“Yet what?” Sophie asked. His hesitation chased away any attempt to stay businesslike. Besides, he’d already veered so far away from businesslike that it seemed unlikely to worry him.

He cocked his head to one side. ‘How can I put this delicately?” He licked his lips. “You look too… innocent.”

Sophie shook her head. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

He threw his hands out to the sides. “This is the sex industry. Sophie. You’d be a long way from typing up building quotes here. One day you might be working on a report comparing sex toys. The next you might be ordering new cages for one of the clubs. I need someone who can do all of that without turning a hair.” Sophie knew that the telltale colour was back in her cheeks. “Someone who won’t blush at the mere mention of a vibrator,” he added, to illustrate his point.

“I can do all that,” Sophie insisted, feeling far from certain that she could.

Lucien gave her an assessing look and opened the desk drawer.

He placed an object down on the desk between them. “What’s that?” he asked. Sophie looked down and felt heat slap her cheeks again.

“Mr. Knight…” He raised an eyebrow. “Lucien… I…”

“You what, Sophie? You don’t know what it is, or you’re too prudish to say it?” He picked up the blue jelly silicone ring and held it out to her. Sophie looked at him, and his eyes told her that this was the acid test. Fail it, and she was out the door. She took it from him, and swallowed hard at the feel of the small, stretchy ring in her hands. She looked him squarely in the eye.

“Fine. It’s a cock ring.”

“Good girl,” he grinned. “And what does it do?”

Sophie swallowed again and looked down. She had no intimate knowledge to draw on here.

“It… umm…”

“Wrong answer, Sophie.” He frowned. “Try again.”

Sophie squirmed in her chair. “I’m not totally sure, but I think it would probably make a man last longer?”

Lucien’s mouth twisted to the side. “Not totally sure, huh? Am I to draw from that that you have no direct experience of sex toys?”

“Mr. Knight...” Sophie gasped. “I really don’t think that’s an appropriate question for any job interview.” She bristled, partly with indignation and partly because he was bang on the money.

“Maybe not, but you don’t want this job if you’re in any way prudish.”

“I am not prudish. For God’s sake, I’m no blushing virgin, I’m a married woman.”

For a second, Lucien looked genuinely taken aback and his eyes flickered to her left hand. “You’re married?”

“Is that against the law in this industry too?”

“No, no.” His whole demeanour had changed unreadably. “Tell me, what does your husband think of you applying for this job?”

Sophie faltered and her gaze slid away from his. “He’s fine with it.”

Lucien let out a low whistle. “He doesn’t know, does he?”

“Yes. Sort of.” She glanced down at her wedding ring. “He knows I have an interview, just not what it’s for, exactly.”

“And would he mind, do you think? I’d mind if you were my wife.” Lucien’s blue eyes locked on Sophie’s as his words did thrilling things to her insides. If only Dan were as territorial.

“He won’t mind,” she said quietly. “He’s pretty busy with his own work. If I’m happy, I’m sure he’ll be happy.”

“And are you happy, Sophie?”

She wasn’t sure what he meant by the question, and it unnerved her. Were her marital problems written all over her face? Or was he simply asking if his abrasive, unique interview style bothered her? Either way, there was only one possible acceptable reply.

“Yes, I think I am.”

Lucien nodded and drummed his fingers on the desk.

“Good.” His smile didn’t quite touch his eyes. “Thanks for coming in, Sophie. I’ll be in touch.” He pushed his chair backwards.

Sophie stared at him, surprised. That was it? He’d finished?

She got the distinct feeling that he’d decided she was a bad bet, and because it was unlikely she would ever see him again, she threw caution to the wind.

“You’ve decided I’m unsuitable.”

He leaned back in his chair with a frank expression on his face. “I don’t think this job is for you.” He shrugged. “You’re too vanilla.”

“Vanilla?” She couldn’t keep the note of frustration from her voice. “What does that even mean?”

He shook his head with a small laugh. “Exactly.” He leaned forward and sighed. “Look, Sophie. You seem like a nice girl. But I don’t need a nice girl for this job. I need someone free of inhibitions. Someone who knows their dildos from their anal beads. Someone who won’t stumble like a schoolgirl if they need to say a rude word.”

Sophie squared her shoulders. “You underestimate me, Lucien. I could do this job. I’m damn good, and I’m a fast learner.” She held his blue gaze and willed him to believe her. It had suddenly become crucial to her that he didn’t write her off as a prude, because it endorsed all of her negative feelings about her relationship with Dan. Was she really the little mouse they both seemed to take her for?

“Okay.” Lucien folded his arms across his chest, and Sophie’s eyes were drawn to the way his shirt defined his biceps.

“Say clitoris, Sophie.”

Sophie’s mouth fell open in shock. Hearing Lucien Knight unexpectedly say the word clitoris made the bottom drop out of her stomach. No way was she going to say it back just to amuse him.

“Well, that’s certainly a question that didn’t feature on any of the job websites I studied,” she quipped to cover her embarrassment.

“You’re right.” He nodded in acceptance and worked the knot on his tie open. Was he hot? She was definitely feeling the heat in here. He tapped his pen on the desk. “Fair enough, don’t say clitoris.” She sighed with relief.  “Say masturbation instead.”

Sophie couldn’t take anymore. Lucien Knight was too much. Too sexual, too arrogant, too male. Even though he was fully clothed, sex oozed from every pore of the man in a way Sophie had never encountered before. He made her think of Viking warriors, and right now she felt like a damsel in serious distress. Lucien Knight was right. She wasn’t equipped for the candid conversations he required. She couldn’t be as brazen as he needed her to be. She got to her feet.