"My sweet Maya," Stan murmured, brushing his thumb tenderly across her flushed cheek. "I told you I'd convince you."
She blinked, the lingering warmth of his mouth still tingling on hers, as the realization sank in: she had just agreed to let him invest in the company she had deliberately structured to keep him out.
Her lips formed another adorable pout. "That was a trick, Stan."
"That was negotiation," he replied, voice rich with affection.
"You kissed me into agreeing."
"You agreed," he said softly, eyes sparkling with amusement and something far deeper.
"Under duress."
"Under the most pleasant circumstances imaginable." He leaned in again, pressing a feather-light kiss to the corner of her mouth, then another to her temple. "And you liked it."
