she tried to seem.

“How far did you get? I’m sure Erik has all sorts of new ideas in there for you to think about.”

“Erik?” Her eyes widened.

Shit.

“As in your friend, one of the wealthiest men under thirty, Erik Sanders?”

I could tell by her face that she’d put it all together before she even finished the question.

He was going to kick my ass.

“He’s Erika Summers?” She looked down at the manuscript again. “That’s how he and Tanya met, isn’t it? The book deal wasn’t for some memoir or how to succeed in business thing. It was for Heat of the Sun.”

“You can’t tell anyone,” I said, making my face as serious as possible. “The only people who know are us guys, Sine, Savannah, Tanya obviously, and one or two other people at Branch Publishing. Even Erik’s sisters don’t know.”

“I won’t,” she promised. A flare of understanding lit in her eyes. “Is he into…I mean, him and Tanya…” Her cheeks flamed red. “You said Alix and Sine…”

“It’s not as uncommon as a lot of people think,” I said, the muscles in my shoulders tensing. “Does it make you think less of them?”

My question sounded like a natural follow up, but tension hummed through my body as I waited for her answer.

“No,” she said, giving me a steady look. “I may be a virgin, but I’m not a prude. I believe that, as long as things are between consenting adults, it’s not anyone else’s business what goes on, and certainly not anyone’s place to judge.”

I could see that she believed every word she said, but I knew all too well how words were easy enough to say when nothing was on the line. When I’d first talked to Mitzi about it, she’d acted like she was fine with it, but later, things changed.

“So, your opinion is that it’s fine for other people, but nothing you’d want to explore?” I mentally cursed myself as soon as the question was out of my mouth. That sounded like I was propositioning her.

She drew herself up to her full height and gave me the sort of look that said I’d gone too far. “I think we should stick with business-related conversation.”

I nodded even as my head agreed with my treacherous cock that they were more interested in getting an answer than talking business. I might have been trying all weekend to convince myself that I didn’t want to sleep with a virgin, but I’d also been coming up with some pretty good arguments about why it just might be more appealing than I realized.

Like the fact that I’d never have to wonder if another man had been able to make her come the same way, or if she was comparing me to some previous lover. For whatever amount of time we were together, I’d be able to know that I was the only man she’d ever given herself to. I’d be her first in every sense, the one to show her all the different ways she could find pleasure, to teach her the ways to please me.

I could implant myself so firmly in her mind that every other man who came after me would never be able to live up to the standard I’d set. She’d be completely and indelibly mine.