Chapter 1

“9 am. Don’t be late.”

I grin at my phone when I see the text message appear.

“What’s going to happen if I am? Are you going to punish me?”

“I just might.”

“Can’t you get in trouble for texting your new employee that way?”

“I’m the boss, no one gets me in trouble.”

“You better watch out, boss man, cuz there’s a new sheriff in town.”

“LOL. Bring it… at 9am tomorrow.” The grin on my face spreads even wider.

“I’ll be there.”

I can feel my smile stretching from ear to ear as I set the phone on the bar. I take another sip of the Scotch sitting in front of me. Immediately I’m cringing as the amber liquid burns its way down my throat. I sputter a little, but at least this time I’m able to hold back my cough. I’m not sure what Daddy ever saw in the stuff, but it was his favorite.

My phone buzzes again.

“And wear something nice. I have a surprise.”

My brow furrows as I text, “What kind of surprise?”

“It’s something you’re going to enjoy.”

“I enjoy a lot of things.”

“This is something you’ve never done before.”

“You’re going to be my first?” I can’t help but tease him.

“We both know I won’t be your first. ;)”

“What is it?!”

“You’ll see. Don’t be late.”

I bite my lip as I respond, “I can’t wait.”

Declan Cross.

My father’s protégé and my soon-to-be new boss. He likes to think of himself as some kind of corporate hotshot Sex God who spends his days making deals in the boardroom and his nights with whatever strumpet is the flavor of the week. But really he’s more like the big brother I never had.

Though I don’t think big brothers are supposed to be that sexy and flirty.

We’d always had a very playful relationship, even if he was nearly ten years older than me. Ten years had seemed like a lifetime when I was in high school, but now that I had finished college it isn’t all that bad. He’s always been the kind of guy who put his career first, who never wanted to settle down because there was always something bigger and better on the horizon. I had lost count of the number of girls I’d seen draped on his arm a long time ago. But I never judged him for the way he acted. That’s just who he is.

He is fun to flirt with, probably because he is good at it. Really good at it. But we never let things go too far between us. Especially not after my dad got sick and passed away just before I graduated high school. His death had been unexpected, and I had been a complete wreck. Declan hadn’t hesitated to jump in and assume the role of the big brother I never had. I didn’t know it at the time, but he had been the knight in shining armor that every little girl dreams will come rescue her.

Despite the fact that I had already accepted a full ride scholarship to Harvard, I know I never would have made it to Cambridge if Declan hadn’t been there to get me through. He’d really been there for me when I needed anything, even if it was a kick in the ass to jumpstart my life again. I’d done my four years in Harvard’s business school, determined to make something of my life, determined to do something that would have made my father proud.

And now, here I am. Back home in New York City. Ready to pick up right where Daddy left off. Ready to really start my life. Ready to take on the world.

I stare at the glass tumbler sitting in front of me. It’s my own little celebration before starting my new job at the Barnes Media Group, the very same company my father started when I was just a baby.

I raise the glass and give it a long look, the melting ice shifts around inside as I do.

“Here’s to you, Daddy,” I say. And I drink the rest of what’s left. This time I cough a little as I set the glass back on the bar.

I don’t make a habit of going out to bars and drinking alone. But tonight is special because it’s the last night before starting my new job. Unfortunately I only know a grand total of two people in New York City, and both of them are busy tonight. Declan is stuck at work, and my roommate Tawny is pulling one of her night shifts at the hospital. I wasn’t about to let that get me down, though, so I decided to treat myself to a few drinks.

I’m still sitting there, tracing my finger around the rim of the glass and thinking about how my new life in the city is going to be when a guy slides onto the stool next to me. I let out a soft groan and force myself not to make eye contact with him. He could have sat anywhere in the whole bar, but he decided to sit right next to me. I already know there’s only one thing on his mind, and it’s not what I’m looking for.

“Looks like I’m in time for the show.” His voice is thick and deep, and he has a British accent that catches me completely off guard.

“What show might that be?” I ask, levelly. My eyes are still fixed on the empty glass in front of me, not wanting to give him any reason to stick around.

“A pretty girl like you sitting here alone, of course. I bet there’s going to be a line of guys trying to get your number.” He pauses for a second, then adds, “I’m going to enjoy watching you turn them all down.”

My brow furrows. A line of guys? I’ve never had a line of guys asking for my number. Ever. I’m just wearing a simple black dress and my makeup is half-assed. I’m here to have a pleasant little evening, not to find someone to take home with me.

But that accent… There’s no harm in having a little fun. I’ll play along.

I finally look up at him, and my breath hitches in my chest. He’s one of the hottest guys I’ve ever seen. No. He is the hottest guy I’ve ever seen. I mean, he’s no Gerard Butler, but I haven’t had the chance to meet Gerard Butler… yet. But this guy will do for now.

His hair is brown, but tinged to a near blond at the tips, somehow matching his deeply tanned skin. It’s tousled and disheveled in such a way that lets me know it’s on purpose. The thin shadow of a beard wrapping its way around his tight jawline might make him look scruffy if it isn’t for that little smirk on his lips, and those sharp gray eyes that are locked onto me. They’re like two bright orbs glowing out from his dark features. His soft, white collared shirt is unbuttoned at the top, and he has a thin, black leather jacket outlining his hunky, rugged frame.

And as if his delicious British accent isn’t enough to get me in trouble by itself, the corners of his lips are just barely turned up. Like he’s got a secret he wants to share with me. Like there’s something special he knows that nobody else does. It’s deviously mysterious. And it instantly drives me wild.

Hello, Trouble.

Chapter 2

I swallow. I need to get a hold of myself.

“And what makes you so sure I’m going to turn them down?” I manage, trying to play it cool.

Those shining gray eyes of his size me up.

“You don’t look like the kind of girl that settles for second best.” He lets the words linger for a moment. Then adds, “And I haven’t asked you out yet.”

Gulp.

“You’re awfully sure of yourself, aren’t you?”

He keeps giving me that brooding look for a few more beats. That thin, little upward turn to the corner of his lips has my heart racing a million miles a second.

“What are you drinking?” He tilts his head toward the glass in front of me.

“Scotch,” I say. “But I don’t really think it’s my thing.”

His brow rises in surprise. “Impressive. Scotch isn’t for the faint of heart. Perhaps you’ll be more of a challenge than I was expecting.”

I give him a secretive smile. “I’m full of surprises.”

“Not too full, I hope.” He leans in just a bit closer. His presence seems to grow until everything else around us fades away. “I hope there’s room to fill you up just a little bit more.”

I nibble at the edge of my lip as heat that has absolutely nothing to do with the Scotch spreads across my forehead.

“I guess that depends on what you have in mind,” I manage, my voice coming out lower than I intend.

The corners of his lips curl up just a bit further as he holds my attention. I can only imagine the devious thoughts running through his head. If they’re anything like the thoughts running through mine then I’m in for a world of trouble. And possibly a little fun, too.

“I have in mind what every guy has in mind…” he says, slowly. His eyes dip down to my lips before looking back up. I can already feel warmth and wetness spreading into the deeper, darker parts of me. “…beer.”

I give him a puzzled look. “Beer?”

His confident smirk spreads into an amused smile as he signals the bartender.

“I love beer,” he says to me, after the bartender takes his order. “Every man should love beer. But not that weak shit from those cheeky commercials—you need a beer with strength and character.”

The bartender returns with two pilsner glasses and fills them from two bottles with a label I’ve never seen before. When he sets one in front of me I’m amazed at how dark the beer is.

“I’ve never been much of a beer drinker,” I admit, giving him a dubious look.

“That’s probably because you’ve never had good beer.” He leans a little closer again, his voice lowering. “You can have all the cheap shit you want in the world and never be satisfied. It takes something special to really hit the spot.”

I lose myself in his eyes. It’s as though I can actually feel them pulling me into him, like a tractor beam.

He hands me the glass of beer and then raises his own.

“To the start of something special.”

I can’t help but smile when we clink our glasses together. The beer doesn’t taste like anything I’m used to. Not that I drank a lot when I was in Cambridge, I was mostly focused on getting good grades, but I still went to my fair share of parties. Compared to the Scotch, the beer goes down smooth and has a sweet aftertaste.

“It tastes like chocolate,” I say.

His grin widens. “It’s a double chocolate stout. A delicious treat for a delicious girl.”

I can feel myself blushing as I take another drink. The beer is heavier than I’m used to, and it doesn’t take long before I begin feeling its thickness spread throughout my body.

“I’ve never seen you around here,” he says.

“Do you know everyone that comes here?”

“I’d never forget a face as beautiful as yours.”

“Does that line work on all the ladies?”

“This is the first time I’ve tried it. I’ll have to let you know tomorrow.”

My grin spreads even wider, despite my efforts to keep it in check. I’m not looking to get into anything, but he’s very charming, and he’s sexy as hell.

“I just moved back to the city a few days ago.”

“With your boyfriend, I presume?” he asks, taking another drink of his beer.

“You’re quite a smooth talker, aren’t you?”

He gives me a look. “Why? Is it working?”

I give him a playful shrug of my shoulders. “You could be doing a lot worse.”

“I’ll take it!” he announces, raising his glass before taking another pull from it. “But you still didn’t answer my question…”

“And which question was that?”

“Is there some poor bloke pining away for you back home?”

I consider the question for a second and decide to have a little fun with him. I give him a playful look.

“Would it stop you if I did?”

“Absolutely not,” he says, his eyes flashing. “If a man is foolish enough to let you go out drinking by yourself then he doesn’t deserve you.”

My grin widens even more for a second, then I give him a serious look.

“Let’s get one thing straight, here. I just moved to town, and I’m very focused on my career. I’m not looking for anything serious.”

He clutches a hand to his heart, giving me a pained grimace. “It’s like that, is it? Just going to use me and then toss me out with the rubbish when you’re done?”

A tiny laugh escapes me. “You sound like quite the player, I’m sure you could find someone to mend your bruised ego.”

The theatrical smile on his face melts away.

“And what have I done that makes you think I’m some kind of player?”

“I’ve seen guys like you,” I say, taking another drink of my beer. It tastes better with every drink. “You talk fast and move faster. Then you’re out the door, never to be heard from again.”

“Well, that doesn’t sound like me, at all.”

I consider him for a moment.

“How long was your last relationship?”

“That depends. Are we talking about the last girl I dated or the last girl I fucked?”

Normally I would have taken slight offense if a man talked to me that way. But there’s something about his straightforward nature that is different. It’s rare to find a man so comfortable with himself that he speaks his mind plainly.

It’s not only charming, but it makes me wonder what it might feel like to run a finger down his muscular chest.

“See, that’s exactly what I’m talking about,” I say. “I bet you’ve never dated just one girl at a time.”

He gives me an innocent grin that tells me he’s not innocent at all.

“You can’t hold it against me just because I haven’t found the one, yet.”

I give him a curious look.

“So you believe in true love?”

He bobs his head as he says, “I believe there’s someone out there for all of us, that one special someone that can see all your bullshit and still put up with you. If that’s not true love then I don’t know what is.”

