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Only I was smart enough to know they didn’t exist.
And Savage was certainly no Prince Charming.
* * *
It was barely light outside, the office completely empty, which suited me just fine. I’d left his house before either one of them had awakened, refusing to upset Lily more than she already was. Her heartache was raw, but she had no sense of how to deal with it. I sensed Savage was the same way, but even worse, he wasn’t handling his anger well at all.
The air was stagnant outside, the temperatures expected to hit one hundred five later in the day. When I’d entered my tiny residence, I’d felt more suffocated than usual. Even taking a cold shower hadn’t helped. I hadn’t been able to get him out of my mind.
The hot sex.
The intensity of our need.
The way I felt languishing in his arms.
I shuddered and sat down at my computer. At least I had an hour of quiet time before everyone else arrived. Maybe I could find something that would ease Savage’s mind.
Or maybe what you dig up will destroy him.
Yeah, there was that, but he could certainly take care of himself. I waited as the computer fired up, closing my eyes and envisioning the time we’d shared the night before. He’d been so… rough as promised.
I shifted in my seat, still able to feel the effects of the spanking he’d given me, the discomfort showering me with dozens of different sensations. I’d never get over the feeling of shock from not only accepting his domination but also staying wet the entire time. I had to stop thinking about this. There was far too much to learn.
As soon as I opened my eyes, my body shuddered all over again. Savage was standing in the middle of my office. “What are you doing here?” I asked as I allowed my gaze to fall to the cowboy boots he was sporting this morning. “Where’s Lily? You didn’t leave her alone, did you? That’s not the way you handle little girls.” As I was jabbering away, he slowly walked inside, closing and locking the door behind him. Even worse, he had what looked like a ruler in his hand. Had he found one in a drawer somewhere?
Why did the sight of him make me nervous? That was easy to answer. Because of the sly look on his face. And why wasn’t he saying anything?
Uh-oh. He locked the door. I didn’t think this was a professional meeting.
“Here you go again. First of all, sunshine, this is the business I now own. I think that’s been duly established.” He walked closer. “Second, I’d never leave Lily alone but I really don’t want to bring her to the office right now. She had an established babysitter and I’d arranged to have her take Lily to preschool since I’m clueless about it.” He closed the distance, the same mischievous grin on his face.
I could tell he wasn’t finished talking. “Is there a third?”
“Good question.” He moved around the edge of the desk so slowly that I couldn’t help myself backing against the window. The expression on his face was carnal, as if he would eat me alive. Chuckling, he crowded my space, the scent of whatever incredible aftershave he’d selected making me lightheaded, which wasn’t good so early in the morning.
“I’m waiting.”
“You seem to think you’re in charge here, Harlow.” The man knew exactly how to turn me on. When he curled his fingers, brushing them across my jaw, tiny prickles started at the base of my neck, creeping ever so slowly down my arms and legs.
“Maybe just a tiny bit.”
“Not now. Not ever.” He rubbed his hand back and forth, the touch like the kiss of a soft petal. He was so close I should feel suffocated.
“Because of our deal?”
“Because that’s the way it is between us. I suggest you get it through your pretty little head.” He breathed across my cheek, a slight growl erupting from deep within his chest.
My panties were damp, on the way to becoming soaked. He had a way about him that kept me on an edge I never expected to be, desire affecting my ability to think rationally. This was another bad idea in a string of them, but I couldn’t get him out of my mind let alone push him way. He’d stripped all my resolve, which made no sense. None. But what did I care? This beautiful man had become a drug I couldn’t seem to get enough of.
To hell with my conscience.
“And if I don’t?”
He laughed as he gripped my chin with his thumb and forefinger, lifting his head while simultaneously lifting his other arm. When he twisted the ruler back and forth, I tried to snatch it from his hand.
“Oh, no, you don’t. We made a deal less than twenty-four hours ago and you already broke it.” His voice was even huskier this morning, as if he’d yet to have his first cup of java.
The crazy girl inside of me envisioned what it would be like to wake up next to him. “How did I break the deal? I was trying to be a good employee. You know, the early bird gets the worm?”
