Quin and Lily jerked their heads towards the sound of the door hitting the wall. It wasn’t slammed, but the person who opened it had been forceful and uncareful.
Lily’s lungs forgot how to function, her mind too fixated on the sight of the Adonis striding towards her. Quin was extremely attractive, with sharp lines edging his beautiful face. Almost like a work of art.
The other man was sex on legs. Like Quin, he was tall and broad-shouldered. But where Quin was all smooth and refined, this man was rugged. Stubble covered his face. His dark hair was that perfect mix of messy and styled, just long enough to hold onto while he pounded into her.
She had no idea where the thought came from. Lily did not think or act like this. Not that she didn’t fantasize, but she certainly did not imagine having sex with total strangers during business meetings, no matter how hot they were.
His heated gaze met hers and she pressed her legs together. Her panties were getting wet. His baby blue eyes were so intense she started to lean towards him.
Lily quickly regained her composure, sitting up in her seat and clasping her hands on the small table. She looked at Quin who was observing the newcomer keenly.
“I thought the meeting was at 3:30?” the other asked, his voice a deep timber, fit for a man of his size.
Quin angled his head. “It is. This is—” he started, gesturing towards Lily.
“I could give a shit. Ditch the tart so we can talk before they get here.”
Wow. Nothing kills a lady boner like a man with no manners. She squinted at Quin, thinking he would say something, but his mouth was opening and closing like a fish.
“Excuse me?” she said in her most professional schoolmarm voice.
“No offense, babe,” he sneered. “We’re on a time crunch. You can fuck around with my brother later.”
Brother? This asshole was Tarquin Marcellus? The ultimate lady’s man? She’d heard stories.
Admittedly, his looks did live up to the tales, but his personality did not. Did females like being spoken down to like this?
“Uh, Tarq?” Quin tried to get his brother’s attention. He was staring so intently at Lily, Quin was afraid Tarq would do something stupid. Well, more stupid than he already had. Tarq was looking at Lily like he wanted to eat her alive.
“No, Quin,” she said, holding up her hand. “Let him finish.”
Tarq laughed. This time when he spoke, he let his power come out.
“Finish? Doll face, I haven’t even started with you. Now get your fine ass out of here so I can concentrate on my 3:30 appointment.”
“I am your 3:30. Asshole.”
Tarq jerked his head, clearly taken aback.
While she glared at him, he took her in. Thick, long, dark brunette hair, the kind a man wants to run his hands through—then pull. Bright green eyes. Pouty pink lips just made to wrap around a cock.
This hot-as-sin female was an architect? There was no fucking way. She couldn’t have been a day over twenty-one.
Sure, her suit was expensive, and the hemline of her pencil skirt was to her knees. Her heels were sensible, not sexy. And now that he was really looking at her, he wasn’t sure if she even had on an ounce of make-up. She was gorgeous. And his damned cock took notice—had hardened at the sound of her voice alone.
Well, well, well. It seemed as though he was going to get his rocks off today, after all. She was so naturally stunning, he might fuck her twice. But being the consummate professional, he would finish the meeting before dragging her to his office. He couldn’t wait.
“Tarq,” Quin cut in, hoping he could salvage the situation, “this is Lilith. Of L.T. Designs.”
Tarq held out his hand. “Lily, it is a pleasure.”
Lily hesitated before reaching for him. “You may call me Lilith. Or Miss Travelle.”
He smirked at her cheekiness.
When their hands met, a tingle shot up her arm, like he’d zapped her with static electricity. If he’d felt it, he gave no indication.
Tarq barked out a laugh. “Oh, Q. She’s precious. Can I keep her?”
That was it. Lily started packing up her things, closed her laptop way to hard, and wrinkled papers as she stuffed them into her tote. She wanted them to know she was good and pissed.
“Thank you for your time. Quin, if you’d like to reschedule, call my assistant.”
She lifted her bag and started towards the door.
“Do not leave.”
Tarq’s voice, velvety smooth, caressed her skin like a lover. She’d never felt a physical reaction to a voice before. It was as if it was trying to burrow inside her, slowly, sensually. It was … not normal.
Lily was losing her goddamned mind. She needed to get away from him. Her pride, however, wouldn’t let Tarq have the last word. She rounded on him and put her finger in his face.
“I prefer to work with grown-ups. Like Quin. When your gonads drop, give me a call.”
Stupid, stupid broken filter. Lily could not believe she was stooping to name-calling. In under thirty seconds he’d made her a total nut job.
Tarq laughed again and it did things to her insides. Dirty, naughty things. Damn him and the sexy horse he rode in on. She should not be turned on by a douchebag.
“Lily, listen to me,” he told her in a voice an adult would use with a child. It was how he usually got hysterical humans to calm down. He let his power out again, this time he used an extra dose because she’d easily snapped out of his last thrall.
“You will return to the table and forget what I said to upset you. I entered the room shortly after you and we shook hands. It was all very cordial. You’ll retrieve your materials and present as planned. Understood?”
Lily’s eyes bugged.
“Yes, see? It’s all okay now. Here, I’ll even escort you to your seat for being such a good girl.”
Tarq reached for her elbow. His focus was on her left arm, which is why he didn’t see her right arm as it flew towards his face. He did, however, feel the impact once her palm came in contact with his cheek and smacked the ever-loving-shit out of him.
Ohmygod-ohmygod-ohmygod. She’d struck him. Lily had never hit anyone in her entire life. But something about his patronizing tone and the imaginary stroking she felt on her skin when he spoke, well, it broke something inside her.
She wanted to scratch and bite, to hurt him. Then she wanted to rip off his clothes and take him on the floor. It was official. She’d lost it.
She stood there, shaking, not knowing if she should run away or apologize profusely. He was well within his right to call the cops. Though, Lily couldn’t imagine this was the first time he’d been hit if this was how he treated women.
Tarq raised his hand to rub the sting on the side of his face, in total shock. He’d never been slapped before.
Brawls with his own gender had occurred in his past, but never had he tussled with a woman in anger.
He wanted to throw her across his knee and spank her voluptuous ass. It was no less than she deserved. She’d probably like it, angry little kitten that she was. But he had a much bigger problem on his hands. His persuasion didn’t work on her.
It wasn’t possible. No human in the history of humankind had resisted any of Peitho’s progenies. He swiveled his head towards Quin, hoping he had some explanation.
“Oh, shit,” was Q’s response.
Mother. Fucker. This was bad.