The answer is unexpected and catches me off guard. Maybe he’s not quite the player that I thought he was? I know it shouldn’t matter, since I’m not looking for anything serious, but I can’t help wanting to know more about him.

“So you’re looking to settle down?” I ask. I take another drink of my beer, finishing it off. The warmth from it has continued to spread throughout my body, and a dull buzzing has settled in my forehead.

He gives me a fiendish smile.

“I try and settle down as much as possible.”

I bite my lip, unable to stop the explosion of images running through my head. I’ve been right all along—he is the player I thought he was. But maybe that isn’t a bad thing? It’s not like I’m looking for a serious relationship. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to bring him back to my place for a little fun? It could be a nice little way to blow off some steam before my first day at work.

Ugh, work.

I had almost forgotten that I had to be there bright and early in the morning. Declan will be expecting me, and I have to put my best foot forward if anyone at the company is going to take me seriously.

“Slow down there, Tiger.” My mouth turns into a tiny grin as I raise a hand and fake a little yawn. “It’s getting pretty late and I’ve got a big day. I better get going.” The Sexy Brit is all cool smiles as I slide off of the barstool.

And that is when the unexpected happens.

Chapter 3

My feet hit the ground and my legs wobble. I try to take a step and before I know it I’m tripping over myself, plummeting straight toward the ground. Even as I’m falling I’m already mentally preparing for the embarrassment of making a gigantic fool of myself in front of the sexiest man alive.

But I never reach the ground.

Fast as lightning, he’s off of his stool and wrapping his arms around me. The Sexy Brit pulls me tight against his body, breaking my fall and impending embarrassment. His body is solid as stone and his arms are like steel rods holding me in place. His gray eyes search me, wildly. I can see the concern in them, but for the life of me I can’t figure out why it’s there.

“Are you okay?” he asks. His voice is husky and I feel it vibrate through his chest.

I steady myself against him, regaining my balance so that I won’t fall over if he releases me. My head is buzzing and my vision is foggy as I give him an awkward smile.

“Looks like I had a little more to drink than I thought.” Damn that Scotch. “I’ll be fine.”

His eyes narrow and he studies me for another few, long moments. The longer I’m pressed against his hunky frame, the more my body realizes just how much it wants him. How long has it been since I’ve been with someone?

“I’ll be fine, really,” I say, again. I try to push those kinds of thoughts far away. They’re dangerous. Especially with this guy. “I just need to catch a cab and sleep it off.”

Slowly he lets me go and I settle fully onto my feet. That is when I realize just how much taller he is than me, and just how broad his chest is.

“You don’t need to take a cab, I’m giving you a lift home,” he says. His tone is serious, leaving no room for debate.

I shake my head. “You’re not coming home with me, I don’t even know you.”

“Shit, woman, it’s not like that,” he says, his face darkening. “I won’t be able to sleep tonight unless I know you made it home safely. I feel responsible.”

“It’s not like you got me drunk,” I say, defensively. “I can take care of myself.”

“Are you always this stubborn? Letting someone help you isn’t a sign of weakness. The weak people are the ones that think they have to do everything on their own.”

My face sags in a frown as I consider what he’s saying. Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to let him give me a ride? He seems like a nice enough guy. Hell, a few minutes ago I was ready to make him take me home.

Then something occurs to me, and I let out a tiny laugh. He frowns at me, giving me a curious look.

“What is it?” he asks.

I smile up at him. “I just realized something… I don’t even know your name.”

His cheeks turn such a crimson red that I can’t help but let out another laugh.

He lets out a light chuckle from somewhere deep in his chest. I’m so close to him that I can feel it reverberate against me. It’s an honest laugh, one that isn’t afraid if it draws attention.

“And you think I’m such a player. Would a player be so star struck by a beautiful girl that he forgets to ask her name?”

Now it’s my cheeks’ turn to burn red hot. It has absolutely nothing to do with the alcohol still buzzing its way through my head. We both let out a laugh together, and I instantly feel closer to him than I’ve felt to anybody in a long time.

“My name is Isaac Drake,” he says, giving me a warm smile and holding his hand up to me.

“Hannah Barnes,” I say, putting my hand in his.

His hand is as strong as rock, but still gentle as it closes around mine.

“Well, Ms. Barnes, I’d be honored if you’d do me the privilege of letting me ensure you make it home safely, tonight.”

I consider it for a few moments, and then finally nod.

“Okay, Mr. Drake, I’ll let you take me home.” I jab a finger into his rock hard chest—I’m pretty sure it hurts me more than it hurts him. “But it’s just a ride home. There will be no funny business of any kind.” An amused smile spreads on his face and I give him a puzzled look. “What’s that look for? I’m being serious!”

His grin widens, revealing two sexy dimples in his cheeks. Where have those been all night? My heart races so hard in my chest that I almost don’t even hear what he says.

“It’s nothing. It’s just… I hope you’re comfortable riding on the back of a bike. I left the Jag at home.”

A bike?

A Jag?!

Trouble, here I come.

Chapter 4

Isaac leads me outside, and sitting right there on the curb is a sleek, expensive-looking motorcycle. Just like he’d promised. He grabs the helmet off the seat and hands it to me.

“Safety first,” he says, with a wink.

“And what about a helmet for you?” I ask.

He gives me a sexy smile and a shrug.

“Like I said, I’m not good at this whole picking-women-up thing.”

“You’re doing a pretty good job so far,” I say, giving him a fierce little smile before I pull the helmet over my head.

Isaac climbs on the bike and kicks the throttle. He revs the engine a few times, making it roar to life, then he holds his hand out to me. He steadies me as I climb onto the back of it. Instinctively, I wrap my arms around his waist and nestle my head against his back. His abs feel tight and firm as I hold onto him. I can’t help but spread my legs a little wider and press myself up against him as much as possible.

I tell him where we’re going and he gives me a cocky smile.

“Hold on tight,” he says. “It’s going to be a fun ride.”

Now, I don’t know if you’ve ever ridden on the back of a bike while clutching a sexy British guy in your arms, but if you haven’t you really should. There’s just nothing quite like it.

As we pull away from the curb and go jetting through the streets of New York City I can’t help but get excited by the way the bike vibrates between my legs. I squeeze myself even tighter against him, and every once in a while he gives me a grin over his shoulder. All of the jostling and vibrating has me so turned on I don’t know what to do with myself. And by the time we turn onto my street I know I’m headed for trouble.

We pull up to the curb of my building and as we come to a stop Isaac flips the kickstand down and turns the key on the ignition. The deafening sound of the bike’s engine dies away, as do the exhilarating vibrations between my legs.

I throw my leg over the bike, climbing off of it, and pull the helmet off my head. I’m certain that my usually flowing brown hair is a complete mess. It’s an unusually clear night in the city, and Isaac’s eyes twinkle in the moonlight as he takes the helmet from me. He fixes me with that sexy, dimpled smile for what could have been an eternity.

“This is a pretty nice place,” he says, glancing past me at my building. “Now I know why you’re scared to bring a sexy guy home from the pub.”

I cock an eyebrow at him. “What makes you think I’m scared?”

He nods at the building behind me. “I’m guessing you still live with your parents? They’re pretty well off to be living in a swanky building like this.”

The world stills around me at the mention of my parents. They’re a sore subject—not exactly something I’m about to get into with a guy that I just met in a bar.

“Well, you’re wrong,” I say. “I have my own place.” I give him a defiant look, then wince. “Well, I do have a roommate, but the place is mine.”

His face darkens as he studies me. “A bloke?”

I shake my head. “It’s nothing like that. She’s an old friend of mine from high school. She needed a place to stay and I told her she could stay with me when I moved back.”

His face lightens again and he gives me a triumphant look.

“So I was right the first time…”

I frown. “What were you right about?”

He nods at the building again. “I was right that your parents must be well off. How else can a young lass like you afford a place like this?”

I feel my face darkening as I stare down at him on the bike.

“Just because a girl has a nice place doesn’t mean that it’s a gift from someone else. And I’m not all that young. Can’t a girl make it on her own in this world, or are you one of those guys that thinks we should just stay at home in the kitchen, cooking and waiting for you to come home from work?”

My heart is pounding in my chest harder than it had been before. But this time it has nothing to do with being turned on. Anger courses through me because this Isaac guy presumes to know everything about me just because of my address.

I don’t take hand-me-downs. I work hard and earn everything I get.

Isaac holds his hands up, his eyes widening in surprise.

“Easy. I meant no offense,” he says. He gives me another jovial, way-too-British smile. “Your face is so red. You’d think I just spat in your mum’s face or something.”

Finally, a tiny smile tugs at my lips. He doesn’t know it but he’s just suggested the one thing I would probably be okay with.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to turn into a psycho or anything. I’m just sensitive about certain things.”

He gives me another one of his fiendish grins, sending another wave of flitters through my chest. A tense silence passes between us as I return his smile.

“Well, thanks for being such a gentleman. Now you don’t have to toss and turn all night worrying about whether or not I was abducted by some untoward cabbie.”

I give him a wider smile, hoping he’ll appreciate the little joke I made, but the tiny smirk on his face remains serious.

“I’m not afraid of a little tossing and turning tonight,” he says, smoothly.

Ripples of desire go running deep through my center. He gives me a look that would turn any normal girl to putty in his hand. I’m sure he’s used to getting his way with girls when he looks at them like that.

“You’re trouble,” I admit.

His brow rises. “I was thinking the same thing about you.”

I scoff and push him on the shoulder, playfully.

“That’s not a nice thing to tell a girl. What kind of trouble could I possibly be?”

He gives me a sinister grin.

“The best kind.” My pulse races as he holds my gaze. “…and the worst kind.”

I let out a little laugh.

“Well, you almost had me until that last part.”

“And that’s why you’re the worst kind.” His eyes narrow just a bit as he nods his head and points at me. “You’re the kind of girl that gets a guy all wrapped around her little fingers. You make him think he’s found the secrets of the entire universe bundled in his arms. And then you shatter his heart into a million tiny pieces.”

“That’s quite descriptive. You been thinking that line up for a while?”

He fixes me with a confident grin and shakes his head.

“I read you like a book.”

“Is that so?” I say. I move closer to him until I can feel the heat of his body blocking everything else out. “Well, what am I thinking right now?”

His eyes narrow some more as he studies me intently. I can’t help but feel nervous energy tingling in my fingertips as he weighs and measures me from head to toe. It’s like he’s drinking all of me in and really seeing me as a person and not just some girl he picked up at the bar. I realize that I kind of like his eyes on me. I kind of like him studying me, thinking about me. Even though I already know that nothing can come of it.

I can’t get myself locked into something serious. Not right now.

He taps a finger, thoughtfully, to his pinched lips before he responds.

“You’re wondering if you should invite me up. You’re thinking, Hey, he can’t be all that bad. He did deliver me to my doorstep safe and sound, after all. You’re thinking, What’s the harm in trusting him a bit further? He’s already here. He’s charming. And he’s sexy as hell.”

