“That really depends…if you seriously prefer the movie, it’s a dealbreaker.”

He laughed. “No lies between us, right? I promise Colin is my Darcy forever and ever.”

I huffed a laugh, but said, “We’ve both got a lot on the line, so it has to go to plan. You can be taught. Can we pretend to like each other long enough to convince people we’re together?”

He tucked a loose piece of hair behind my ear, and for a moment, simply looked into my eyes.

I spent my entire life reading people, trying to understand them, but he was an absolute mystery to me. What did he see through those eyes? A sex worker to be hired and discarded? Just another woman who was attracted to him?

I couldn’t read him, but I saw the instant he made up his mind. He was going to kiss me, rules be damned. He started to lean closer, hesitating to silently ask permission.

And I knew just as clearly that I wasn’t going to stop him. Later, I could’ve tried to tell myself it all happened too fast, but the raw truth was that I wanted him so badly I didn’t care about the consequences.

I was the one who closed the infinitesimal gap to bring our lips together.

He kissed me gently at first, a tender brush of his lips against mine, followed by a deeper kiss, self-assured and sensual. He was even a smug bastard when he kissed.

I gently nipped his bottom lip with my teeth, pulling him closer as our tongues sought each other in a frenzy of lust that had been building the whole time we were dancing. He deftly pushed me backwards until I met the wall, then he weaved his fingers through mine, bringing both my hands above my head and pinning them there, making me arch into him. His lips slanted over mine, covering my breathless moan.

He broke the kiss and pulled back a little, leaving me panting and practically ready to beg him to keep going. I whimpered and leaned forward, but the rumble of his voice stopped me short.

“Do you break the rules with all of your clients, Elena?”

I looked up at him in surprise. His tone was light, but his eyes were searching, like he was trying to figure out what game I was playing. I wished I was in control enough to be playing a game.

I was mortified. In five years, I had literally never broken the rules with a single client, but to voice that denial would only sound defensive.

Jesus Christ, I’d kissed a fucking client. And it was no controlled lip lock for the sake of the cameras. I could hear that pathetic whimpering sound I’d made echoing in my mind. Did he think I was willing to bend the rules because he was Alex Chase? Why was I willing to bend the rules? My cheeks were burning and I shook my head in frustration with myself.