Let's Play A Dirty Ass Game, Mr. CEO

Chapter 22: WINDOWS TO YOUR SOUL

LAURA

The rest of dinner passed in silence.

Tristan’s gaze occasionally strayed to me and burned deeply into every part as he chewed his food, making me wonder what could possibly be on his mind.

I could try a wild guess.

My eyes strayed to his lips more often than I liked, thinking back to all the things they did to me that night.

A horrifying realization dawned on me when I caught myself staring at those lips for the hundredth time. I wanted to know what they tasted like again. It’s been so long, I forgot already.

The only thing I was certain of was how good they tasted. I just wasn’t sure if it was whiskey, or mint; warm or faintly sweet.

"What’s on your mind?" His deep voice drifted through my thoughts.

I cleared my throat and picked up the glass of water. "Just...thinking about your offer. It’s giving me a headache, the thought of working with your company again, using my face as your brand. I told you, it’ll be mutually beneficial to—"

"My team and I might have to reassess these said benefits, Mr. Pierce. I can’t just make a decision on my own."

"I’m not asking you to."

"It seems like you are kind of doing that."

He dropped his fork and set his ripped arms on the table. "Then, I’m sorry. I just can’t wait to have your extraordinary input in my company."

A sarcastic scoff bounced past my lips and I drained the glass of water. "Okay, I’ll reveal your offer with my team and get back to you."

He leaned forward eagerly. "When do I expect to get a positive response?"

"My team will reach out to yours, or...if I’m feeling generous, I’ll give you a call."

He tilted his head, considering my words. Then his sexy shoulders rolled into a shrug. "Fine. I’ll just have to wait for your call, gorgeous."

My lips curved in a smirk and I leaned forward. "So, you’re going to keep being unofficial?"

Heck, the alcohol was beginning to swirl like a tornado in my head. Had to be the only reason why I was boldly leaning into his obvious flirting game.

God. Did I consume too much of the Riesling?

His eyes burned dark. "Hey, I thought the work discussions were over for now."

I chuckled against my will, my face warming underneath his gaze. "I guess. So, we can go home now?"

He shrugged. "If that’s what you want."

My breath hitched in my throat when I stared at him for a moment too long.

"What do you really want with me, Tristan?" The question tumbled out before I could think twice about it or what it could imply.

"You know what I want," he said simply. "The same thing we had that one night, Laura. The passion. The hunger. The undeniable pull between us."

I shook my head, smiling. "We both know that’s over. You’re engaged to Madison. And me..."

"Yes, tell me about you."

He leaned closer against the table, supporting his chin against his wrist. My heart skipped because there was just something so charming about him like this, completely at ease and flirting with me, not the once stoic boss I remembered.

An evil thought popped into my mind. I tried to tune it out, but..."What if I’m committed to someone else too?"

"There’s a load of ’what ifs’ between us, Laura. But I can tell you that none of that compares to this thing between us."

"Why are you so insistent on the fact that whatever we shared is still there? It was years ago, Tristan!"

"I see the way you look at me. The eyes are windows to the soul, you know." Dark eyes burned into my lips. "And right in yours, I can see the imprints of how much you want me to touch you right now."

Scorching heat licked every part of my body, especially the parts his eyes burned into. My tongue darted out and stroked my bottom lip.

Fuck. That was unconsciously hot. I could tell from the way he was looking at me now. Like he wanted to leap on the table and rip me apart with his mouth and hands.

God, for a sick moment, I wanted just that. And after that, what next?

The thought forced me back to reality. I bolted to my feet without warning and grabbed my purse. "I think we’re done here." I flashed him a tight smile. "Thank you for agreeing to have dinner with me, Mr. Pierce. I’ll cover the bills."

"No." He pushed to his feet, thick muscles flexing as he pushed his hands into his pockets. "Let me. I owe you this at least."

I frowned. "How do you mean?"

"I’m sure the current media scandal involving us both must have caused you some headaches. I would like to try making up for that in the slightest way possible."

I arched my brow. "Oh. You don’t have to do that, you know?"

"I insist."

"Fine." Shrugging, I turned my back and walked away. I could hear him calling to the waitress in a brisk tone.

Smiling to myself, I took the elevator to the parking lot. The evening had gone better than expected. I had thinned a bit of my walls without even realizing it.

"I should stay away," I whispered to myself, remembering how my thighs had clenched hard an unhealthy amount of times, sitting at that table with him. When his voice rumbled low and rough. When his eyes roamed my body in a disrespectful manner.

"Can I even work closely with him?" I wondered aloud as I got into my car and slammed the door shut. My mind was so far away as I ignited the engine.

That’s why I jumped hard when a sudden rap sounded on my window. I whirled to find Tristan bent over on the passenger side, peering at me through the glass.

"Sorry if I startled you." He grinned.

I blinked in surprise and mortification. "What do you want?"

"Do you mind giving me a ride?"

Holy freaking hell. Sharing my space with him again. And the way he said those words...

"Hell no."

He frowned. "What? Why?"

"Mr. Pierce, it’s my car."

His jaw ticked hard. He really must not like being called Mr. Pierce. "Please. My car got towed and you know, I figured it would be more fun riding with you than getting a cab?"

"Your car got towed? What were you doing?"

"Parking in a crazy spot and hurrying in to see your pretty face only to find you weren’t even here yet. See? Not my fault."

I rolled my eyes and cocked my head. "Fine, get in."

The night might just be about to get far more interesting...or not.