I give him a wry look.

“Is that what I’m thinking?” I say, sardonically. I hope my voice doesn’t betray just how on-the-mark he is.

“Wait, wait, I wasn’t finished,” he says, quickly. I incline my head for him to go on. “You’re thinking about inviting me up. But you won’t.” I tilt my head as to say, Oh really? He nods, more assured of himself. “You’re afraid that you’ll fall desperately in love with me. And that scares you.”

“So you’re saying I’m afraid of commitment?”

“Yes. But not for the usual reasons.” My brow rises, again. “Usually when girls are afraid of putting their hearts out there it’s because they’ve been hurt before. They’ve felt the pain of lost love, and that’s not something they want to feel again. But you’re different. There’s a strength about you. You’re afraid of commitment for some other reason.”

I incline my head again, waiting for him to go on, but he just fixes me with that sexy smile of his. Although now it’s bordering on a smirk, like he knows everything he’s just said is absolutely true.

Unfortunately for me, what he’s said is much closer to the truth than I’m comfortable admitting. I don’t know how he’s sized me up so easily, but he has, better than anyone’s ever done before.

“You’re an interesting man, Mr. Isaac Drake.”

“I’m a lot more than interesting.”

The corner of his lip turns up just a little bit more, making the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. Heat rushes down between my legs and I know I have to leave now if I want any hope of escaping him at all.

I give him a soft smile. “Thanks again for the ride,” I say.

His face is soft as his gray eyes sparkle up at me. He doesn’t say anything in return and I’m left feeling awkward, wondering what to do. My body is telling me all kinds of things I shouldn’t be listening to. It’s a struggle to battle them down.

Still, Isaac was kind enough to see me home safely.

He’s charming.

And he is definitely sexy as hell.

I give him another soft smile and lean in to give him a hug. His strong arms wrap around me like they did when he caught me at the bar. Every muscle in his chest is hard as it ripples against my body. He squeezes me tight and I sense what I can only describe as a low, animalistic growl rumbling through his chest. It’s raw and carnal and I my heart races in response. I pull away from him. I need to get away. I need to make a clean break before I end up doing something I told myself I wouldn’t do.

But I hesitate.

His arms are still wrapped around my waist when his eyes find mine. Their sparkle has wilted into primal hunger and I feel myself melting into him.

The next few minutes are a blur.

Our lips mash together, hungrily. His tongue dips in and out of my mouth and my tongue greets it, wanting to taste every inch of it. The chocolate stout still lingers on his breath, and its sweetness spurs me on. His hands slide down my back until they’re clutching my ass. My black dress rides up a little as Isaac pulls me tight against his body. I can feel his hands exploring my ass cheeks as his tongue delves in and out of my mouth and it doesn’t bother me one single bit.

When we finally break apart I’m breathless and panting. His gray eyes hold my gaze as I run my fingers through his messy, brown hair.

“Are you sure you don’t need an escort to your door?”

I shrug. And with that shrug, every walled defense inside of me crumbles away.

“It might not be a bad idea,” I say.

“It’s late. I couldn’t live with myself if I came all this way and then something happened to you as you walked up to your apartment.”

My eyes narrow to thin slits as I nod my head in agreement.

“You’re right. It would be a shame if anything happened on the way up to my place.”

The growl that rolls through his chest is enough to let me know exactly what he’s thinking.

Chapter 5

I try and keep my composure as we walk through the halls of my swanky apartment building. It's not the nicest Manhattan has to offer, but there's a reason I'm probably the youngest tenant in the entire place.

Isaac fondles my ass the whole way through the lobby. When we arrive at the elevator, I press the button to go up and he immediately corners me against the wall. His body is heavy and heat rolls off of him as he presses his lips into mine. That sweet tongue of his probes the insides of my mouth.

"You're sure you want to leave your bike on the road? They'll probably tow it.”

"Let them," he breathes into me between kisses.

His lips dip to my neck and start kissing their way down to my collarbone. Shivers run along my spine and tingles prickle their way up my legs.

"You don't care if someone takes your nice bike?" I laugh.

"I'll get another one." He looks up at me, his gray eyes intense. "I won’t wait a second longer than necessary to have you.”

He slides his fingers down along my thigh and when they make contact with my flesh my breath hitches in my chest. A whole new wave of pleasure rifles up my legs and my stomach as his fingers dip under the dress. They glide along the smooth curves of my panties and I let out a little gasp. He's sliding the panties to the side just as the elevator door opens and one of the night attendants steps out, eyeing us suspiciously.

"Night!" I exclaim to the man as Isaac and I fall into the elevator. He gives us a look but doesn't say anything before the elevator door shuts.

I swat at Isaac's chest as he pulls me into him.

"We're going to get caught if you do stuff like that. What are my neighbors going to think about me?"

"Let them do all the thinking they want," he says. As the elevator ascends rapidly he pulls me close and breathes all of me in. "How far is your apartment? I don't think I can wait another minute to have you. I need you right now."

His hands slide down along my hips, again. I grab them, holding them firm to my side.

"We're not that far. You can wait a little longer," I tease.

I feel that growl coming from his chest before I even hear it. There's something very primal about him. His rugged features and his accent remind me of all those cheesy werewolf movies I saw as a child. But there's nothing cheesy about Isaac Drake. His eyes flash and he squeezes me even tighter against his body. I can feel his enormity pressing into my leg. It drives me wild with lust, and I know I need him too.

I need him to take me any way that he wants.

I need him to make me do whatever he wants me to do.

I need him just as much as he needs me.

The elevator door slides open and we spill out into the hallway. We make it all of three steps before Isaac pins me up against the wall with his massive frame.

“I can’t wait any longer. I must have you now.”

His hands are quick and they slip beneath my dress. He presses his mouth into mine again, his tongue delving deeper and deeper. I whimper as his fingers slide my panties to the side and begin rubbing along my thin slit. I’m slicked wet and smooth and he has no problem finding the tiny nub of my clit.

“You’re so wet and ready for me,” he says, his eyes dropping down along my body. His finger is swirling around my clit in tiny little circles.

I nod at him, biting my lip.

He presses the tip of his finger into my tight center and I breathe out a gasp. It’s been a long time since I’ve been touched like this. My legs wobble and almost give way as I try to sink myself further onto the curious little digit that is probing my entrance.

“My apartment is just around the corner.” My voice comes out low and throaty.

His eyes flash again as he shakes his head.

“I can’t wait that long.”

He presses his finger even deeper into my center and I moan in pleasure, arching my back into the wall behind me. I press my hand into the enormous bulge in the front of his jeans and lock my eyes onto his.

“Then what are you waiting for?”

Chapter 6

My fingers wrap around the outline of Isaac’s cock as he gives me a fierce look. I can feel the hunger inside of him. I can feel his need to have me. I know the feeling because I feel it, too.

Isaac growls again and his finger disappears from beneath my dress. It takes him all of a second to undo the button on his jeans and pull the zipper down. He’s not wearing any underwear beneath his jeans and his cock springs out at me, erect and hungry.

“Commando, huh?” I say.

“Boxers are a waste of time.”

The smile on my face widens as I wrap my fingers around his cock. There’s nothing in the way, this time, and he feels like soft silk sheathing hard steel. I begin stroking his full length and my pulse races when his eyes roll into the back of his head.

He’s big. Very big.

“You’re not anything like what I expected to find in the city,” I say. My fingers squeeze him just a little harder and he lets out a little groan. “You’re rugged. Not like all of those Wall Street boys.”

When his eyes reconnect with mine it’s like we’ve been transported to another place. The rest of the world fades away as he pulls up the sides of my dress. I’ve never done anything like this before, out in public for anyone to see. It’s as though the animal in him is awakening the animal within me.

Alarm bells start going off in the back of my head, but I ignore them. I’m always such a safe little girl. What’s wrong with wanting to be treated like a woman?

I yip in delight as Isaac’s strong hands spin me around and press my chest up against the wall. He steps into me and I feel his hands pulling down the back of my soaking panties. When they’re out of the way, he presses his cock between my ass cheeks. The tip of it slides along the bottom of my swollen center until it nestles up against my clit.

“Do you have a condom?” I ask.

“No. I wasn’t planning on taking anyone home.”

But he doesn’t slow down. He doesn’t hesitate. He’s going to fuck me anyways unless I do something to stop him. I know I should. We’ve only just met. I shouldn’t want him to take me right here in the hallway of my apartment building.

But I do…

“I’m on the pill,” I manage to say.

…and he does.

I let out a deep moan of pleasure as his cock enters my folds. My fingers dig into the wall until he reaches his full depth. A few moments of ecstasy pass before I’m able to breathe again.

I know this is wrong. I know I only just met him. I know I should be playing it safe. But none of that matters. With Isaac inside of me, nothing else matters. The last few years of my life have been safe. I need to live.

His hands grope their way around to the front of my chest. His cock slams me repeatedly while his delicate fingers fondle my tits. His hands and his cock seem to work at their own pace, independent of each other.

Very coordinated.

Very natural.

Very…

My mind blanks as he rocks into me one more time. His hand clamps over my mouth as I gasp and squeal in pleasure. My orgasm is so big it leaves my legs quivering and shaking. If it isn’t for him holding me in place I would collapse into a dazed heap against the wall.

He plunges himself even harder into me. He fucks me with a wild, reckless abandon. It doesn’t matter that someone could come walking down the hall at any moment. It’s like that thought never even crosses his mind. For that tiny moment in time we’re the only two people that exist in this world.

It isn’t long before I feel the muscles in his legs tense against me. Isaac slams his massive cock home one more time as his hands clench my sides. He lets out a groan and I’m flooded with his warmth as he erupts into me.

He holds me there until he’s emptied every last drop. There’s an aching void when he pulls himself out of me. His breathing comes in ragged gasps and we sink into the wall next to each other.

I curl into him and can feel his heart pounding in his chest nearly as fast as my own heart. An eternity passes before I’m able to form a coherent thought, let alone actually speak.

“That’s one way to break in the new place,” I say, managing a soft smile. I know it’s a lame thing to say, but I still haven’t fully recovered, and it’s all I can come up with.

The fiendish smile he shoots me makes my insides curdle all over again.

“I must say, Ms. Hannah Barnes, you’re quite the ferocious one.”

“Speak for yourself,” I tease. I run my fingers down the white cloth of his shirt, wondering what he looks like when he’s not wearing all of those pesky clothes.

A few minutes pass before I’m recovered enough to make it the rest of the way down the hall. My insides buzz and tingle with every step I take, and there is a lurching sensation in the pit of my stomach when I stop in front of my door. It takes me a moment to realize the reason for it:

I’m nervous.

It’s been a long time since a man has gotten this close to me, since a man has made me feel the way Isaac just did.

I unlock the door and crack it open, then turn slowly to face him. He fixes me with that devilish smirk. The yearning in his eyes hasn’t receded at all. Not even one little bit.

“We’re here. Safe and sound,” I say.

