CHAPTER FIVE

Two days after the fiasco on Caden’s doorstep, I got home to find the house empty. My father had left a note that he was out, having dinner with a friend. I texted to let him know I was eating at home and going to bed but didn’t pry into what he was doing. My father dated often, and I stayed out of his business.

I wished he would extend the same courtesy to me. Sometimes, he could be a little overprotective. Every time he got wind of a potential suiter, he ran a background check before I had a chance to even go on a date.

I’d learned my lesson about sharing my love life over the dinner table.

Slipping my heels off, I padded into the kitchen and dropped them and my handbag on the chair by the door. In the fridge, I found two premade deli sandwiches our chef had left yesterday.

I grabbed a sandwich and vegan chips and piled them on the island counter. The clock struck eight. My eyes fell through the window to the koi pond, glittering in the early moonlight.

I always felt bad when I ate before my fish.

I snagged the fish food and let myself out the side door in my bare feet. Dew covered the grass like a net of diamonds. The landscaper had mowed early in the day, and little bits of grass stuck to my skin.

A sense of peace settled over me. I leaned on the edge of the koi pond and sprinkled the food over the surface. My biggest, oldest fish, Percy, bobbed to the surface, and I touched his cold, slippery nose.

A smile broke over my face before it vanished as I realized someone was watching me. My body went cold, and I drew back, stumbling and grabbing the stone wall to break my fall.

My heart thumped. Then, my vision cleared, and I realized who was standing at the edge of the driveway.

“Caden,” I whispered. “What the fuck are you doing in my yard?”

He was in a suit, but it looked like he’d put it on in the morning and gotten impatient with it throughout the day. The jacket was gone, his sleeves rolled to his elbows, and his collar was open, showing a suggestion of his chest tattoos.

He had one hand in his pocket, head down, eyes up and fixed on me like an animal in the shadows.

“I came to see you before our meeting this week,” he said.

I glanced around, mouth dry. “Did you drive?”

“I walked.”

“We’re two miles from town.”

He shrugged, moving closer. “I run several miles a day. It doesn’t bother me.”

“You’re so fucking weird,” I said. “How did you get through the gate?”

“You left it open.”

Guiltily, I realized I had. I’d been so distracted, I’d driven right through, and it was after hours, so security hadn’t been there to fix my mistake.

“Don’t mention that to my father,” I blurted out.

“Don’t worry, I’m not telling him I’m here,” he said.

“Well, you shouldn’t be.”

He lifted his head, the moonlight glinting across the sharp bridge of his aquiline nose. He was pretty like a statue, pretty like a painting of an ancient god, and handsome like he could kill without a second thought and get away with it.

The problem was his personality.

“What do you want?” I whispered.

He looked down at the koi pond, and there was a long silence as his jaw tightened. “Do you ever wonder what it would be like to stand in one of the Wonders of the World?”

I stared. “What?”

He took another step, moving closer until he stood beside me, looking down at the silvery water dotted with orange fish. He looked down at me, and his eyes lingered on my mouth.

“Sometimes, I dream that I walk to the temple of Aphrodite in the early morning when it’s still cool,” he said softly. “I stand in the doorway and watch the incense rise from the cold floor.”

He was so close, I felt his warmth kiss my skin. Was this an intimidation tactic to start talking about bizarre things? Was he trying to get me confused?

I cleared my throat. “Are you fucking with me?”

His hand came up and brushed back my hair. His palm was warm, but it didn’t linger. “Do you ever want things you can never have, butterfly?”

My dry lips cracked. “Butterfly?”

His tongue flicked out. “On your finger.”

I spread my hand, looking down at the tiny purple butterfly.

“That’s right,” I whispered.

He leaned in, eyes glittering. “In another life, I’d fuck you in a temple, on the cold stone, as an offering to the goddess. But unfortunately, we’re stuck in the twenty-first century, so I think I’ll just torment you instead.”

His voice changed, dropping the silky tone. There was something dark, like desire, in it. Anger flared, and I stepped back, grabbing the box of fish food. He laughed softly as I turned on my heel and began striding across the driveway. His footfalls followed me until I got to the door and spun around, holding up my hand.

“Go away,” I snapped. “You’re fucking rude.”

“It wasn’t all a joke,” he said, mouth thinning. “I would fuck you.”

“That’s not what you implied when I stopped by your apartment.”

“I’m trying to be a good boy.”

“Well, you’re not succeeding.”

He shrugged. “I never do.”

