How Not to Be Seduced by Billionaires by Marian Tee Read Free Book Online

of my meatballs.
    When I opened my eyes, Constantijin was seated across me, a familiar wicked grin playing on his lips, a glass of water in one hand. He was dressed in another pinstriped suit, charcoal gray this time, and one that also defined the broadness of his shoulders. His pale blue shirt underneath was partially unbuttoned, revealing a glimpse of his chest – the very same chest I was able to---
    Aghast at where my thoughts were heading, I hissed, “You shouldn’t be here!” Then I remembered where we were and who I was talking to and I added reluctantly, “sir.”
                He laughed when he saw me looking around nervously. I couldn’t help it. I didn’t want anyone to know – see – I was talking to him, much less sharing a table with him. It smacked of inappropriateness, the kind that could either get me fired or talked about in sly and hushed tones. Luckily – or unluckily, I couldn’t really decide at the moment – no one was around and even the giggling interns were nowhere in sight.
                Settling his glass down on the table, he said, “You certainly took your time coming here.”
                My eyes widened. He had been waiting for me?
                When I didn’t answer, a wry crooked grin touched his lips. “Do you do that deliberately?”
                Frowning in confusion, I asked, “Do what?”
                “Drive me crazy with your silence. You don’t talk when most women would and you talk when I expect you not to.”
                When I didn’t say anything, he sighed, “And you’re doing it again.”
                Biting my lip, I confessed, “I’m not doing it deliberately. I just don’t know what to say when I’m around you.” It was true. I liked talking – a lot. But when Constantijin was around, I couldn’t help getting tongue-tied, couldn’t help being on my guard either because with just that first time we had met, he had so easily shown me how utterly weak my body was in his presence.
                He leaned close, so suddenly I almost jumped in my seat like a frightened rabbit. “What?” I asked almost defensively.
                “Why did you run?”
                I blurted out, “Why didn’t you run after me?” As soon as the words were out, I cursed myself nonstop. Shit. Idiot. Dummy. Why did I have to give myself away like that?
                Incredulity shone in Constantijin’s eyes, and I gazed back at him challengingly, warily. I tensed when he started to speak.
                “Because I don’t.” His answer shouldn’t have surprised me but it did, his voice implacably hard when he spoke those three little words.
                “I want you, Yanna.”
                Still more than a little hurt at his rejection – because that was how it felt to me – I said stiffly, “Well, you can’t have me.”
                His voice became seductive. “You and I both know that’s a lie. But I don’t want to force you. I want you to come to me willingly and I’ll do whatever---”
                Unable to bear hearing more because I knew they were all true, I cut him off desperately. “Constantijin---”
                “I love it when you say my name,” he breathed.
                I love it when you say mine, too , I thought sadly. Too much so, and that was the problem.
                I gazed at him, this time not bothering to hide the plea in my eyes. “I’m not in your league, Constantijin. I don’t do one-night stands. I don’t do affairs. I’m just…not like you,” I ended helplessly.
                “I know what you’re saying, schat, ” he answered, and the way his eyes burned through me made me swallow. Oh God. His eyes told me that right now he was hard – had been from the start. For me.