Contractual Obligation: The Trilogy by Lauren Keller Read Free Book Online Page B

downstairs.
    When the black town car showed up, she got in as the driver held the door open. “Thank you,” she said quietly.
    This was it, the game had started. She needed to put on a good show, and knew a picture might be involved. Why was she so nervous? She was used to having her picture taken with work, but this somehow felt different.
    Pulling up to the Iverson Grill, Natalie got out. Michael was waiting for her, and on seeing him, she smiled. He took her hand, and as he gently leaned in to kiss her cheek she reminded herself it was all for show. People came to the Iverson Grill when they wanted to be noticed. He’d arranged a table on the patio, on full display.
    Michael should have hired an actress. Natalie could look the part, but she couldn’t act it. She couldn’t pretend how he needed her too – her insides were choosing to do their own thing. Maybe it was good in a way, because she didn’t have to pretend she was attracted to the man in front of her.
    “You look gorgeous,” he complimented.
    Sharing a bottle of wine, the couple put their order in for dinner. It was in the way he looked at her, the way his eyes penetrated her soul that had her melting right before him. She was in trouble. He wanted to keep things platonic, business-friendly, and all she could do was picture him naked, leaning over her, making love. Natalie shook the image from her mind, trying to focus on what he was saying.
    Michael sat looking at Natalie. He could barely take his eyes off of her. Keeping control was going to be difficult. His body was responding with a mind of its own, but thankfully the tablecloth kept his erection hidden. There was an animalistic urge rushing through his body, and all he could think about was taking her for his own, sweeping her off her feet, bringing her to bed, and making love to her all night long.
    The conversation came so easy the other night over drinks, but tonight he was forcing conversation. It was drawing a line between business and intimacy. He wanted to get to know her better, but was afraid the more she opened up, the more he’d want her. He should have gone with another woman, one he wasn’t so attracted to. This may have been a mistake.
    The way she mindlessly rubbed her bottom lip, or twisted a tendril of hair around her finger, made it harder and harder to keep his thoughts clean.
    The problem was that if he made love to her, the challenge would be over, and his interest would wane. He’d go about his way, finding the next woman to conquer, and she’d still be here. He was going to marry this girl; he couldn’t play with her heart.
    As the Chateaubriand was delivered to the table, Natalie stole a longer glance. Michael’s attention was on the waiter, and he wouldn’t see her staring, soaking in his details, wanting to memorize them. She wanted to reach out and touch him, taste his lips, feel his body…and this was only a game to him. She was a trophy, a doll playing a part. Forcing the growing feelings down, she looked away as he brought his attention back to her. Could he see her desire?
    The words stopped, and the gaze between them grew heated. Michael finally cleared his throat. “Natalie, I’m insanely attracted to you, but I think if we get intimate, things will get complicated.”
    She swallowed, realizing he sensed it, too. “I understand.”
    The food sat untouched, and reaching across the table, he took her hand. “I want nothing more than to explore your body. You’re a beautiful woman, but we’ve got a job to do.”
    Natalie nodded and pulled her hand away. Looking down at her food, she wasn’t hungry, but forced herself to choke down the tender bits of beef. Eating was simply a distraction at this point. There was something electric in the air, and she knew it was only a matter of time. Why put off the inevitable? She could control her emotions. There was no reason they couldn’t be intimate, right?
    “Michael,” she said softly, “maybe just one time, to