“I’m glad nothing bad happened on the way up.” We share a laugh at the little joke.

“Well… Thanks for the unexpected fun, but it’s late and I should get going.”

Isaac presses his hand into the wall next to me, trapping me between it and the cracked doorway.

“You wouldn’t leave a nice gentleman out in the cold, would you?” he asks.

His voice is deep and throaty and I can sense that low growl purring from the depths of his chest as he runs his tongue along his lips. Butterflies erupt in my stomach as renewed desire crashes between my legs. He’s so sexy. And that tongue!

But I don’t want to make even more decisions I might regret. Aren’t guys supposed to want to get as far away as possible after a drunken, hallway hookup? Why does he look like he’s ready to take me again?

“I should really get some sleep, I’ve got a big day tomorrow.” My voice doesn’t sound nearly as assertive as I would like it to.

He doesn’t say anything. He just runs the tip of his finger down my cheek. It’s the barest of touches, soft and sweet.

But it’s enough.

Enough to make me forget all of my fears. Enough to make me give in to the passion that’s intensifying inside of me. Enough to make me do whatever he wants.

“You’ll sleep like a kitten when I’m done with you,” he says.

I don’t know what comes over me. I know what I should say: I should make him go. But with him pressing me up against the wall like that, I know that isn’t an option.

How long has it been since a man has made me come like that?

How long has it been since a man has been man enough to actually take me at all?

How long has it been since a man has made me feel this sexy?

“How does that sound to you, my kitten?”

He licks his lips again, sending a renewed flood between my legs. The bulge in his jeans is back, already. He moves closer, pressing it up against me.

“It sounds like you’re going to be a lot of trouble,” I manage.

The next thing I know he’s scooping me into his arms and carrying me into my apartment.

When trouble rains, it pours.

Chapter 7

I sit bolt upright in my bed, my heart racing in my chest. My alarm clock blares from the nightstand next to me. I’ve already slept through most of it.

“Shit, I’m late!”

I slam the alarm clock off as something moves in the bed next to me. I let out a startled yelp as I look over to see the hunky shape of Isaac Drake laying there, watching me. He’s shirtless and the muscles in his chest ripple as he folds his bulging arms behind his head. When our eyes meet he gives me that secretive smile I first saw in the bar.

“Morning, kitten.”

I close my eyes, groaning.

“You’re still here,” I say. It’s an observation, not a question, but he doesn’t seem to notice.

“You wore me out last night.” He shimmies a little, settling himself into the Egyptian cotton sheets even more. “Or should I say, this morning?” He gives me a sly wink.

I roll my eyes and jump out of bed, making a dash for my dresser. There’s no way I’m going to be able to shower, get dressed, and still make it to the office by 9AM like Declan told me to.

“You’ve got to go. I’m late for work.” I fix him with a serious look as I shuffle through my underwear drawer.

“Kicking me out, already?” he says, grinning. “Who’s acting like the player now?”

“I don’t know if you just spend your days riding around on your motorcycle, picking up girls, but some of us have careers to think about.”

“You Americans take life too seriously.”

I shoot a glare at him over my shoulder. He hasn’t budged. He is still lying comfortably in the exact same spot on the bed.

My insides ache when they see his hunky, muscular frame stretched out on my absurdly comfortable and expensive sheets. I flashback to the night before, and my body trembles as I relive each mind blowing orgasm he gave me. No one’s ever made me come the way he did, and judging by that secretive grin on his face, he knows it.

I walk over and jostle his foot, annoyed.

“I’m serious, you’ve got to go. I’m already going to be late for my first day.”

In a flash his arms wrap around me and drag me onto the bed with him. My slender frame is helpless to his strength. I squirm a little, but he keeps me pinned to the bed, his intense gray eyes looking playful. Being this close to him I can smell his heavy, manly scent. He smells like the sex we had all night, and I feel a hunger for him begin raging inside of me.

“Call in sick,” he says, his voice heavy. “I want to ravage this delicious body of yours until the sun goes back down. We’ll have to get room service because we won’t be able to walk to get our own food or drink.”

“This isn’t a hotel, there is no room service.” My voice is soft, not nearly as angry as it was moments earlier.

“There’s always room service if you know who to call.” His voice is passionate and certain. “And if you can afford it.”

That isn’t the first time he’s made a comment like that. I’m beginning to realize that there might be a lot more to Isaac Drake than I see on the surface.

But he doesn’t give me time to consider the revelation. He presses his lips into me, kissing me intensely. Only the tiniest of whines escapes me before I succumb to the passionate embrace. I can feel his immense cock thickening against my leg, and the thought of what I want to do with it makes my body ache even more. He lets out a groan as my fingers make their way under the sheets and wrap around his thickness.

Warning bells are going off in the back of my mind, but for some reason I ignore them. It’s not like me. This is not who I am.

Isaac’s fingers sink down between my legs. He grins as they glide over my wet folds.

“I knew there was a reason I liked you.” He withdraws his finger, leaving me aching for more. His fingertips glisten as he places each in his mouth. He gives a little moan as he licks each of them clean. “You’re already throbbing for me.”

“Fuck me, already,” I groan, impatiently.

My need for him is unlike anything I’ve felt before. It’s raw and pure.

Isaac growls as he unfolds my legs and spreads them apart. My nails dig into his tight chest as I claw down to his abs. He grabs his cock and rubs it around my entrance, teasing my clit with it. His lips spread into a fierce grin as he watches me squirm beneath him.

He’s so good at making me wait just a little longer. Normally I’m the one in control, but with Isaac there is no doubt about who is calling the shots. He could probably make me beg for it if he wanted to. And I am more than a little ashamed that I would be happy to do it.

Finally, satisfied that he’s made me whimper and wait long enough, he slides the full enormity of himself into me. Despite him making me come countless times the night before, I’m still impossibly tight. I gasp in delight once he reaches his full depth. His cock is so large, yet it’s a perfect fit. Like he was built to be inside of me.

Isaac presses both of my legs back even further. I’m flexible and he bends them back so far that my knees are nearly beside my head. I moan as he buries himself even deeper inside of me. It doesn’t take long before my entire body explodes in an orgasm so intense it makes my head woozy.

My vision blurs as Isaac pushes my legs farther back, still. He pumps me even harder. Even deeper. He’s rushing now, his face twisting and tightening as his cock throbs inside of me. With one final plunge, his spine goes erect and he throws his head back. His hot seed gushes out of him, filling me the way it did the night before.

Isaac grabs the towel from the bedside and wipes himself off before discarding it back on the floor. That towel has seen a lot of use since he first carried me into my apartment.

He collapses next to me and the refreshed scent of our sex invades my senses. It intoxicates me. Who is this Sexy Brit that has just given me the best sex of my life?

I’m so completely lost in his bright, gray eyes that I forget there is a world outside of my bedroom. But the sudden buzzing of my phone from the nightstand snaps me back into reality.

My eyes dart over and see the clock with its little, red numbers taunting me. It reads 9:00AM, and I no longer have to wonder who’s calling me.

“Fuck!”

Chapter 8

“You’re already late. Just tell them something’s come up.”

Isaac gives me that collected, confident smile of his as I ignore the ringing phone and scramble to get dressed and make sure I don’t look hideous enough to scare people in public.

“This is exactly why I shouldn’t have let you come up,” I say, frustrated.

I’m speaking more to myself than him. There are many times in life where it should be easy to make the right decision, and last night was one of those times. I should have just taken a cab home from the bar, had a good night’s sleep, and been early to work to make a good first impression. But no, I had to go get all tangled up with the sexy British guy that doesn’t seem to understand that I am about to forcibly remove him from my apartment if he doesn’t stop looking so damned scrumptious laying there in my bed.

“You’re too hard on yourself. I’m sure it’s no big deal,” he says, still grinning his boyish grin.

His brown hair is even more disheveled than it had been the night before, which shouldn’t turn me on as much as it is. I prefer my men to be clean cut and well groomed. But clearly the rules don’t apply to Isaac Drake. And what pisses me off is that he knows it.

“This isn’t just some job to me. It’s my career. I haven’t worked this hard all my life to throw it all away on some fling.”

In fact, it’s more than just a career to me. But he doesn’t need to know any of that. He won’t be in my life much longer, so there’s no point in even bringing it up.

Isaac props himself up on his elbows, his brow drawing down as he watches me.

“After last night… and this morning… you’re still planning on just kicking me to the curb?” His voice is light and curious, not upset.

I give him a look. “I’m sure it’s hard to believe that there are women out there who aren’t interested in something more, but I’m one of them.”

“When was the last time a guy made you come like I do?”

I roll my eyes and hook my new earrings through my lobes. I cringe as I give myself one more look in the mirror.

“It doesn’t matter,” I say. “I’m sure it won’t take you long to find another girl that’s ready and willing to be your play thing.”

His bright gray eyes watch me as I do my best to pull my long, brown hair back and make it presentable without actually spending any real time on it. I grimace as the phone on the nightstand buzzes again.

“What if I don’t want to make another girl come?”

I let out a laugh. “You’re a guy. You’re hard wired to want to fuck every girl you meet. I’m sure you’ll figure something out.”

I catch his look in the dresser mirror and for the first time he actually looks angry with me. His lips are pinched together in a scowl and he’s shaking his head. He rolls out of bed and begins pulling his clothes on, grumbling words beneath his breath the whole time.

I give myself one more hesitant look in the mirror. I’m a complete disaster, but there’s nothing I can do about it. I’ll have to make the best of the situation and then never let it happen again. I glance at Isaac, and nod to myself.

This can never happen again.

By the time I grab my purse and phone, Isaac is already fully dressed and giving me a stern look. He follows me out through the living room and I notice the shut door to Tawny’s room. I wince and let out a sigh. Hopefully we weren’t too loud last night. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a roommate and it’s going to take a while to get adjusted to it.

Isaac is silent as we make our way through the building to the curb outside. I flail my hands and try to hail a cab in the thick of morning traffic. The scowl on his face has disappeared, and he’s giving me another amused look.

“What is it?” I say. I’m leaning half out into the street, trying to find an available cab.

“You were right,” he says.

“I’m right about a lot of things. Care to elaborate?”

His brow tightens a little but his grin spreads wider.

“Has anyone ever told you how incredibly sexy you are when you’re bitchy?”

I give him a disgusted look.

“Is that the big line that’s supposed to win me over?” I say, curtly.

My nose twitches a little as I realize that I really am being a complete bitch to him. But it’s necessary. Obviously I can’t be trusted to let my guard down around him.

“I don’t give up easily,” he says. The amused expression has returned, fully. “You’ll see…”

Finally a cab swerves up to the curbside and I let out a frustrated sigh as the passenger takes their time getting out. Don’t people have places to be? Could this day get off to a worse start?

“I don’t want to see,” I tell him over my shoulder. “It was fun, but it was just a one-night thing.”

“And once, again, in the morning,” he adds.

