Page 81 of Forbidden Fruit
“Hello?” he says. I can already hear in his tone that he doesn’t like that I’m ignoring him.
I blink, still pretending to be absorbed in my book.
“Blair.” His tone sharpens. “I know you hear me.”
I sigh, loudly, dramatically, before tilting my head just enough to glance at him over the top of my Kindle. “What, Calvin? Damn.”
His brows lift. Oh, that’s my first warning. It’s confusing because the look he just gave me is terrifying, but my body seems to like it. A lot.
“Wanna try that again?” His voice drops lower. He removes his suit jacket and tie.
Alarm bells ring in my head. Abort mission, abortmission. The look he’s giving me makes my stomach tighten, but I push forward, lifting my chin.
“It’s rude to interrupt someone when they’re reading,” I say, my tone dripping with sass. Even I’m impressed with my nerve.
Calvin tilts his head, his expression unreadable as he glances around the room like he’s searching for something. My stomach clenches. He can’t see the camera, can he?
“What are you looking for?” I ask, trying to sound casual.
His gaze flicks back to mine, slow and assessing. “Your manners,” he muses. “Or, maybe just an ounce of self-preservation.”
I roll my eyes, trying so hard not to laugh at his reaction.
“Look, I just need you to behave today, alright? I don’t have time or the energy for your tantrum.” I wave a dismissive hand.
Silence.
A long, charged silence.
Then, “Excuse me?”
I turn back to my Kindle and just ignore him.
“Oh, I see,” he murmurs, stepping closer. “You’re in a mood for a spanking.” His eyes darken, lips twitching. “Is that it, brat? Or no, that’s not it, that mouth of yours has been feeling empty, hasn’t it? You want me to fill it?”
My body reacts. But I hold my ground, lifting a brow like I’m not seconds away from throwing myself at his feet.
“It’s cute, seeing you try to be in control,” I tease, voice light. “Adorable, even.”
He moves fast for a man of his size.
One second, I’m lounging on the bed, and the next, my Kindle is flying, the sheets ripped away as he grabs my ankles and yanks me down the mattress. I shriek, my hands scrambling, but it’s useless. In a blink, he’s on top of me, onehand wrapped around my throat, forcing me to look up at him.
His voice is dangerously calm. “What was that?”
My bravado crumbles. “I… I was kidding!” I rush out, pointing toward the nightstand. “It was a prank! I’m sorry!”
He glances over his shoulder to where I’m pointing at the camera, and I know the moment he sees it. A low chuckle rumbles in his chest, but the fire in his eyes doesn’t dim. If anything, it intensifies. His grip on my throat doesn’t tighten, but he doesn’t let go, either.
He hums, his thumb stroking lazily over my pulse. “Yeah. That’s what I thought.”
Then, without warning, he leans down, presses a lingering kiss to my lips, so sweet, so deceptively tender, before pulling away and rising to his feet.
I scramble up and walk to where I had placed the camera, laughing as I shake my head. “Touchy today, Princess.”
I should not have said that.
Because the next second, my camera falls.
