Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Her shoulders shook, Kady recalling the too-many times her boss had successfully baited Eric every time he deliberately misremembered the latter's name.
"Take every compliment like a queen," Slade murmured. "Just smile and don't say a single word."
The moment his finger lifted, she couldn't help blurting out, "But wouldn't that make me rude?"
The billionaire smirked. "Exactly. Boys like him only pretend they want to be in control. But what's really going to make him wag his tail is to have someone treat him like dirt."
"So you're saying he’s a masochist?"
"I'm saying idiots like him think women being bitchy to him make them seem more unattainable, and that's where the attraction lies."
Kady's mind was reeling once more, but for once, it had nothing (or at least not completely) to do with her boss' recent tendency to exhibit his skills in foreplay. Instead, her thoughts were busy rewinding back to the past, and things that she had once found odd were now making painful sense.
Even now, she couldn't make herself believe that Eric hadn't loved her at all. He had loved her once, had loved her at first, and it was probably because at that time, he hadn't yet realized that he was the kind of guy that Slade had described.
And guys like Eric, apparently, were prone to fall for women like Margaux.
The billionaire noticed the way Kady suddenly started gnawing on her lip as her gaze warily darted to his, and he said softly, "You can ask me anything, little chick."
Color stole into her cheeks at Slade's intuition, and Kady wondered glumly if she would ever be able to keep a secret from someone so consummately experienced.
"Kady..."
Unable to help fidgeting even as she avoided his gaze, she said haltingly, "You told me if men like Eric say I'm beautiful or something, I should just take it as my due."
"That's right."
"But what if men like you say it?"
Slade couldn't keep his lips from twitching.
So that was what had been bothering her.
"First of all..."
Kady's gaze flew up to his, and seeing her look at him hopefully, like he was about to give her the secrets to the universe, almost had him losing it.
Clearing his throat, he said solemnly, "There aren't any men like me."
What in the—-
But then she saw the laughter in his eyes, and she realized he had simply been pulling her leg. "Oh my God, you're impossible—-"
"Irresistible," he corrected her mildly. "You keep forgetting 'irresistible' is what you genuinely intend to say."
Kady tried her very best not to laugh, but this, too, proved irresistible - no, wait, impossible!
"Secondly—-"
"If this is another joke," she muttered warningly.
"When I tell you I find you beautiful and sexy..."
Her gaze narrowed suspiciously.
"It simply means I want to fuck you."
Her jaw dropped.
"I want to fuck you so damn bad—-" Slade's voice turned guttural. "You wouldn't believe just how many times I was tempted last night to sneak into your room and seduce you."
Oh. My. Gaaaaaah.
"I've given you as much time as I can bear," the billionaire rasped. "What's it going to be, Kady?"
"I...um...er..."
But she was still torn, and when she found herself taking a step back, she saw frustration flare in Slade's blue eyes.
"I'm sorry," she said helplessly. "It's just...I..."
"There you guys are!"
Farica, walking from the direction of the kitchen, came up to them, a look of puzzlement on her face. "Don't you guys want breakfast?"
At Farica's words, the billionaire saw Kady's face light up with relief, and he knew right away what the stubborn little chick was thinking.
"Kady," he said warningly.
But it was too late. She was already backing away, saying in a rush, "Now that you mentioned it, I think I'm rather famished, so—-" She fluttered her fingers weakly in a wave. "Um. I think I'll, um, go ahead?" She turned away and practically ran for the kitchen, thinking that if looks could kill, Slade would've had her buried six times six feet under by now.
Farica blinked, feeling like she had been missing something. "What was that about?"
Figuring that it was best to let the cat out of the bag instead of having to waste time skulking in the dark to hide his interest in Kady, Slade said curtly, "I told her I wanted her in my bed."
"YOU DID WHAT?"
Seeing her appalled expression, he said forcefully, "Being up front about things will ensure she won't be hurt once things run its course."
"God." Farica's voice was rich with disgust. "You do know we're talking about real people with real feelings here, right? Or are you so used to dating women with dollar signs in their eyes you don't realize that Kady isn't like any of your past mistresses?"
"I'm not an idiot," he snapped. "Of course I know that, and it's not like she isn't getting anything out of this either—-" He saw Farica's expression turn into one of shock, and he realized she had misread his words. "It's not that. She still doesn't know about who we really are—-"