The reminder was subtle enough to send a wave of imagery through my head, and my insides twist a little tighter. Isaac’s hands are shoved in the pockets of his leather jacket, and despite the fact that he is wearing the same clothes from the night before, he is still the sexiest man I’ve ever laid eyes on.

“Still, it won’t be happening again,” I manage. He gives me a jovial smile that tells me he thinks otherwise.

He steps forward and holds the door for me as I climb into the cab.

“My bike,” he says, grinning down at me. I give him a puzzled look. “You were right about it. It’s gone.” He gives me a confident wink as my insides curdle. “See you around…”

With that, he shuts the door and the driver pulls away from the curb. Our eyes stay locked on each other until the chaos of the traffic hides him from me. I let out a groan and tell the cabbie where to take me.

There are five missed calls from Declan and a single text message. But I can’t bring myself to check the messages just yet. I am impossibly late for my big first day, but yet I can’t bring myself to think about anything besides Isaac. The farther away from him we get, the more awful I feel for treating him like that. He’d been nothing but sweet and charming to me from the moment I met him, and now his bike was stolen, or towed, or God-knows-what, and I can’t help but feel partly responsible.

It isn’t rational.

It’s not like there is anything I can do about it. He’s an adult and he was the one that decided to leave it parked on the street. It’s not my fault that he’s now stranded on my street corner, right?

But still, did I have to be such a bitch to him?

Finally, I read Declan’s text message. My heart sinks as I imagine how worried he must be.

“Where are you? Are you okay?”

No. I am not okay.

This is not the way I wanted to start the rest of my life.

Chapter 9

Declan’s eyes widen when he sees me enter the lobby of the Barnes Media Group. He’s been waiting there ever since I texted him and told him I was a few minutes away. He rushes up to me and throws his arms around me, squeezing me into a tight hug. The fabric of his expensive suit is soft against my face as he pulls me into him, nearly crushing the air from my lungs.

“Good morning to you, too,” I manage, despite barely being able to breathe.

He releases me and his brow pulls together as his intense, blue eyes search me up and down.

“Are you okay? You had me worried sick about you.”

I fix him with my most reassuring smile.

“I’m totally fine.”

“What happened? You were supposed to be here an hour ago.”

I grimace, hoping my cheeks don’t burn too bright red with my embarrassment.

“It was stupid. Just one thing after another.” I let out a sigh as I give him an exasperated look. “I don’t even want to get into it, but I promise it won’t ever happen again.”

He gives me a hard look and I’m already ashamed by what he must be thinking of me. It is my first day on the job and I’m already making a horrible first impression. I know Declan had high expectations of me, and letting him down is the last thing I want to do.

“Next time pick up the phone and call me. I was worried sick about you.” He shakes his head. “If anything ever happened to you…” His voice trails off as he squeezes my shoulders gently.

The way he’s looking at me makes me nervous. He’s always been like a big brother to me, but there’s something different in his crystal blue eyes that I haven’t seen before.

“I’m fine. Really. Nothing is going to happen to me.”

“You’ve got to be careful. New York isn’t like that sleepy little college town you’ve been living in the last four years.”

I give him a playful slap on his arm and am surprised to feel the taut muscle beneath it. Declan has always been slender, but I’d never before wondered how muscular his build might be beneath the expensive clothes he wears.

“Cambridge isn’t quite the sleepy little town you seem to think it is.”

His eyes narrow for a second, and then a smile breaks across his chiseled jawline. All of the nervous tension that had built between us dissipates in an instant, and the old Declan I knew is standing in front of me again.

“I’ve been all over the world and, trust me, every city is sleepy compared to The City.” He puts emphasis on the last part. A New Yorker through and through. He tilts his head toward a door behind the receptionist desk. “Let’s go. Time for you to see your new home.”

My heart skips a beat as a smile spreads on my face.

Barnes Media Group is my new home. It’s everything I’ve been wanting for the last four years.

* * *

I follow Declan as we walk through the offices of Barnes Media Group. This is my first time in this building. The company used to be in a different one, but a few years after my dad passed away Declan moved into this office space on the Upper East Side. I have to admit, it looks like quite an improvement.

There are rows and rows of cubicles in the middle of the spacious floor with people looking busy, answering the phones and working on their computers. Surrounding the inner area is a line of offices, all with their lights on and doors open.

“This place is beautiful,” I say.

Declan gives me an appreciative smile.

“It’s all about the image. I tried telling Bill that but he never listened.”

My step falters as I hear the name. Declan realizes what he’s said at the same time.

“Sorry,” he apologizes, quickly. “Your father taught me a lot of things. I’m forever in his debt. But we didn’t see eye to eye on everything.”

“No need to apologize. I know you and Daddy were close.” I give him a weak smile, then add, “Besides, it’s your company now, not his.”

“Correction: it’s our company. And as long as you’re around, he’ll be around with you.”

The smile on my face widens and my pulse slows with my breathing.

It’s strange talking to someone who not only knew my father and my whole situation, but who was also actually close with him. Declan wasn’t just another one of my father’s employees, he was a confidante. He was the man my father trusted enough to turn the company over to when we found out he was sick. There is no one else like Declan. There will never be anyone else like him.

For the first time, I realize that my father truly had been right about Declan all that time. Looking around, it’s obvious that he has really taken ownership of the company and is beginning to make something of it. For some backwards reason this fills my heart with pride. Not because my father had been right, but because Declan had upheld his end of the bargain.

Declan leads me through a few hallways until we come to two closed, oak doors. He gives me a sly grin as he pushes them open, revealing the most gorgeous office I’ve ever seen.

“Wow,” I say, looking around the spacious interior.

The carpeting is plush and soft and there is even enough room for a pool table in the corner. One wall houses a floor-to-ceiling bookcase with a ladder that extends all the way to the top.

I grin and nod at the pool table.

“Got a lot of free time around here?” I tease.

He gives me an embarrassed grin. I can’t help but see that boyish look in his face, it’s the same look I remember from when I was in high school. The same look that always managed to drive me wild.

“It helps me clear my head when I’ve got an important decision to make.”

He shows me to his huge, oak desk and gestures to one of the leather chairs sitting in front of it. I take a seat as he sweeps around to the other side. He unbuttons his suit jacket before falling into his leather chair, and I can’t help but notice his trim waistline. He looks like he belongs on the cover of GQ.

“How are you getting settled into the new place?” he asks.

“It’s a work in progress,” I say. “But I didn’t bring much from school.”

His crystal blue eyes glint as he gives me a knowing smile.

“I bet things are a lot different now that your trust has kicked in.”

Heat tinges my cheeks, despite the sinking feeling I get every time I think about the money I’ve been using to support myself over the last few years.

“It’s nice, but it doesn’t define me.”

Declan drums his fingertips on the desk, his cufflinks are bright gold, expensive.

“Still, it must be comforting to know that you’ve got a seven figure safety net.”

I frown as my gut twists itself into an even tighter knot. He’s referring to the trust my father setup all those years ago. He made sure that I would be taken care of, but there were strings attached to it. I had enough money to go to college and to live on modestly. But now that I had graduated I had access to the full amount. It’s how I can afford my swanky apartment, and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t consider donating every last penny of it to some charity.

“I try not to think about it,” I say, honestly. My chest rises and falls with the few deep breaths I take. “Just because I don’t have to work doesn’t mean there aren’t things I want to accomplish for myself. I want to be a part of something. I want to make something of myself.”

Declan fixes me with that glinting, bright stare of his. His lips pull into a thin smile.

“I see a lot of him in the woman you’ve become. He would be proud of you.”

My heart leaps and pulses. “Thanks,” I manage, softly.

I’d forgotten what it’s like to be around someone that knows me so well. I don’t have to pretend. I don’t have to explain. Declan understands what I’ve been through, and he understands what is important to me. It’s a little thing, a simple thing, but as far as my life has gone the last few years it means the world to me.

He smiles at me for a few moments while my heart tries its hardest to beat a way straight out of my chest.

“You lucked out this morning,” he says, finally. “You came dangerously close to missing the big surprise I had prepared for you.”

My brow perks up as a slight jittery sensation rushes through me. I had totally forgotten that he’d planned something for my first day.

“What is it?” I ask, excitedly.

He grins at me while he makes me wait in anticipation before answering.

“Europe,” is all he says.

He waits a moment to let the word sink in, and when it does my heart redoubles its efforts to beat straight through my sternum.

“Tell me you’re joking,” I say.

His grin widens just a fraction before he gives a single shake of his head.

“We have a meeting with the distributor setup. The final papers are already printed, and if everything goes according to plan, we should have fresh ink on the page by the end of the day.”

It’s almost impossible to believe what I’m hearing.

Distribution in Europe was the one thing that Daddy always wanted but was never able to get. He was always a forward thinker, and he knew exactly what the digital revolution would mean for the paper publishing industry. He had been convinced that he was too late to the game with the Barnes Media Group, and that he would never have international print distribution. He had died thinking it was impossible.

“Declan, I don’t know what to say. That’s so amazing.”

He waves a hand, nonchalantly.

“You don’t have to say anything. All you have to do is show up to the meeting. I want you there when it becomes final.”

I clasp my hands together in front of my chest. My smile has spread from ear to ear and I’m shaking my head in shock and something approaching reverence.

“I wish Daddy could see what you’ve done with this place. To say he would be proud of you would be an understatement.”

Declan’s eyes dip down for just a second, and if I didn’t know him as well as I do I probably wouldn’t have caught the subtle sign of embarrassment. When they reconnect with mine, they’re beaming.

“Coming from you, that means the world to me. More than you know.”

My breath hitches in my chest when I hear the last part. It’s rare that Declan says something in such a vulnerable way, and it instantly takes me back to that girlhood crush I had on him.

But I quickly push thoughts like that aside. He’s my boss now, and I’ve already had enough distractions lately to last me for quite some time.

“So what happened to the meeting this morning?” I ask.

“Apparently something urgent came up and the meeting had to be pushed back to after lunch.” He fixes me with a devious smile. It’s one I’ve seen on his face many times. “Which means that you have time for the other surprise I have for you.”

My brow rises.

“Another surprise?” My mind races, wondering what it could possibly be.

He nods, slowly.

“Your new office.”

Chapter 10

“It’s gorgeous,” I say, clasping a hand to my mouth in shock.

Declan grins at me as I take everything in. The office he led me to is on the adjacent corner of the building from his own. And it’s beautiful. It’s nearly the same size as his and is furnished with a tiny meeting nook, consisting of four chairs facing each other, and with a similar floor-to-ceiling bookcase, though still void of books. Near the far wall is an oak desk that matches Declan’s, with an expensive, leather chair on the other side.

“This is too much,” I say. “It’s only my first day on the job, I can’t have an office like this.”

“Nonsense. You basically own this company and there’s no reason you shouldn’t have an office befitting your position.”

I try to suppress my groan. He’s right, technically. I do own a significant percentage of the company, but that’s really only on paper. It’s not like I’ve done anything to earn it.

“I know that look,” he says. His fingers brush along the bottom of my chin, lifting my eyes to his. The sudden feeling of him touching me sends chills through my body. “You can’t blame yourself for what’s happened.”

