She tilted her head, her heart pounding in her chest. No fear of tears now. She was pissed. “Whatever you want, Trevor.” She took another bite of steak, but it had lost its flavor.
“Excellent,” he said in an equally pleasant tone.
Allie cut her food but ate little of it. Eventually, the waiter took away her almost-full plate. She wanted to eat, just to show him she wasn’t bothered, but her stomach wasn’t that strong. She felt unsettled and suddenly nervous. Could she go through with it? Or would she back down and let him win?
The waiter was back immediately with a green sorbet. Her stomach twisted into knots.
Laying down his spoon, Trevor regarded at her coolly. “Not hungry? Anxious for the rest of the evening?” He didn’t seem to expect an answer. “I know how you feel. Let’s get out of here, yes?”
He pulled out his wallet and left a few folded bills on the table, then walked around and pulled back Allie’s chair. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “So nice to have an eager partner.”
When she stood, he placed a hand on her elbow, guiding her out of the restaurant and back into the elevator.
***
What was it going to take to wipe that insipid expression off her face? He couldn’t take it anymore. This wasn’t Allison. The Allison he knew was loving and gave him hell and pulled him out of his cross moods. This woman was a bloody automaton, and it was pissing him off.
They got off on the seventeenth floor. He pulled the key card out, and with an electronic whoosh, the door opened. “I knew we wouldn’t be here that long—unless you’re up for multiple rounds, darling—so I didn’t book a suite. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.” A king-sized taupe-covered bed dominated the space.
He spun her around and, with his hands on her shoulders, pulled her to him, her chest pressed against his. “Have you missed fucking me, Allison?” If he’d been hoping for a blush, a gasp, or any reaction at all, he was sorely disappointed.
“Yes, of course,” she said. “Would you like my hair up or down?” She stared past him with wide blue eyes and waited, that stupid smile etched permanently on her lips.
Trevor was in a vicious mood. He knew exactly what she was doing. At first, she’d been acting aloof and pleasant because he’d hurt her, but now she was doing it just to get his wick. Well, if she thought she could push him over the edge, she didn’t know who the hell she was dealing with.
He released her and took a step back to slide out of his jacket. Tugging at his tie, his gaze never left her face. “Hair down.”
He watched as she once again removed the pins, placing them on top of the dresser to her right, her hands shaking slightly.
Good. She wasn’t as indifferent as she pretended.
She ran her fingers through the long tresses and rubbed her scalp a few times before letting her hands fall to her sides. Her hair was in disarray now.
He unbuttoned his shirt but left it on and unfastened the cuffs. With detachment, Trevor looked her up and down. “Take off the dress.”
He watched her throat move as she swallowed. She hesitated briefly, then reached behind her and began to unzip the back.
“No, slowly. I want to savor it.” His voice was icy, but he was hot, wanting her so badly, he ached. But if he showed her one ounce of empathy, then she’d continue this idiotic behavior, and he was going to end it, once and for all.
She still refused to look at him, pinning her gaze to his collarbone. Taking her time, Allie unzipped the dress and slowly peeled the dark red satin over her breasts. Her strapless bra was red as well. Trevor gritted his teeth as his cock grew even harder. Rubbing a hand along his chin, his heart slammed into his chest. He’d missed this—seeing her skin, her breasts, her long, smooth legs. Missed touching her.
Allison leaned forward, giving him an eyeful of her plump, confined breasts as she slid the dress over her hips and thighs, finally stepping out of it and tossing it on the bed. She turned toward him, and it took a moment, but her eyes slowly made their way to his before dancing away, that polite, annoying smile glued to her lips.
He took one step toward her. The smile dimmed a bit. He took another step, and her eyes widened and filled with panic. Damn, he didn’t want that reaction either. He wanted her as she had been, receptive and laughing and touching her body. He wanted what they’d had before, not this…lack of emotion, this detachment.
Reaching out, he pulled a strand of her hair between his fingers, rubbed the silky texture. Then he bent toward her. He’d wanted her mouth, the taste of it, the feel of those full lips beneath his. But she turned her head at the last second, and his lips grazed her jaw.
He snapped his head back, eyes narrowed. “I’m in charge here, Miss Campbell.” He wanted to kiss her, had been fantasizing about it. He liked kissing her, goddamn it. “Every whim, remember?”
“But fuck toys don’t kiss.” She smiled serenely. “Would you like me to touch you now?”
Livid. No, he was past livid. Couldn’t remember being this pissed off. Ever. She wanted to play with him? Fuck her. Literally. He would slam inside her and she could wear that smile while he did it. He didn’t give a damn.
“Take your knickers off.” He was breathing hard and fast. Pulling the shirt off his shoulders, he let it drift to the floor.
She hooked her thumbs in the waistband of her thong and wiggled her hips as she slid the red material off her legs. She straightened and placidly stared at his throat.
With his jaw clenched, he unbuckled his belt, jerking it out of its loops and tossing it on the dresser. She wanted to push him, aggravate him—to what end? Was this the reaction she wanted? His anger?
“Now the bra,” he bit out.
She stretched her arms behind her and unhooked it, holding the cups over her breasts with her hands. Her disheveled hair slid over those full tits, making his cock throb. The dark blond hair covering her pussy had him licking his lips.
“Drop it.”
Her smile tightened a bit before ratcheting up a notch, and she dropped the bra at her feet. Dear sweet Lord, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever known. And she wouldn’t look him in the fucking eye.
Trevor rubbed his chest. “Allison.” His voice was so hoarse he almost didn’t recognize it. “Look at me.”
Swallowing, she lifted her chin and stared at his forehead.
“Look at me, Allie. Please.”
“I am, Trevor.” The smile slipped, but she tried to hold on to it. And failed. She pressed her lips together in a grimace.
He should be glad. Glad that fake expression was gone. But in its place was a look of such sadness, such despondency. “Look me in the eye,” he pleaded.
She stood there, naked and beautiful, and hesitantly, finally, met his gaze. “What would you like me to do now?”
She could do anything she wanted, demand whatever she liked. He would be clay in her hands.
Damn her. He couldn’t go through with it. Couldn’t touch her like this. He’d tried to push her, get her to surrender, but he was the one who broke. He glanced away, ashamed. “Get dressed.” He grabbed his shirt and jacket, hastily shrugging into them. “I’ll meet you downstairs in the lobby.” He turned on his heel, closed his eyes for a moment, then left the room.
Chapter 15
Allie let out a shaky breath and staggered three steps to the bed, falling onto it. No time for crying. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. Still, tears flooded her eyes. Looking up to the ceiling, she blinked them away.