Page 12 of It Kills Me

“If it is, it’s awfully fun.”

I shook my head slightly and looked away.

A long silence passed before he spoke again. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

It took me a moment to look at him again.

Now his eyes were serious, bright, beautiful, and hard.

“How many other girls have you said that to?”

“None.”

“Right…”

“I’ve told a woman she’s beautiful and I want to fuck her many, many times. But that’s the first time I’ve ever said that. When I thought you were your father’s woman, I almost called off the deal because that meant I wouldn’t be able to have you.”

“You still can’t have me.”

“Yet.”

“Whether I have a boyfriend or not, it’s not going to happen.”

A subtle grin moved over his lips.

“I can already tell how complicated it would become if we went down this road.”

“Why does it have to be complicated?”

“You seem like the complicated type.”

He smirked. “You’re the one playing games, sweetheart.”

“Games?” I asked incredulously. “I told you I have a boyfriend and I’m not interested.”

“No,” he said. “You are interested, and you’re using your lame boyfriend as an excuse. Don’t act like you don’t want this as much as I do.”

“My father has given me this opportunity, and the last thing I want to do is make him regret it. I’m not going to screw that up by getting involved with someone we do business with.”

“Who says he has to know?”

I looked away. “He’s the smartest man I’ve ever known. He’ll figure it out. He’ll question my judgment and kill you. We’ll both lose, so it’s not worth it.”

“Your father likes me.”

“He won’t if he realizes you’ve been screwing his daughter. That’s disrespectful…and my father is all about respect.”

A slight smile was on his lips, like this was all a joke to him.

Footsteps sounded a moment later, coming from behind me.

My father entered the room. “Sorry for the wait.”

“It’s no problem, Dante.” Axel got to his feet. “Your daughter kept me entertained.” He gave me a look, and then he winked—right in front of my father.

My father didn’t seem to think anything of it because they both walked out and stepped onto the terrace. Cigars were lit, and they sat together under the lights in the courtyard, talking business while the butler brought them glasses of the strong stuff.

I stared at them through the window, seeing Axel relax his muscular body and make himself right at home. His knees were spread wide apart, and he tilted his head back to let the smoke rise to the sky. Then he shifted his gaze to me, staring at me right through the glass as if he’d felt my stare.