I jerked open the kitchen door and stepped inside, but his hand shot out and braced it wide. I glared up at him, running my eyes over his lean body. Why did he have to look so good?

“Can I come in?”

“Why?” I glared.

“I’m hungry.”

“Sounds like a personal problem.”

“I’ll trade you an orgasm for a sandwich.”

My jaw dropped. What had happened since our last encounter that made him change his tune? I cleared my throat, ignoring his heavy gaze boring into me.

“No thanks. I have a vibrator,” I said coolly.

He laughed aloud, a rich, deep sound. I hated to admit it, but I liked it. A lot.

“Let me in. Tell me about your day,” he said, his tone firm.

For some reason, I let him into my kitchen. Maybe it was how good he looked with his rumpled dress shirt, or maybe it was that I could faintly smell his scent, a clean, cool smell, and it reminded me of being in his kitchen. That reminded me that he’d made me come five times the last time we were alone.

I set the fish flakes aside and crossed my arms.

“What do you want to eat?” I said, keeping my voice casual, as if my heart wasn’t pounding.

“Whatever you want to feed me.” He crossed his arms and leaned against the counter.

We stared at each other. Outside, an owl cooed from the orchard. I cleared my throat and broke my gaze away, going to grab the sandwiches. The back of my neck tingled as I cut them up and slipped vegan chips between the bread. I liked a little crunch in mine. I didn’t really care if he did or not.

“Here,” I said, handing him one.

He took a bite and nodded. “It’s good.”

“Thanks. Courtesy of our chef,” I said. “What were you trying to do?”

“How do you mean?” His brow cocked.

“You said you dreamed you went to Aphrodite’s temple in the early morning,” I said, my voice hoarse. “And watched the smoke rise from the ground.”

“Incense,” he corrected.

“Whatever,” I said. “Why did you say that?”

He shrugged, heavy eyes shrouded in the dim light. “Because it’s true. You reminded me of it.”

My mouth felt dry. Did I want to get philosophical with him? He seemed like the kind of person who could pull me into a labyrinth of strange new thoughts I might not be prepared for. The problem was, I was a bit curious.

“Why?”

His eyes flicked down. “You have a butterfly on your hand,” he said. “Butterflies are representations of the soul. The goddess Psyche is associated with butterflies. She was so beautiful, they said she was mistaken for Aphrodite.”

My stomach twisted. Was he calling…me beautiful? Or was this a manipulation tactic?

“Where did you go to college?” I asked.

His eyes narrowed, and he took a bit of his sandwich and chewed. Finally, he cleared his throat. “I don’t have a formal education. Failed out when I was fourteen.”

That caught me off guard. “Oh? Where did you learn all this stuff?”

“Libraries are free, butterfly.”

“Don’t call me that,” I whispered. “I know what you’re trying to do.”

He set the crust of his sandwich aside and brushed off his long fingers. “What am I doing?”

“You’re trying to mess with my head,” I said. “I know we’re both being forced to work together. Neither of us want to be babysat, but this deal between our companies means a lot for our reputations, and we need to look like we’re getting along—so stop messing with me.”

He crossed his arms, lip curling. “Your reputation is bulletproof. You’ll always be the Johansen heiress.”

He didn’t understand, but I hadn’t expected him to. I tilted my chin.

“This is my first big business deal,” I admitted and wished I hadn’t.

He didn’t say anything, but his brow stayed crooked, like he was thinking deeply. My eyes moved from his face and slid down his neck, studying the ink down his neck. It was thick, dark lines, curving and curling like the engravings in an old door or church pew. There weren’t images I could recognize, just curves, swirls, lines, and shapes. The effect when seen at a glance was stunning.

My eyes moved lower.

Down to where his shirt tucked into his pants. His belt buckle glinted silver.

“My eyes are up here,” he drawled softly.

Heat washed over my face. “You’re so full of yourself,” I whispered.

He laughed softly but didn’t reply. That part bothered me. I was good at withholding my opinions in work meetings, but outside of that, I had a tendency to word vomit.

The way he smiled and stayed silent was the ultimate weapon.

It was armor I couldn’t break down.

“Why do you dream of dead goddesses?” I asked impulsively.

He cocked his head. “Not sure. I think there are some people who live in the thin parts of the world.”

“The what?”

His jaw worked. He had this stupidly sexy jaw muscle that made me ache downstairs.

“Do you ever get this longing for something you’ve never had, something complete…something better?” he said, his voice dropping. “Someplace you’ve never been but hope to go?”