“I don’t deserve any of this,” I say. “I’m only barely a college graduate. I don’t know the first thing about running a place like this.”

He fixes me with a look.

“You’re not just a college graduate—you’re a Harvard graduate. And you’ve got your father’s blood running through you. That means you’re able to handle anything you set your mind to.”

Out of nowhere, my thoughts return to Isaac and everything that happened since I met him in the bar last night. If I was truly able to handle anything I set my mind to then I would have been able to keep my wits about me and resist his advances. He’d made disarming me look like the easiest thing in the world. I wonder if he is still standing outside of my building, stranded.

My body shudders when I think about the possibility of Isaac still being there when I get back home. Warmth spreads down my legs as I picture his muscular frame stretched out on my bed, waiting for me.

Declan must sense something too, because the smile on his face lingers a while longer. If he knew that I’m thinking about someone else he would probably freak out.

Once before, I mentioned a guy I dated back in Cambridge. Declan had instantly turned into the jealous older brother that I’d never had. Part of it had been endearing, and part of it had been downright surprising. I’d never felt the need to tell him about any of the other guys I’d dated since then. For his own good as much as theirs.

I give him a soft smile.

“Thanks. Hopefully I won’t let anyone down.”

“I don’t think you’re capable of it.” He takes a deep breath as he scans me up and down. “How about we do lunch to celebrate your first day? Something expensive and luxurious. My treat, of course.”

“Thanks, but maybe some other time. I’d like to get settled in, if that’s okay?”

His chest puffs up as he gives me a big, confident grin.

“You really are your father’s little girl.” He studies me for a second longer, his eyes filled with pride. “Take all the time you need to get situated. I’ll have my secretary, Lilith, swing by and make sure you have everything you need.” He moves to the door, then adds, “Don’t forget about the meeting after lunch. It’s going to be a big day around here.”

I fix him with a huge smile, shaking my head. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

* * *

I shut the door behind Declan and take a few deep breaths, steadying myself. When I turn back around, I can't help but feel overwhelmed, and overjoyed, by everything going on in my life.

The office is absolutely gorgeous. But more importantly, it's all mine. I'm finally getting on with my life, finally doing what I've been wanting to do for the last four years. I'm overwhelmed by so much emotion that I can feel heat rushing to my cheeks. It's like my dreams are coming true so fast that I don't know how to keep up with them.

I spend the next few hours getting settled into my new space. I admire the plants that Declan has had brought in, and a skinny brunette with short hair swings by to make sure I've got all of the office supplies I could possibly need. Lilith says that it's good to have me around, that Declan hired her soon after he took control of the company and that he's had nothing but good things to say about both my father and me. I thank her for her kind words, feeling even more certain that life is finally where it's supposed to be. All of the years of hard work at Harvard are about to begin paying off.

Maybe one day I’ll actually deserve half of the things that have been handed to me on a silver platter.

It isn't long after Lilith leaves that my thoughts stray back to Isaac. My body quivers again when I think about him. Memories of the night before and of earlier that morning flash in my head. Thin beads of heat break out on my forehead as I lean back in my chair.

I can't help but wonder about how long it's been since I had been with a man. I'd had a few boyfriends at Harvard, but cut the last relationship off when he started getting too serious. That had been halfway through my junior year, and felt like a lifetime ago. I wasn't looking to settle down with anyone anytime soon. There were more important things that I needed to focus on.

But now that I'm out of school and living in the city, would it really be so bad if I started dating again? Nothing serious, of course. I still have a long list of things I'd like to accomplish. But Isaac had awoken something inside of me, something that I'd kept tucked away since I'd ended it with my last boyfriend so long ago. He'd reminded me that I'm a sexual creature, too. He'd touched me in such a way that let me know I wasn't going to be able to go long before I let myself get touched again.

My body aches at the thought of him touching me right there in my office. Before I realize it, I'm settling deeper into my chair and my legs are lolling outwards. My fingertips glide up my thigh, beneath my dress, until they find the steaming center of my panties. I'm already impossibly wet after thinking about Isaac so much. Even though I'll never see him again, my body craves him.

My fingers rub tiny circles around the nub of my clit. Shivers extend from my center down through my legs as I feel the tightness of an orgasm begin to take hold in my depths. My jaw tightens as I bite down, trying my hardest to stifle any noise from escaping my lips.

Images of Isaac hovering over me fill my head. His enormous cock haunts and teases me from a distance. It’s as though I can feel him burying himself inside of me.

Filling me.

Taking me.

Breaking me.

I’m on the brink of my orgasm when the worst possible thing I can imagine happens. I’m only seconds away from release, only seconds away from bliss, when there’s a strong knock at the door.

Declan ducks his head into the office. And his eyes lock straight onto me.

Chapter 11

I jump to my feet, shuffling my hands along the length of my dress to straighten it out. Declan gives me a wide smile as he enters the office.

Did he see anything? Did he know what I was just doing on the other side of my desk? How could he not know? I was probably making a whole lot more noise than I even realized.

“Are you ready?” he asks.

My body is still trembling and Declan is now asking me vague questions. He’s probably toying with me because he knows what I was doing. That sounds exactly like something he would do just to have a little fun.

“Ready?” I ask, giving him a quizzical frown.

“The meeting?” His brow lifts, slightly. “Did you forget already?”

A soft breath of relief escapes me when I realize what he’s asking about. I’d completely lost track of time and forgotten about the meeting with the European distributor. But I couldn’t let Declan know that.

“No, of course not,” I say, too quickly.

“Well, then, let’s go.” He tilts his head toward the door and begins to leave.

“I need to use the ladies real quick,” I say. “I’ll meet you in there.”

Declan’s brow tightens as he studies me, then he gives me a tight nod.

“The meeting is in the conference room at the end of the hall. Be quick.”

I assure him that I will and let out a deep breath when he leaves me standing there alone. That was a close one. I need to get a hold of myself—what was I thinking doing something like that in the office? And on my first day, no less!

I race to the ladies room, still feeling the wet throbbing between my legs. My body still needs release, but there’s no time for it. I know it’s going to be a long afternoon if I’m unable to finish what I started, but it serves me right. I do my best to freshen up in the restroom, though there’s nothing I can do that is going to quell the soreness between my legs.

Nothing besides having Isaac again.

Stop it. I can’t think about him anymore. He’s the reason I got myself into this mess in the first place. Any thoughts I may have had about beginning a little romance now that I’m done with school are quickly pushed aside. It’s obvious that I can’t handle something like that just yet. If one night with a guy was enough to rattle me this much, then the best thing for me to do is forget about men completely. At least until I’m able to get myself more established, more comfortable with what will be expected of me at my new job.

But what a magical night it had been. I’d never felt more alive than when Isaac had first entered me. Every other sensation is dull by comparison.

Leaving the restroom I make a quick stop at the break room. I fill a tiny, paper cup from the water cooler and take a quick drink. The water is cold as it runs down my throat, and it instantly helps soothe my nerves. I take another drink, closing my eyes and letting the water sift around in my mouth before swallowing.

Then the hairs on the back of my neck prick up and tingle. I sense a heavy presence behind me before I even hear him speak. My eyes are still closed, but there’s no mistaking who it is. It’s as though I can feel him enter the room. I don’t even need him to announce himself.

“Hello, kitten.”

Chapter 12

Isaac Drake.

I recognize his voice, immediately. As if that British accent could belong to anyone else. My eyes fly open as I whirl around to face him. He’s standing so close to me. His muscular, sexy body is nearly pressed into mine.

“What are you doing here?” I gasp, quickly looking around to make sure we’re alone.

The corners of his lips curl into a tiny smile as he watches me.

“I could ask you the same thing,” he says. He runs a finger along my chin, snapping my attention back to him. I swat his hand away and give one more glance around, breathing a sigh of relief when I see that no one is around.

“What am I doing here? I work here!”

“Ah, so this is the shit job you ditched me for?” His fiery, gray eyes never leave mine. “And here I was hoping that you just couldn’t get enough of me.” He gives a little scrunch of his nose as he says it, sending trembles through my center.

“It’s not a shit job,” I argue.

“Anything that steals you away from me is shitty.”

His language is foul and crude, but at least it’s him. The part about him I don’t recognize right then is the expensive, charcoal suit he’s wearing. I eye him up and down, once.

“Are you following me or something? I could call the police and have you arrested for harassment.”

What in the world is he doing here? Has my mind gone completely off the deep end? Have I lusted after him so much in the past few hours that I’ve conjured up some kind of illusion of him in the break room?

“You know, I haven’t stopped thinking about you since you hopped into that cab this morning.” He moves closer, pressing his body into mine. I can feel the bulge in his pants but can’t bring myself to move away. “If I’d known I wasn’t going to have to wait long to see you I would have been here sooner. I’ve spent the whole morning jerking off in my hotel room, thinking about our night together.”

His body shifts a little and I feel the enormity of his bulging cock rub along my stomach. My mouth dries as I gaze up into his eyes.

“How did you find me here?” I ask, dumbly, like he’s some knight in shining armor that’s come to satisfy every single one of my sexual cravings, like him being here isn’t one of the scariest and creepiest things that someone’s ever done to me.

His eyes sink down over the length of my body. Even more quivers run through me as I feel him drinking in every part of me.

“I need to have you again,” he says. “Right now. It can’t wait.”

“Are you insane? We can’t do that, this is my job.”

“I’ve got my own job for you.” He grabs my hand and places it on his crotch. The fabric of his trousers is soft as silk, and his heavy cock shifts and jerks beneath my touch. A deep groan rumbles from his chest as my fingers curl around him through his pants. Heat rushes to my center and I run my tongue along my dried lips.

The tenuous walls I’ve begun erecting come crashing down as the need to have Isaac’s cock nearly overwhelms me. Every ounce of me craves him, wants him to have his way with me. If something doesn’t stop us soon, I know I’m going to make possibly the biggest mistake of my life.

But something does happen.

“Here you are,” Lilith says, appearing in the entryway to the break room. I jerk my hand away from him as soon as I see her. Her hair is dark and cut short, and she’s wearing a pencil skirt with a tight blouse that outlines her sleek frame. Her eyes bounce between me and Isaac, though he doesn’t even seem to notice her arrival. “Oh, hello, Mr. Drake. Funny finding the two of you in the same place.” She gives us a nervous smile as confusion settles into my chest. She’s looking for us? As in both of us? “Mr. Cross asked me to let both of you know that the meeting is beginning presently.”

“Tell him we’ll be along soon enough,” Isaac says, never taking his eyes off of me. “Ms. Barnes here was just showing me to the loo.” The tone of his voice leaves no room for questions.

Lilith gives us a nervous smile. She mutters, “Of course, right away,” as she disappears from the break room.

I give Isaac a puzzled stare for a moment before everything falls into place.

He cocks a devious eyebrow and says, “Shall we?”

