Cruel Temptation: An Age Gap Romance (Cruel Beauty Trilogy Book 1)

by C Standing

  Just like that, the walls he’s spent the past two days knocking down, go straight back up.

  I feel like an absolute idiot.

  I believed him. I believed every goddamn word he said, and it was all a fucking lie.

  No bed buddy, my ass.

  The man who’s slowly crept his way into my heart is nothing but a dirty fucking liar.

  “River.” Rick flashes me that show stopping smile, and the urge to go over to him and Little Miss Big Boobs, and knee him where it hurts is so strong, I have to grip the door handle to stop myself.

  “Everything okay?” I didn’t even realize I was glaring until the smile on his face drops, and he sits forward, the concern on his face evident.

  Such a disappointment.

  “I’m sorry,” I grit my teeth. “Apparently I’ve interrupted something.” My eyes dart between him and his little treat, while my hand squeezes the door handle so hard, I’m surprised it hasn’t cracked.

  “What?” The corners of his eyes crinkle with confusion as he glances between me and Miss Big Boobs.

  “Excuse me.” I sneer, shooting daggers at the man I was considering giving a chance. “I’ll leave you to get back to your—” I pause for effect “—meeting.”

  Spinning around, I head out the door with a renewed determination to avoid the asshole behind me like the plague, but not before I hear him mutter, “fuck,” under his breath.

  Storming down the corridor, I notice the asshole from earlier leaning against a water dispenser, a shit-eating grin firmly in place. “I take it you found him?”

  Seriously? What is it about the men who work here? Is it in the job requirements to be jackasses?

  “Fuck off,” I mutter, shoving past him.

  Heavy footfalls sound from behind me. “River, stop.”

  “No thanks, I’m good.”

  A large hand wraps around my forearm, stopping me. “Wait, please.”

  Fuming, I look down at the hand gripping my arm. “Take your hand off me,” I snarl.

  “No.”

  “No?” I blink, perplexed by his blatant refusal. “What do you mean ‘no’? Remove your hand. Now.”

  He pierces me with his own glare. “Not until you tell me what was that about.”

  “I don’t have to tell you anything,” I hiss, trying to escape his grasp.

  “You do if you’re accusing me of something,” Rick retorts, his green eyes pinning me in place. “Are you accusing me of something, River?”

  When I don’t respond, he growls and pulls me into the nearest available room.

  I grind my teeth to keep myself from saying something I’ll regret. “Was everything you told me last night a lie?”

  “I don’t lie, sweetheart. I have no reason to.”

  I scoff. Yeah, right. I beg to differ. “You told me you didn’t have any bed buddies.”

  “And I don’t.” Rick stands firm.

  “No? Then who was she? Because you two looked mighty friendly.”

  A lopsided grin tilts his lips. “You’re jealous.”

  I let out a disparaging laugh. “You’re insane.”

  His stormy gaze collides with mine. “You’re full of bullshit.”

  My brows jump to my hairline in disbelief. “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me.” Rick prowls toward me, backing me up against the wall. “If you aren’t jealous, prove it.”

  My heart is pounding in my chest and my breathing becomes labored.

  This guy is insane if he thinks I’m falling for that. “I don’t have to prove anything,” I bite out, gasping when I feel the hard thickness of his cock through his slacks.

  Jesus Christ, he even feels huge.

  Large hands cage me in. “Prove. It.”

  The tips of our noses touch, our breaths mingle, and our chests heave as we stare at one another, almost as if we were silently daring each other to break first.

  It takes me a minute to process what he’s saying, but when I do, I snap. I’m not sure if it’s because of our explosive chemistry or if it’s because I just want to shut him up, but I grip his tie and yank him closer until our lips crash together.

  I attack his mouth like a woman possessed, biting and nibbling on his lips, and spearing my fingers through his hair.

  Fuck him and his self-righteous bullshit.

  Like a flipped switch, the miniscule control I had moves from me to him.

  On a guttural groan, Rick cups my cheeks and kisses me like he owns me. Taking my mouth with so much intensity and vigor, it rips the air from my lungs.

