Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 81252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“With so many important people in the room, it’s easy to overlook the less notable,” he told Brandon.
I hid my smile, but I felt good at that moment. It was like we were feeding off of each other’s energy. I didn’t know much about this Brandon guy, but I could tell that he was a pretentious ass. I had no issue with knocking him down a few notches, and I couldn’t help but be a little protective of Ashland Consulting.
“Yes, we have to talk to… anyone else,” I said, pretending to survey the ballroom. I wiggled my fingers in a mocking wave as Tyler led me away from Brandon by the hand. My heart thudded heavily in my chest as I followed Tyler. I couldn’t believe that I just acted that way toward some big-shot CEO.
If Brandon was Tyler’s main competitor, that meant Odyssey was a big company that was doing well. I burned a bridge just now, but I strengthened the bond that I felt with Tyler. We were a team just then, feeding off each other’s energy to face off with a rival. It was thrilling. Tonight was going better than I ever could’ve imagined.
I noticed that Tyler was leading me away from the main area of the ballroom. We ventured toward a dark hallway that probably led to some sort of staff-only room. I glanced behind me with confusion, wondering why we were leaving the celebration behind.
“What are we doing?” I asked him. I couldn’t even read his mood right now. He could’ve been upset or happy, and I would have no idea because he wouldn’t even look at me. All I knew was that we were moving fast.
Tyler didn’t reply or stop walking until we were in the depths of the hallway. His eyes met mine for a second before he pressed my back up against the wall behind me. His hands cupped my face as he came close.
A faint gasp broke from me as I grabbed his suit jacket, my heart leaping into my throat. One second, I felt the soft brush of his breath on my lips. The next, his lips captured mine in a kiss that made me ache, and the celebration in the distance seemed to fade away.
Chapter 10
Tyler
What I was doing was insane, but I couldn’t stop myself from kissing Madison. Something about her sticking by my side and showing Brandon that trademark attitude of hers made something snap inside of me. All of the control that I had practiced for the first part of the night completely went up in smoke, and I found myself needing to express just how interested in her I was. She had taken over my mind, and my body reacted.
I pushed my hand into her hair as I pressed her against the wall, reveling in how warm and soft her mouth felt against mine. I knew that a kiss from her would light me aflame with even more desire, but I couldn’t stop. I didn’t want to. I wanted her.
“I told you no attitude tonight,” I spoke into the kiss, tightening my fingers in her hair and drawing a soft moan from her.
“It seems like you’re rewarding me for it,” Madison smirked, her hand straying beneath my suit jacket to glide across my chest. She lifted her eyes to mine, letting her tongue drift over her top lip teasingly. “Am I wrong?”
She was right. I loved how she treated Brandon, how she remained loyal. Perhaps, I did want to reward her for a job well done. She certainly deserved it. I couldn’t get Brandon’s shocked look out of my mind when she turned on him, not bending to his snide words. She handled him as well as she dealt with me. She was meant for the business world.
“I’m going to take you back to my place and show you,” I told her as I tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. My fingertips glided along the frame of her face, feeling how soft her skin was. I wanted to ravage every inch of her perfect body.
Madison peered up at me with slightly wide eyes. Her expression then settled into a coy look. “Then, what are we still doing here?” she asked me.
That was a damn good question. I didn’t care about the gala. I would get Molly to send a check to whatever charity was the gala’s choice. Right now, I was taking Madison home and indulging in every little fantasy about her that had crossed my mind since we met. There were plenty of them.
I whisked her away from the gala, leading her to my black Lexus that valet brought out and guiding her into my passenger seat. I would get her back to her car later. As I tore away from the hotel and headed to my penthouse in the city, my hand found her thigh, rubbing teasing circles along the inside.