Chapter 13

Thankfully the women’s bathroom is empty, because Isaac doesn’t even slow as he bursts into it. He locks the door behind us and before he can even turn to face me, questions are already flowing forth.

“You’re the European distributor?” I say, staring at him, wide-eyed.

His arms wrap around me, pulling me tight into his body as he presses his lips into mine. My heart races as our tongues dance tiny, wet circles around each other. Before I know it, his hands are pulling the bottom of my dress up and my hands are undoing his belt buckle. His enormous cock springs to life when his trousers fall to his ankles. I gape at it as though I didn’t have it inside of me all night.

“I see you’re as excited as I am,” he says.

His fingers slide their way along my wet folds. He lifts them to his mouth and sucks each of them, slowly. A satisfied groan rumbles through his chest. “I love the way you taste.”

My hand is still clutching his cock when I think better of what’s going on.

“We can’t do this here. Last night was supposed to be a one-time thing.”

“Your body disagrees.”

I sink back against the counter as his finger delves back under my dress.

“Last night you were just a hookup. You weren’t someone from work.”

“You’re always thinking about work.” He slides his finger even deeper into me—my breath hitches. “But that didn’t stop you this morning…,” he presses harder—deeper—and I let out a gasped moan, “…and it’s not going to stop you now.”

Damn him.

Despite all of the questions circling through my head, I can’t take it anymore. I need to have him inside of me. I need him to make me come so I can clear my head. It’s the only thing I’ve needed since I left him this morning. And the fact that he knows that is so infuriating.

“We have to make it fast,” I say, my voice frail.

The grin he gives me is so sexy it belongs on a billboard.

Isaac’s hands wrap around behind me as he lifts me onto the counter. His cock finds no resistance as it plunges its way deep into my soaking interior. I gasp as I feel the full extent of him fill me. My fingers claw at his muscular chest as he pumps himself deeper and deeper. A low growl rumbles from the depths of him as his fingers clamp down onto my hips, pulling me tighter against him.

“Shit, you have such a tight little cunt,” he growls.

Again, his language turns me on more than offending me. It’s like he can do no wrong. My body wants him for who he is, and is eager to accept anything from him.

I wrap my legs around him, pulling him into me. Every muscle in my body is tense as I sense the beginning of my orgasm. My core tightens around his cock as my head lilts back in ecstasy. This spurs Isaac on and he pumps me even harder, even faster. The seed of my bliss explodes into a rapturous blur that leaves me dazed and whimpering into his chest.

“Fuck,” he groans as he wilts against me.

A moment passes before I realize that I can feel him dripping out of me, before I realize that my orgasm was so intense and powerful that it drove him to climax at the same time.

We take a moment to catch our breaths before Isaac pulls himself out of me. Like before, he leaves an empty chasm inside of me. I can barely move as he grabs some paper towels and cleans himself off. When he finishes with himself, he grabs a few more and begins cleaning me off, too. His touch is soft and delicate, the exact opposite of how he just fucked me.

When he’s done he hitches his pants back up and gives me a wolfish smile.

“I’ll wait outside,” he says, giving me a wink. “Don’t be long or someone might come looking for us, again.”

As the door closes behind him I hop off the counter and adjust myself. I can still feel his seed inside of me as I stare hard into the mirror.

What in the world am I getting myself into?

Chapter 14

The conference room is nearly full when we finally arrive. There are no open seats at the table so instead I sit down on the far end, behind Declan. His blue eyes give me a concerned and curious look as I shuffle past everyone to get to my seat.

I wonder if he can smell the sex on me?

I’m a stupid, stupid girl. I shouldn’t be allowed out in public if I can’t even keep my panties on when a guy flirts with me.

I watch Isaac as he takes his seat opposite Declan. He’s got two other men with him that I haven’t seen before, and my body groans at the raw sex appeal that oozes off of him. He catches my eye as he sits down and his lips pull back into an obvious smile. He makes no attempt to hide who he’s smiling at, he’s looking right at me for the entire world, and for Declan, to see.

Okay, so maybe he’s not just any guy who flirted with me. But still, I should be able to find some way to stop myself from fucking him every time the opportunity presents itself.

Declan shoots me another look over his shoulder. This one is more puzzled than the ones before. It’s clear that he suspects something, though with any luck he doesn’t have any clue that I just fucked our new potential distributor in the ladies restroom just a few minutes ago. My cheeks burn with embarrassment at what he might think of me if he found out.

When everyone is settled, Declan begins the meeting.

“Now that we’re all here in the same place…” he says, casually. A ripple of nervous smiles goes around the room at the attempt at humor. “Mr. Drake, I’d like to thank you and your associates for joining us today.” Isaac’s eyes are still focused on me. He leans to the side of his chair so he can get a better look, seemingly oblivious that Declan is even talking to him. “Mr. Drake?”

“Yes, my apologies,” he says, sitting up. “Of course, it’s always nice to take a trip across the pond.”

Across the pond? So he lives in Europe? I know I should feel better about this news because it means he’ll hopefully be gone soon, and I won’t have to worry about running into him all around town. But there’s still a part of me that feels disheartened by the revelation.

“Great,” Declan says, a thin smile appearing on his pinched lips. “I trust you and your people have had a chance to look over the paperwork. So unless there are any questions or concerns…”

There is another pause for a response, but a response doesn’t come. Isaac’s eyes have gone back to stealing little glances at me. Heat burns on my cheeks with how blatant he is being.

“Mr. Drake?” Declan prompts, again. Isaac looks up at him, his brow raised. “Unless there are any other questions…” Declan’s voice is tight, now, clearly annoyed. He’s not used to being disregarded this way. I only hope he doesn’t blame me for it.

Isaac fixes him with a big, confident grin. My heart skips a beat. It’s like his whole face lights up when he smiles. Only this time, there’s a hint of danger that lingers in his eyes.

“Right, the papers,” Isaac says.

One of the men to his side shuffles a stack of papers over to him and he gives a quick rifle through them. This is it. This is the big moment. I can feel the energy swirling around the room. Once Isaac signs the papers the Barnes Media Group will officially have a European distributor. It will be one of Declan’s crowning achievements, and one of the lifelong goals that my father never got the opportunity to fulfill.

But Isaac doesn’t reach for the pen resting on the table next to him. He looks up again, giving Declan another calm grin.

“If I’m being honest, I didn’t have my men look it over.” The energy in the room comes to a standstill as the spirited smile on Declan’s face tightens. “You see, I had no intention of ever signing these.” He holds them up, then drops them on the table.

Declan’s brow tightens. “I don’t understand. Is there something I’m missing?”

Isaac eases back in his chair, holding his hand out casually. “You see, it just doesn’t make good business sense. With digital distribution taking over, print sales are down, inventory costs are up, blah, blah blah… I won’t bore you with the details, I’m sure you get the picture.”

The bright gray in his eyes suddenly has a fierce look to it. The jovial, sexy man that I met last night is gone. In his place is a ruthless businessman. The news he’s sharing is tragic. It’s a huge blow to the company. To my company.

Yet I’m still distracted by how sexy he is when he’s in control. What is wrong with me?

The smile on Declan’s face has disappeared into a tight-lipped stare.

“So what are we doing here? Just wasting each other’s time?”

Isaac lets the question linger, the amused smile on his face never faltering for even a second. Then he leans forward.

“Actually, I’ve had a change of heart.” He commands the attention of everyone in the room effortlessly. “I got to thinking about it, and I’d like to discuss the details further over dinner.” His eyes flit over to me. “Maybe there is some kind of arrangement we can work out that will be mutually beneficial.”

The tight lines in Declan’s face release. “That’s great. I’d be happy to discuss them with you, I’m sure we can come to some sort of arrangement.”

Isaac lets out a little laugh and gives a slight shake of his head. A nervous ball of ice solidifies in my gut. I know what he’s going to say before he even says anything.

“I don’t want to discuss it over dinner with you.” He leans to the side, his smoldering gray eyes connecting with mine as he points a finger my way. “I want to discuss it with her.”

Chapter 15

Declan looks between us, shocked and confused.

“I’m afraid that’s not possible. It’s her first day on the job, she’s not familiar with any of the particulars of the deal.”

Isaac doesn’t even appear to hear what he’s saying. His eyes are still locked on mine. That familiar little smirk has reappeared on his lips.

“Mr. Drake, please…” Declan’s voice shakes. His face darkens with annoyance until Isaac finally acknowledges him again. “I simply cannot allow her to speak on behalf of BMG at this point in time.”

Isaac folds his fingers together and gives a slight lift to his shoulders.

“Then I’m afraid we can’t do business together.” He stands to leave without further hesitation, both of his cronies leaping to their feet to follow him.

“No, wait,” I call out.

Every single pair of eyes in the room whips around to look at me at the same time—even Declan’s. Every single pair of eyes, save for one. Isaac freezes in place and I can almost feel the thin smile stretching itself across his chiseled jawline.

I move closer to Declan and whisper so that only he can hear.

“I can handle this,” I say. He gives me a concerned look, then shakes his head.

“Something doesn’t feel right. I don’t like it.”

My gut twists into an even tighter knot. Declan is a sharp businessman, and he’s quick to pick up on things. He may not know exactly what doesn’t feel right about the situation, but he knows that there’s something more going on than what’s on the surface.

I rest my hand on his forearm. I want to reassure him, but I instantly feel him tense beneath my touch.

“Don’t worry, I can do this.” I give him a soft smile. “It’s just dinner while I answer whatever questions he has. I spent my whole life watching Daddy handle guys like him, it’ll be a walk in the park.”

Declan studies me for a second. I can almost see the wheels turning in his head as he considers probably a million different things that I haven’t even thought of. His blue eyes are tense.

“I still don’t like it. I don’t like the thought of someone demanding dinner with you. It isn’t right. It isn’t professional.”

I try to hide my wince. Declan lives in such a black and white, compartmentalized world. If he knew the half of what Isaac and I had already done he’d probably fly off the handle. He could be like that when it came to me—overprotective and irrational.

“We need this,” I said, giving him a serious look.

The muscles in his jaw tense and flex as he grits his teeth. He considers it for another few long moments before he gives me a tight smile.

“You’re right,” he says. His features soften a little and his mouth parts into a proud smile. “You really do have your father in you, don’t you?”

My smile widens as my pulse races. His words mean more to me than he probably realizes.

“So it’s settled then?” Isaac asks from across the room. His eyes narrow, locked on my hand touching Declan.

I instantly snap it back, feeling both ashamed that he saw it and ashamed that I even feel bad about it at all. I straighten myself and lift my chin, trying to appear much larger than my tiny frame actually is.

“We can discuss the details of the deal over dinner,” I confirm.

That smooth, cocky smile returns as he shifts to face me squarely.

“Dinner at eight, then? I’ll pick you up at your place.”

I can’t help but notice Declan’s body tense next to me when Isaac mentions coming over to my place.

“Seven,” I counter, quickly. “And we will meet at Cafe Soleil. No need for you to go out of your way.”

