Page 31 of Mile High Ruin

His expression changes. “I’m explaining why the additional percentage is necessary.”

“You explained it twenty minutes ago.”

“I don’t think you understand the exposure on our side.”

“I understand it perfectly.”

He glances toward the other two men, looking for support. That’s his first mistake.

The second is continuing.

“You are asking us to take on risk without appropriate compensation.”

“No. I’m allowing you to use infrastructure you could not access without me, and you have decided that somehow places you in a position to demand more.”

His mouth tightens. “We have alternatives.”

“Then use them.”

Silence.

Marek shifts slightly in his chair. I don’t look at him because I know exactly what expression will be on his face.

Sorin clears his throat. “That is not what I meant.”

“It is what you said.”

“We would prefer to continue the arrangement.”

“Then the terms remain unchanged.”

The younger man beside him leans forward. “Mr. Chernovar, perhaps there is room for compromise.”

“There is not.”

“There is always room.”

I look at him. He stops.

The silence stretches until he leans back again.

I turn one page of the contract, and my thoughts betray me immediately. Sloane standing with the champagne bottle in her hand. The expression on her face when she realized I was going to make her clean the shirt. The moment turbulence pushed her into me.

Her breasts against my chest.

Her fingers in my shirt.

The way her eyes dropped to my mouth before she caught herself.

I have been with women who made careers from being desirable. Women whose faces covered buildings and magazines. Women who understood exactly how to sit, how to smile, how to touch a man without ever revealing more of themselves than they intended.

Sloane did none of that.

She poured champagne on me because I insulted her. Then she became aroused while trying to clean it. There was something almost offensively honest about every reaction she had.

I want to see it again. That’s the part I have been refusing to examine too closely. I don’t merely want to sleep with her. That would be simple.

I want another flight.