My stomach pitted. Yes, I knew what that was, and I’d always called it nostalgia. I nodded, wordless.

“Maybe in another life, I did fuck you in a temple,” he said. “In the early morning, when the air is still cool. Maybe your hair smelled like incense. Maybe that’s just a shadow…or we’re a shadow of what we could have been.”

Something about his words made me want to cry. My throat felt lumpy and cold. I sniffed and cleared it.

“You’re a bit strange,” I said.

“I hear that a lot,” he said. “It doesn’t bother me. Anyway, that feeling…my people call it Hireath.”

“Nostalgia?”

“No, a longing for what could have been. A place you’ll always want but never get.”

“Well, that’s depressing.”

He shrugged and pushed off the counter, coming to the island where I stood. “Enough about me. Let’s talk about things you missed out on.”

His eyes glittered, and I had a feeling I knew where he was going to turn the conversation. Like clockwork, his eyes dropped, and he came closer, caging me against the island.

My heart picked up.

“I’d like seconds,” he said. “I changed my mind.”

“You changed your tune,” I whispered. “Oh, how the tables have turned.”

His throat bobbed. Lean, tattooed fingers brushed my hair behind my ear. A raw heartbeat flared between my thighs. Quickly, he lifted me onto the counter and bent in, brushing a kiss against the side of my throat.

Oh God, my body was on fire.

My nipples hardened. My bare toes curled.

I took a deep breath.

“This mission is my test,” I whispered. “My father wants me to take over for him, and if I do this right, I’m ready. I’m not fucking that up, even for a man with an Adonis belt.”

His head fell back, and he laughed aloud.

“I wouldn’t fuck that up for me either, butterfly,” he said.

My hands curled on the edge of the counter. He bent and kissed my neck, letting his hot mouth linger. When he pulled back, I swore my heart was beating so hard, I could hear it.

“This mission is important to me too,” he said. “May the best man win.”

“Or woman.”

“What is this? A little private rivalry?”

“Yes, maybe. I’m not worried you’ll outperform me.”

“I might.”

“Doubt it.”

He smirked, holding out his hand. Without thinking, I shook it. When he pulled back to look at me, his eyes flickered like blue flame.

“The mission starts later this week,” he said. “If we’re being technical.”

I shook my head, even though it took all my willpower. “I’m not sleeping with you, Caden Payne.”

He bent in again, breath hot against my mouth.

“I’ll bet you taste so good,” he said, his accent thickening. It usually sat deep in his voice, like he was on his way to forgetting it most of the time. But tonight, it bobbed to the surface.

And I liked it.

I shook my head. “I’ve been working all day. I need a shower.”

The corners of his mouth went crooked. “I kinda want to taste that.”

God, he knew how to wrap me around his little finger. What would it hurt anyway? He’d already gone down on me once before…and our mission didn’t start until later. I bit my lip, chewing hard.

“Fine,” I whispered.

He exhaled, kissing that burning spot on my neck again. At this rate, he was going to kiss it raw before morning. His hand slid up and pushed me onto my back on the counter. I caught myself on my elbows, looking down, cheeks burning as he pushed my skirt up my thighs.

“Are you wearing that diamond on your clit again?” he murmured, mouth brushing my knee.

I nodded, speechless.

He groaned, biting my thigh and sending pain shivering up to my pussy. My eyes followed his tattooed fingers as he shoved my skirt up to my thighs, revealing my white thong, a little silver bow on the waistband. He licked and sucked up my leg, leaving my skin burning from his touch.

One finger grazed my clit as he pulled my thong aside, making my legs jerk. His head bent, dark hair glinting.

The front door slammed, and my heart stopped.

“Stop, stop, get out!” I gasped, shooting upright. “My father’s home.”

Lightning fast, he licked me from pussy to clit, his hot tongue sending a wash of ecstasy through me for the barest second before he straightened.

“Still got what I was promised,” he said, snapping my thong back into place.

I jumped down, shoving my skirt over my hips. “Go, get out,” I hissed.

He seemed unbothered. “I’ll see you later.”

I waved a hand, trying to get him to hurry. My father’s footsteps rang out in the hall, and he called my name.

“Caden, get out of here,” I begged.

He yanked the side door open and stepped out, the house shrouding him in shadow as I followed. For a second, I saw him like a vision, eyes glittering, head cocked, the base of his throat still flushed with arousal. My gaze dropped and, for a flash, I saw a hard ridge beneath the front of his pants.

Then, I slammed the door. Hard.