Read Online Hidden Agenda by Rochelle Alers - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rochelle Alers
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you want a puppet.”
Moving closer, he lowered his head, their noses only inches apart. “I want you to be
anything
I ask you to be. I’ll take an obedient, affectionate, and passionate fiancée for starters.” He noted the narrowing of her eyes and knew she wasn’t going to concede without an argument.
“You forget that I’m the one who’s been married. I know how to play the game, Matt, and that means I’m much more experienced when it comes to making concessions. It can’t be all your way,” she argued.
Matt straightened, his smile becoming a wide grin. “You’ll be given the opportunity to ‘play the game,’ as you say, later tonight. A business associate has invited me to his home to celebrate his daughter’s acceptance into Spain’s most prestigious school of classical dance. The timing couldn’t be more perfect to introduce my friends to
mi novia
.”
Eve’s delicate jaw tightened in frustration. She didn’t want to attend a party; she wanted to find her child.
“I can’t go anywhere looking like this,” she snapped, refusing to relent, and glaring challengingly at Matt.
Crossing his arms over his chest, he stared back at her. “What do you need?”
She noted his tender expression, the total absence of gold in his luminous eyes, and for the first time she realized his eyes reflected his mercurial moods; she preferred the deep jade-green to the fiery amber sparks.
“I usually have my hair and nails done before a social event.”
“You
will
have your hair and nails done,” he stated with quiet finality. Turning, he made his way along the corridor to the private elevator, leaving Eve rushing to catch up with his long strides.
She preceded him into the elevator, averting her gaze. She knew very little about Matthew Sterling, but she’d discovered that he wasn’t as unaffected by her presence as he pretended. What his lips did not say, his eyes did. They told her he enjoyed the roles they’d opted to play. They also missed nothing. She was certain he could recall every dress, formal gown, and shoe she had tried on.
“What do you want me to wear tonight?” she queried, deciding to test his memory.
His eyebrows inched up in surprise. “You want me to decide for you?”
Biting down on her lower lip, she concealed an emerging smile. “These people are your friends, Matt. I don’t want to embarrass you.”
Matt studied her for a moment and they exchanged subtle looks of amusement. First she lashed him with the whip she called her tongue. Then she purred like a satisfied kitten.
“I’d like you to wear the burgundy dress.”
Eve was pleased. It would’ve been her choice. “Thank you for the suggestion.”
“You’re very welcome,
Preciosa
.” They shared a smile, he shaking his head. He knew the time he would spend with Eve would never be boring. However, what he didn’t want to do was become too comfortable with her; he didn’t want to miss her once they parted.
The elevator doors opened to Matt’s suite and Eve followed him into the air-cooled space. Wrapping her arms around her body, she shivered noticeably.
“You’d better get out of those wet clothes,” he suggested, hanging his own soggy jacket on the back of a chair in the dining area. “Use the bathroom in the bedroom. You’ll find a bathrobe on a shelf that will fit you.”
She walked to the far end of the suite and into his bedroom. Her gaze swept over the neatly made king-sized mahogany bed, large masculine dresser, and matching armoire. She barely remembered the pearl gray and white color scheme of the wall-to-wall drapes and bed dressing by the time she stepped into thebathroom. The entire space was covered with smokey gray mirrors. Even the ceiling was mirrored!
She slipped out of her shoes, slacks, and blouse. Every time she shifted she caught a glimpse of her naked upper body.
“Hedonist,” she whispered. Whoever had designed the bathroom had to have been a hedonist.
Glass shelves cradled
Moving closer, he lowered his head, their noses only inches apart. “I want you to be
anything
I ask you to be. I’ll take an obedient, affectionate, and passionate fiancée for starters.” He noted the narrowing of her eyes and knew she wasn’t going to concede without an argument.
“You forget that I’m the one who’s been married. I know how to play the game, Matt, and that means I’m much more experienced when it comes to making concessions. It can’t be all your way,” she argued.
Matt straightened, his smile becoming a wide grin. “You’ll be given the opportunity to ‘play the game,’ as you say, later tonight. A business associate has invited me to his home to celebrate his daughter’s acceptance into Spain’s most prestigious school of classical dance. The timing couldn’t be more perfect to introduce my friends to
mi novia
.”
Eve’s delicate jaw tightened in frustration. She didn’t want to attend a party; she wanted to find her child.
“I can’t go anywhere looking like this,” she snapped, refusing to relent, and glaring challengingly at Matt.
Crossing his arms over his chest, he stared back at her. “What do you need?”
She noted his tender expression, the total absence of gold in his luminous eyes, and for the first time she realized his eyes reflected his mercurial moods; she preferred the deep jade-green to the fiery amber sparks.
“I usually have my hair and nails done before a social event.”
“You
will
have your hair and nails done,” he stated with quiet finality. Turning, he made his way along the corridor to the private elevator, leaving Eve rushing to catch up with his long strides.
She preceded him into the elevator, averting her gaze. She knew very little about Matthew Sterling, but she’d discovered that he wasn’t as unaffected by her presence as he pretended. What his lips did not say, his eyes did. They told her he enjoyed the roles they’d opted to play. They also missed nothing. She was certain he could recall every dress, formal gown, and shoe she had tried on.
“What do you want me to wear tonight?” she queried, deciding to test his memory.
His eyebrows inched up in surprise. “You want me to decide for you?”
Biting down on her lower lip, she concealed an emerging smile. “These people are your friends, Matt. I don’t want to embarrass you.”
Matt studied her for a moment and they exchanged subtle looks of amusement. First she lashed him with the whip she called her tongue. Then she purred like a satisfied kitten.
“I’d like you to wear the burgundy dress.”
Eve was pleased. It would’ve been her choice. “Thank you for the suggestion.”
“You’re very welcome,
Preciosa
.” They shared a smile, he shaking his head. He knew the time he would spend with Eve would never be boring. However, what he didn’t want to do was become too comfortable with her; he didn’t want to miss her once they parted.
The elevator doors opened to Matt’s suite and Eve followed him into the air-cooled space. Wrapping her arms around her body, she shivered noticeably.
“You’d better get out of those wet clothes,” he suggested, hanging his own soggy jacket on the back of a chair in the dining area. “Use the bathroom in the bedroom. You’ll find a bathrobe on a shelf that will fit you.”
She walked to the far end of the suite and into his bedroom. Her gaze swept over the neatly made king-sized mahogany bed, large masculine dresser, and matching armoire. She barely remembered the pearl gray and white color scheme of the wall-to-wall drapes and bed dressing by the time she stepped into thebathroom. The entire space was covered with smokey gray mirrors. Even the ceiling was mirrored!
She slipped out of her shoes, slacks, and blouse. Every time she shifted she caught a glimpse of her naked upper body.
“Hedonist,” she whispered. Whoever had designed the bathroom had to have been a hedonist.
Glass shelves cradled
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