Page 42 of Hot Nights in Morocco
“Naked dictation, is it?” counters Jake, prowling up to us.
“Very productive. You should try it sometime. I’ll send Rachel a memo about it, shall I?”
“What kind of fucking idiot do you take me for?” He grinds to a halt in front of us and I’m hit by a seething wave of cedarwood and citrus.
“Do I really have to answer that?” Max smirks at me as I wriggle out of his embrace. Knowing Jake’s propensity for flying off the handle, I’m amazed that Max is still alive. As for Jake, I can tell he’s dying to drag me into the bedroom and screw some retribution into me. To hell with what he promised last night.
“What was all that yelling?” He shifts his scowl back to his brother. “I heard it down in the lobby.”
“That was me,” admits Max, tutting in disappointment as Jake thrusts the coffees at him, strips off his T-shirt, and drapes it across my chest, covering as much exposed skin as he can. “You’re such a spoilsport. It is nice of you to bring me a latte, though.” He inclines his head to take a sip from one of the cups.
“It’s not for you.” Jake snatches them back. “For God’s sake, go and put some clothes on, Charlie.”
“I found a scorpion in my bathroom.” Max is lounging against my doorframe now, picking at the paint chips on the hinge. “And my…err…company seems to have already left for the day.”
Jake stares at his brother in disbelief. “You were screaming the place down because of a bug?”
“What’s going on?” Rachel has arrived on the scene and is standing there gawping at us. I don’t blame her. Two bare-chested Daltons are enough to stop any woman in her tracks.
“He’senormous,” Max whispers to me as I ease backward into my room. “Would you like to come and see? The situation may require a feminine touch.”
“I assume you’re referring to the scorpion,” I say innocently, ignoring Jake’s death stare.
“Did I miss something?” asks Rachel, blushing. She can’t seem to meet anyone’s eyes.
“I’ll let your boss explain,” I say, refusing to meet Jake’s.
I dress quickly in denim shorts and my favorite hot pink T-shirt, and make my way downstairs. Jake is nowhere to be seen, and neither is Max. I hope they’re done murdering one another. I need to talk to Max about an interview thatGQ Magazinehas requested with him next week.
I’m about to enter the breakfast room when a large hand shoots out of nowhere, grabs my wrist, and yanks me sideways into the deserted bar. Before I can scream, my assailant clamps a warm hand over my mouth and kicks the door shut behind us. My lust explodes, drenching my core and my senses. The lights are off, but I’d know that aftershave anywhere.
Jake pushes me up against the nearest wall and grinds his erection into my pelvis. “Rule number four,” he states huskily. “If you’re going to break every other fucking rule going, make sure you keep your producer onside.”
I shake his hand off my mouth in a fury and push him away. “I’m not screwing you to make it in this industry, Jake. I’ve told you that already.”
Maddeningly, his lips start to twitch. “Fair point, as always. It was a poor choice of words.” We stare at each other for a moment. “Whatever happens between us won’t have a lasting consequence on your career, Charlie. I’ll make sure of it.”
“Well, that’s a relief.” I can’t quite keep the sarcasm out of my voice. There are no such assurances for my heart or my sanity.
“Don’t take that fucking tone with me.” Enraged, he pins my arms above my head and burrows his face in my neck. “Did you want him, Books?” he mutters. “Are your pretty pages wet for Max, too?”
“No!”
“Don’t toy. I’m right on the edge as it is.” He kisses me firmly, lips crushing together, pouncing like the beautiful predator that he is. After a beat, he pulls back to look at me, his mouth still glistening with the residue of our kiss. “You’re changing the rules faster than I can make them up.”
“Rules don’t mean anything.”Not when it comes to you and me.
“Don’t quote my brother at me when my dick’s about to explode!” He drops my arms and pushes my T-shirt up, ripping the cups of my bra down, and exposing my nipples. He’s tugging at the front of my shorts next, acting like a man possessed. Any minute now he’ll be screwing me against this wall.
Thisvery publicwall.
No one can know about us.
“Stop, Jake! Not here!”
He’s pressing his whole body weight against me and I can scarcely breathe. Even so, his wild assault falters.
“You’re right.” He reels away from me with a curse and smashes his palms against the wall. The moment was too intense; it’s taken an emotional toll on both of us.