  “You’re fucking intoxicating.” He rolls his hips into mine, making me moan loudly. With a low grunt, he dips down, and in one fell swoop, lifts me into his arms. “Put your legs around me, baby.”

  In haste, I lock my legs around his waist, link my fingers at his nape, and kiss him harder. I feel the motion of him moving us, but I couldn’t tell you where. I’m too lost in the moment, in the feel of his lips on mine.

  Suddenly, I’m placed on a hard, wooden surface.

  Eyes cloudy with desire, Rick palms the side of my face and pulls back so he can map hot kisses down my neck. “You drive me fucking crazy.”

  Slanting my head to give him unlimited access to my neck, my eyes flutter to a close and I arch my back into his touch. “Stop fucking talking.”

  God, yes.

  Rick gives a hoarse chuckle. “I can’t wait to fuck that sass out of you.”

  You can try, buddy.

  Just as his hand moves to my breast, someone rattles the door handle.

  “Why the hell is my office locked?”

  My eyes spring open and the hazy fog of our desire quickly fades to nothing.

  Harsh reality of our predicament sets in.

  What the fuck am I doing? I only meant to prove a point, instead I’m laid out on a desk like some wanton hussy, ripe for the taking.

  Jesus Christ.

  Pressing a hand to his chest, I push him backward. “Stop.”

  Pulling back, his eyes are dark and hooded with arousal. “Everything okay?” Rick traces the pad of his finger along my lower lip.

  The act is so intimate and sensual, it boggles my mind.

  “No, everything is not okay.” Flustered, I jump down and quickly smooth down my hair and adjust my top.

  Concerned, Rick reaches for me. “River, talk to me, baby.” The tender tone of his voice, and the way he takes my hand and pulls me back to him, makes me weak at the knees, and I hate it.

  I hate it because not five minutes ago, I found him in his office with a stunning brunette.

  Why the hell would he pursue me when he can have her?

  “Point proved,” I say, heading toward the door.

  “The only thing you’ve proved is that you want me just as much as I want you.”

  I linger by the door, breathing hard and trying not to let his words affect me. “You’re wrong. Don’t you have a certain brunette waiting for you in your office?”

  I feel him before I hear him. “Melissa’s an employee, River.” His raspy voice makes my pussy clench with need as he anchors an arm around my waist. “Nothing more.” His lips drop to my neck.

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “Even if she wasn’t, she wouldn’t compare to you.” Rick’s hot breath sends a scattering of goosebumps across my skin.

  Biting down hard on my lip, I twist the knob and yank open the door. “I need to go.”

  Now.

  “Let me get you another drink,” Damon says as he makes his way over to the bar.

  I’d been sitting at the bar, drowning my sorrows, when he’d popped over to check if I was okay. Apparently, I look a little miserable.

  No surprises there then.

  I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that kiss, and not because it was the single hottest kiss of my life (sorry, Mali), but because I feel like I’ve made a difficult situation a hundred times worse.

  God, why did I have to kiss him?

 
I should’ve said good riddance and walked out without looking back.

  Why did he have to bait me?

  And why, oh why, did he have to rock my fucking world with one earth-shattering kiss.

  I idly swirl the remnants of my drink around the glass as I watch Damon at the bar.

  He’s a nice guy. Single dad from New Jersey, here for some kind of work seminar.

  Why can’t I feel the same sparks and passion with him as I do for Rick?

  When I look at Damon, all I feel is a kind fondness. The fondness you’d feel toward a friend. I can’t imagine myself kissing him the way I did Rick, and it pisses me the hell off.

  Suddenly, awareness prickles at my neck.

  He’s here.

  I can feel him.

  I know he’s close when I catch a whiff of his provocative cologne.

  What does the guy wear?

  Because whatever it is smells sexy as fuck on him.

  “Seriously? This guy?” Rick takes a seat on the chair Damon recently vacated.

  Blowing out a frustrated breath, I throw back the last of my drink.

  I’m going to need it to deal with him.

