Mr. Black's Proposal (Part One: A Billionaire Erotic Romance) by Aubrey Dark Read Free Book Online

guy next door.” He looked harmless, even boyish. Behind that innocent exterior, though, I knew that he was a devil. Every part of my brain screamed in warning: this guy is going to hurt you .
    Well, he couldn’t hurt me if I didn’t let him in.
    His hand pressed against my lower back as he escorted me through the door to his apartment. I wasn’t even able to look around, though, before I was attacked by the most adorable yellow lab that I’d ever seen. It jumped up and put both paws on my shoulders. I tried to fend him off with my clipboard, but it was impossible to be truly mad at that level of cuteness.
    “Ahh!” I cringed as the lab licked all over my chin. Lucas only smiled.
    “Oh, that’s Otis. Looks like he likes you.”
    “Good boy,” I said, patting Otis on the head. He jumped down and turned to Lucas, nuzzling his hand to get a scratch behind the ears. His tail thumped me solidly on the knees.
    “He’s not normally this friendly,” Lucas said. “He must know you’re a sweet girl.”
    “Right,” I said, using a heavy coat of sarcasm to mask my excitement at the compliment. I stared down at my blank clipboard like it would protect me from any unprofessional behavior. “Alright, so this is the place?”
    “Let me show you around,” Lucas said.
    He took me through his apartment. I couldn’t hide my amazement at the place. It was like stepping into a movie set. Everything was sleek and modern, exquisitely designed. The floor was wall-to-wall white carpet, and the furniture was all custom black leather. One wall was all windows, and the sun was just beginning to set behind the NYC skyline.
    “What do you think?” he asked.
    I could tell that he was used to showing off his place. I smiled politely.
    “It looks nice.”
    “Nice? Come on.”
    “Come on?”
    “What’s do you think? Besides nice?”
    Well, if he was going to push me…
    “It’s like a very… expensive, very modern bachelor pad,” I said.
    “Bachelor pad?” He looked offended.
    “I only mean that it’s all very… simple. Elegant. There’s not a lot of personal touch. You know? There’s not a lot of you in here.”
    “Well, no. I hired a designer,” Lucas said, frowning.
    “It looks beautiful,” I said. “But it could be anyone’s beautiful apartment. What makes it yours?”
    There’s no personality. I couldn’t say it out loud, but that’s what I was thinking.
    “What makes it mine? I paid for it.”
    “Never mind,” I said, not wanting to start an argument. “It’s perfect for a party. Will I be able to stage the cupcakes in the kitchen before bringing them out?”
    “Sure. I’m planning on starting out in the living room, then moving to another room for cocktails after the cupcakes.”
    “Wonderful,” I said, trying to stay in business mode. “One more thing.”
    “What is it?”
    I licked my lips, uncertain how to start.
    “Okay, so, I heard from Lacey that Jake’s birthday party was a little bit… crazy.”
    “Crazy?” Lucas smiled. God, that smile could melt steel. I looked away to the living room, focusing my attention on the white carpet, the ebony end tables. Anything, anything but those gorgeous blue eyes.
    “Just to let you know, I’m not going to wear anything… risqué.”
    “Risqué? Like what?”
    “Like, I’m not wearing a sexy silver space vixen get up for your party. No nipple tassels, no collars, nothing like that.”
    He raised his eyebrows.
    “This is a retirement party for my mom. Sixty year old women, tea and cupcakes. It’s not going to be exactly sexy.”
    I could feel my face turning bright red.
    “Oh,” I said. “Um. Okay. Never mind what I said.”
    “Could I see you in the sexy space vixen get up, though?” he asked. “Just, you know, for research purposes?”
    “Uh. No.”
    “I might have a space-themed party sometime later this year.”
    “Then you can get in contact with me then,” I said prissily, holding up my clipboard like a true