Page 35 of Set Play

I have to bite my tongue to trap the groan that is desperate to be heard. Like the fucking siren she is, she smirks and scans her eyes down my body, biting her lip when she sees the bulge pressing against my shorts. “Hmm, guess I’m not the only one. Seems you like the idea too, Reyes.”

“And what if I do, Chispita?”

“Then how about you get on your knees and show me just how much?”

Chapter 17

Élise

Who the hell am I? Did I seriously just tell this man to kneel for me?

Mateo stares at me like he can’t believe the words that just came from my mouth. A second passes. Two. Neither of us blink. Hell, I don’t think either of us breathes.

My inner critic is begging me to take the words back.

To say I was joking, or that I'm drunk again…anything to dissolve the tension sitting thick between us.

But I don’t.

I can’t.

Not when his patented smirk appears before he slowly sinks to his knees in front of me, never breaking eye contact. Holy shit.

As his knees hit the floor, he slides his hands up to rest on my hips. Every thought evaporates as need pools low in my stomach. My lungs forget how to function. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him.

Despite my attempts at talking myself out of this, the sight of him before me has my thighs clenching together. A deep, seductive chuckle breaks through my growing lust. “Everything okay, Chispita? You seem a little…squirmy.”

If looks could incinerate, there would be a pile of ashes at my feet instead of a man. Even if the asshole is right, I am squirming, I refuse to admit it to him. Scoffing, I roll my eyes and try to take a step back from him only to be denied when Mateo tightens his grip and pulls me in closer. I swear the temperature rises from the desire burning in his eyes as he hungrily drinks in the sight of me above him. Or maybe that’s just me burning under his scrutiny. And that sinful, unfaltering smirk? Let’s just say it’s a good thing panties can’t actually melt. I’d be so screwed if they could. You’re already screwed, dumbass. You’re supposed to hate him, not let him trap you in a locker room with him!

“Well, you wanted me on my knees, Élise. Now what?”

I take a deep inhale, trying to cool the raging torrent of arousal swirling through my body. Seriously, who the hell turned on the fucking heat? Pasting on a devilish smirk to rival his, I grip his chin and force his head back until I can see his whole face clearly again.

“You need to work on your listening skills, Big Shot. You’ve only done half of what I said. I believe I told you to get on your knees and show me how much you like the idea.” I release his chin, crossing my arms over my chest, waiting to see what he does next.

As if my hand was preventing gravity from pulling it down, Mateo’s head falls forward until his forehead rests against my lower belly. At the same time, he removes his right hand from my hip and drops it to readjust himself. At least, that’s what I think he’s doing, but the hand doesn’t return to my hip. Instead, his body begins to rhythmically rock as he strokes himself over his shorts.

Fuck, why is that so hot?

“Hmmm, so you did.” Mateo presses his lips to the button of my slacks and looks up at me through his surprisingly thick lashes.

Damn, I wish my eyelashes looked like that naturally.

“I wouldn’t be starting this relationship on the right foot if I didn’t prove that I’m a man capable of following directions.”

His lips continue peppering my beltline with kisses and the fingers of his free hand tease their way into the waistband of my slacks. He doesn’t push, doesn’t rush me, just looks at me and waits for my consent. And I’m aching to give him despite how much I hate him for everything he’s done.

But first…

“Fake relationship, Big Shot. Which you still haven’t told me about yet.”

I feel his jaw twitch against me, the only sign he gives that my words bug him.

I definitely imagined that. No way did that bother him.

Several heartbeats pass before Mateo lightly tugs on my beltline, reminding me that I have yet to give him a response. He waits several more seconds, but when I still don’t respond, he eases his hand away from my slacks and sits back on his heels, doing his best to mask his disappointment.

“I mean you have the general idea, but there are some public events that my agent thinks would be the best options for visibility and impact in terms of combatting the negative headlines.”