  “Do you have some kind of tracking device on me, or something?” How does he keep turning up wherever I am?

  Rick ignores my jibe. “What’s with the drinking companion?”

  “He’s nice.” I shrug, not wanting to explain myself to him. “And he doesn’t play games.”

  “We both know that nice doesn’t do it for you.”

  “You don’t know a damn thing about me.”

  “That’s a load of shit.” He leans an elbow on the table. “I know how your perfect beautiful body feels against mine. I know the sexy little moans you make when I kiss your neck. And I know how sweet and addictive those lips are.”

  Shaking my head, I roll my eyes. “You should go, he’ll be back in a minute.”

  “He can wait,” he growls refusing to budge. “You don’t get to walk out on me.”

  “Last I checked, you don’t own me so I can do whatever the hell I want.”

  “Look, I’m too old to play games, River. We both know who you want, and it certainly isn’t that jackass.”

  “You don’t need to insult him.” I take offense to that.

  “When you’ve stopped pretending that I’m not who you want, I’ll be in the penthouse.” Rick stands to leave. “Enjoy your drink.”

  Sometime later, I’m walking back through the hotel doors after a long stroll in Central Park. I needed to clear my head.

  As much as I hate to admit it, Rick was right; I don’t want Damon. There wasn’t even a split second when I thought I did.

  After Rick left, I’d politely told Damon that I appreciated his company, but I wasn’t interested in more. He took it like a gentleman and went on his way. I felt awful, because he seemed like such a genuine guy, but I can’t force myself to be attracted to someone I’m not.

  Not when all I can think about is the man waiting for me in his penthouse.

  There’s no point in denying this attracted between us any longer, and I’m done fighting it.

  So here I am, in the elevator, pressing the PH button, and finally grabbing the bull by the horns.

  After what feels like an eternity, the doors open and I step out on to the top floor.

  When I see the floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows showcasing the nighttime view of New York lit up, my breath catches in my throat.

  I could imagine waking up to this kind of scenery each morning. This is luxury at its finest.

  Walking down the white marble flooring, nerves start wreaking havoc in my stomach.

  My hands shake and my heart pounds almost painfully in my chest as I approach his door.

  I knock once, and less than a second later, almost as if he was waiting for me, it opens.

  Standing behind the door, still in his work clothes and looking too fucking sexy for words, is Rick. “I thought you weren’t coming.”

  I nibble on my lip. “I just needed a minute.”

  He steps aside and lets me in.

  Closing the door, he asks, “Where have you been? I left the bar hours ago.”

  I linger anxiously in his foyer, not knowing what do to do, now that I’m here. “I needed some air.” Gulping hard, I lick my lips. Here it goes. “Turns out you were right.”

  “I usually am, but about what?”

  I smirk at his arrogance.

  My blood is rushing so fast, I hear my pulse thumping in my ears. “He’s not who I want.”

  “No?” Rick walks over to the bar and pours himself a bourbon. “Who is?”

  My eyes are fixed on his as I say, “You.”

  Downing the drink in one gulp, his nostrils flare as the vein in his neck throbs. The hand gripping the tumbler twitches, like he’s aching to touch me—explore me.

  Trying to muster some of that sass I’ve been throwing his way for the past few days, I lay my purse and coat over the sideboard near the door and close the distance between us. “But it can only be a one-time thing.”

  Touch me, Rick.

  Adrenaline courses through me, boosting my confidence as I place one hand on his broad shoulder for leverage and weave the other through his short strands. “There’s nothing wrong with being attracted to someone, Rick.”

  He blows out a long, ragged breath. “It’s more than just attraction, River.”

  My eyes flick to his mouth, and I bite my lip wanting to kiss him, but not knowing how fast I should take this. “I want this,” I murmur, tentatively.

  Standing up on my tiptoes, I glide my hand along his stubble, watching enraptured as his eyes close at my touch. Weaving my fingers through his hair, I clutch his short strands tightly and tug. “I want you, Rick.” I trace my thumb along his lips. “It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this wanted. This... sexy. I want—” I pause for a brief second, digging down deep to find the courage to get these words out. “I want you, Rick.” I trail my thumb across his plump flesh, feeling him tremble under my touch.

  His pupils are as black as the night sky when they flash to mine. “You called me Rick.”

  A giggle bursts from my lips. “That’s what you took from all of that?”

  Rick’s large hands palm my cheeks. “Trust me, baby. I heard every word you said, and we’ll get to that in a second. But hearing you say my name?” He groans low and deep. “Sexiest sound I’ve ever heard.”

  I chuckle at his idiocy. “You’re a nut.”

  “So.” He swoops down and lifts me into his arms. “You like me, huh?” His lips caress mine.

  Wrapping my arms around his neck, I lock my legs around his waist, biting my lip to stifle a moan when I feel his excitement through his slacks.

  I scrunch up my nose as he takes us over to his couch. “Meh, you’re alright.”

  Cupping my ass, Rick’s chest moves on a silent chuckle as he lowers us into the cushion. “You’re so full of shit.”

  “I’d rather be full of you,” I purr, nuzzling my nose with his.

  Jaw flexed, Rick's eyes turn an almost charcoal color as he clears his throat. "You're something else, aren't you?"

  "I make no apologies for who I am," I respond, matter-of-factly. "I've never filtered anything I've said, and I don't intend to start with you."

  “I have no intention of censoring you, River. Believe me, I find the fact you aren’t afraid to challenge me or speak your mind insanely attractive. You hold yourself with confidence, and you don’t care what other people think; it’s incredibly refreshing.”

  “Some men find that intimidating.”

  Not many men like to be outshone or shut down by a woman. Fact.

  Sitting forward, he shifts us slightly and frames my face with his hand, making my stomach dip. “And they’re all chauvinistic pigs who don’t deserve to be in the presence of such an astounding woman.”

  My gaze lowers to his lips. “I’m going to need you to kiss me now.”

  “Trust me,
baby.” His lips skim across mine. “I plan on doing a whole lot more than that.”

  Leaning down, I take his lower lip between my teeth and bite. “Prove it.”

  Rick’s nostrils flare as his cock throbs between us. “Jesus fucking Christ.”

  My lips are sore from how long we’ve spent making out and dry humping on this couch, but I don’t care. I don’t ever want to stop.

  “Baby...” he growls a warning against my lips, but I don’t listen. I want this. I want him.

  Like a feral cat in heat, I rub myself against him, pressing my breasts flush to his chest, and slowly, teasingly rolling my hips.

  “Fuck,” he groans, curling his fingers around my hip, and brings me further against him.

  His eyes are hazy and heavy-lidded.

  I leisurely roll my hips in time with his. “Rick,” I moan, as he lifts his ass off the couch, deliberately rubbing every long and rigid inch of him along my wet pussy, generating an unbearably delicious friction.

  “Oh God,” I whimper, dropping my head into the crook of his neck.

  “You’re going to be the fucking death of me, aren’t you?” he growls, kissing and biting down the curve of my shoulder.

  Too lost in the blissful attention he’s lavishing upon my body, my eyes drift to a soft close, and I murmur a husky, “Rick...”

  I’m dying to feel his hands on me.

  To feel him tease and caress my aching breasts.

  “Touch me,” I murmur, wantonly.

  Dark and stormy eyes find mine. “Be sure about this, River. Because once you give me a taste, I’ll be fucking addicted.”

  Seizing the moment, I dip down and brush my lips across the exposed part of his collarbone, reveling in the grunt of appreciation I get in return.

  Taking his hand, I place it over my breast. “Touch me.”

  Groaning, he trails his free hand to cup my ass, gripping me firmly. “I’m not like normal men, River.”

  Moving against him, I trail my tongue up the slope of his neck and over his jaw until I reach the shell of his ear. “Normal is overrated.”

  Our eyes meet, and my breathing becomes a little heavier.

  Taking the swell of my cheek in his hand, he rasps, “I need you to be sure, baby.”