It’s the first restaurant I can think of, I only hope it’s still open and that I haven’t just made a fool of myself. I want it to be clear that we’re not going on a date or anything that can be confused for one.

Isaac’s grin widens as he studies me for a moment. Then he nods.

“Seven it is. It’s a date.”

“It’s dinner!” I snap.

“Of course. That’s what I said isn’t it?”

He gives me one more secretive smirk before he turns and leaves, both of his cronies following closely behind him.

How is it possible for one man to be so damned infuriating?

Chapter 16

“So you’re going on a date with the guy?”

Tawny fixes me with a confused look as she hefts her backpack over her shoulder. Her curly, blonde hair is cut short and pulled back into a ponytail, and her thin blue eyes give me a curious look.

“It’s not a date!” I insist. “It’s a business dinner. A totally professional business dinner.”

She frowns at me.

“A totally professional business dinner with the guy you brought home from the bar and had sex with last night?”

My face scrunches up as I let out a groan. “And once again this morning.” Her eyes widen and I feel like she’s looking straight through me. “And maybe once again in the bathroom at the office.”

Her jaw drops open, mimicking her bulging eyes. She stares at me for a long moment before she recovers herself enough to say something intelligible.

“Sounds like a date to me.” I let out another groan, and she giggles. “Don’t worry, though. This time I’m prepared with my headphones, just in case you and the Sexy Brit end up back here again.”

“I’m so sorry about that. It was so unexpected.”

She waves a hand. “Don’t sweat it. At least one of us is getting laid. I’m just happy I can live vicariously through you.”

Tawny gives me a cheery smile that manages to ease some of the tension building in my chest. We were never best friends in high school, but we’ve maintained a connection ever since then. A few weeks ago we were talking about my impending move back to the city when she mentioned she was looking for a roommate. I didn’t hesitate to tell her to move into my new place—it was going to be too big for just little old me, anyway.

It’s nice having a friend around, even if we hardly ever see each other because we work opposing schedules.

“You’re a beautiful girl,” I say, honestly. “I’m sure you have no problem getting laid anytime you want.”

She sneers at me. “Sure, if you count the creeps that always seem to show up at the hospital in the dead of night.” She lets out a groan. “These night shifts are going to be the death of me.” She considers it for another second, then adds, “But maybe I’ll meet a sexy vampire who’s super turned on by pale, nerdy chicks.”

We share a laugh, then I rub her arm and give her a light squeeze on the shoulder.

“When’s your next night off? Let’s go hit up some clubs and get piss drunk and flirt with the hottest guys we can find. My treat.”

Her eyes widen with excitement as she gives me a big, cheery smile.

“I have this weekend off,” she says. She curses as she glances at her watch. “Shit, I’m late.” She runs to the door, only stopping to give me one final look. “Have fun on your date,” she says, winking at me.

I groan.

“It’s not a date!” I yell, but she’s already slammed the door behind her.

It’s really not a date.

Right?

Chapter 17

Isaac’s smoldering eyes haven’t broken away from me since the moment I sat down at the table. The corner of his lip is turned up in that secretive smile of his that somehow manages to send butterflies flittering through my insides.

“You’re beautiful,” he says. It’s not the first time he’s said it since I sat down. I intentionally didn’t change out of the dress I’d worn to work so he wouldn’t think I’d gotten all dressed up for him.

I try to scowl at him, but only manage another smile.

“We can’t do this,” I say. “We’re here to talk business, not to flirt.”

“Who said anything about flirting?” He gives me an innocent look that sends illicit thoughts pouring through my head.

“We’re not here to do any of that, either!”

He reaches his hand across the table and places it on mine. I try to move my hand away but it doesn’t seem to want to move. His fingers gently caress their way around my own fingertips, sending a chill running up my arm.

“You’re so tense. I would have thought after the last day you’ve had that you would be a little more relaxed.”

“You mean after you practically announced to an entire office full of my coworkers that you want to fuck me? I have no idea how that could make anyone tense.”

He cooed at me. “They only care about results. Close the deal and all is forgotten.”

Finally I jerk my hand away from his. I’m annoyed when the tingling sensation still remains, even if it’s only a faint echo of what it used to be.

“And closing the deal is exactly what I’ve come here to do.”

I pull an iPad out of the oversized purse I brought with me. Declan gave me the tablet before I left the office. He also gave me a crash course on the pertinent details of the deal we were supposed to be discussing.

I turn on the screen and place the contract in front of Isaac. He doesn’t even glance down at it.

“What are you prepared to offer me in exchange for me signing the papers?” he asks, smoothly.

Is he for real? Does he really think that I’m going to sleep with him just to close the deal? I mean, sure, I’d already slept with him a number of times, but those had been different.

This is business, not personal, and my sex isn’t for sale.

“You’ve got to be joking.”

He gives me a reproachful look, his lips pulling together into a tiny oval.

“When it comes to business I never joke.”

“So let’s talk about whatever it is you wanted to discuss over dinner.”

He gives me a wolfish grin and leans forward. His eyes sparkle as they hold my gaze.

“I want to fuck you.”

I scowl indignantly at his words.

“You’re joking, right? Or is sex the only thing you can think about?”

“It’s not the sex.” His brow draws down as he gives me a serious look. He reaches for my hand, gently taking it in his. I can’t muster the willpower to pull it away, this time. “Do you remember the bar, when you stumbled as you stood up and I caught you?”

I nod my head, slowly. I’d been way more drunk than I’d realized at the time. If Isaac hadn’t been there I would have fallen flat on my face, for sure.

But he’d caught me. He’d made it seem so effortless, like he was my guardian angel.

“Since the moment I held you close to me I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. With every breath I take I smell the soft lavender scent of your hair, and every time I lick my lips I can still taste your essence. I haven’t eaten a thing today for fear that I’ll never have you on my lips again.” His eyes are a smoldering haze of sparkling gray. He leans even closer, his voice lowering. “So when I tell you that I want to fuck you, it’s because that is the only thing that makes any bit of sense to me right now. It might be the only thing that’s ever made sense in my entire life.”

I swallow. Hard. My lips are dry, but I don’t trust myself to wet them.

“Do you have some place we can go?”

The words are out of my mouth before I even realize what I’m saying. But the thought of taking them back never even crosses my mind.

Chapter 18

“I thought you were joking about the Jag,” I say.

I’m still in shock after having seen the valet pull the car around. It’s one of the nicest cars I’ve ever been in.

Isaac gives me a wolfish grin as he pulls up to a red light.

“One of these days you will learn that I will never lie to you.”

“Yeah, like I haven’t heard that one before.” I give a slight roll of my eyes as I smile over at him. His face is stony and blank.

“Not from me you haven’t.”

The nervous butterflies erupt in my stomach again. The light turns green and we jet through the intersection. We don’t stop again until we pull up to the St. Regis Hotel. I gasp at the luxurious entryway. It’s a landmark hotel that I’ve always marveled at but never had the chance to visit.

“You’re staying here?” I say, shocked.

He gives me a snide grin.

“I’ve seen your place. I hope you don’t think the St. Regis is the slums or anything.”

I shake my head, my jaw still hanging open in surprise.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Wait until you see the room.”

I grin and follow Isaac as he leads me through the magnificent foyer. We take the elevator to the top floor where he leads me to a penthouse suite. My jaw drops open when he swipes his key on the magnetic lock and pushes his way into the room.

“You really travel in luxury, don’t you?” I say, marveling at how nice everything is. Even if we could have afforded it, my dad had always been too frugal to spend more money than was absolutely necessary.

Isaac comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my hips, pulling me tight against his hard body. I can already feel the familiar bulge of his cock pressing into my hip. How many times have we had sex in the last twenty-four hours? I’ve lost count. But my body responds to the feeling. Heat rushes between my legs as I grind myself up against him.

“It’s not where, but who you’re with that’s important,” he whispers into my ear.

I feel a rumbling growl beginning in his chest as his lips nip at the side of my neck. My head tilts back against his shoulder, inviting him to take more of me.

He doesn’t hesitate.

His hands slide up my side, cupping both of my breasts in their gentle caress. I grind on him even harder, feeling the full extent of his cock as it rubs against my ass cheeks. He groans in delight, which only incites me, forcing me to grind even harder against him.

“You’re such a little cock tease,” he growls in my ear.

My hand slides behind my back until it finds the length of his enormity. I squeeze it and begin stroking it through his pants.

“Then why don’t you do something about it?”

Before I realize what’s happening, he scoops me into his arms and hauls me off to the bedroom. He sets me gently on the feather-soft mattress as he mashes his lips into mine.

My fingers lace through the back of his scruffy hair, pulling his kiss even deeper into my mouth. I lap up the taste of him, only just realizing that it’s the exact thing I’ve been craving all day.

His fingers slide down between my legs. They waste no time before they delve beneath the side of my panties. I moan into his mouth as he begins rubbing tiny circles around my already-aching clit.

“Who’s being the tease now?” I whimper.

He pulls back and gives me a sinister grin.

“Then why don’t you do something about it?” he says, mocking my earlier taunt.

Without hesitation I flip myself around in the bed and tug his belt free. My mouth is eager and waiting when I finally free his cock from within his pants. He lets out a moan and his legs quiver when I wrap my lips around the tip of his throbbing dick.

“That wasn’t what I had expected,” he says. His fingers slide through my brown hair, pulling it behind my head.

“Should I stop?” I ask, giving him my biggest dough-eyed look.

“Only if you want a spanking.”

A grin spreads across my lips.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

My tongue flicks along the entirety of his shaft, and he groans his delight. I squeeze the base of his shaft with one hand while cradling his balls in the other, gently milking him until the first drops of pre-cum ooze out of his tip. I lap them up greedily, getting my first taste of the Sexy Brit.

“I’ve never seen something so beautiful as you with your lips wrapped around me.”

I don’t respond.

Instead, I take him even deeper into my mouth as my hand works the base of his enormity. I can feel the muscles in his body tensing as his hand squeezes my hair. His cock pulses and trembles as little tremors ripple through him.

Isaac’s head falls back as he groans even louder. It won’t be long now.

I work his shaft even harder, bobbing and spinning my head. My tongue dances on his tip, lapping up every drop that finds its way there.

“Oh, fuck.” His hands clutch at the back of my head even tighter. “Oh fuck, I’m going to explode.”

No sooner are the words out of his mouth than his cock erupts down the back of my throat. I choke a little, surprised by the immense spurts of his seed. But I swallow greedily, determined to handle everything he has to give me.

When he’s fully spent, Isaac collapses on the bed next to me. I wipe at my chin and give him a leering smile.

“You taste good.”

He’s gasping for breath as he returns my smile.

“That was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

I curl myself into him on the bed and slowly begin unbuttoning his white shirt.

“I hope there’s more where that came from,” I say.

Another low growl rumbles through his chest as I release the last button and push his shirt to the side, revealing the chiseled muscles of his chest.

“You know there is,” he growls. “For you there’s always more.”

Chapter 19

When we pull up to the curb in front of my building, Isaac puts the car in park and switches off the engine.

“Where do you think you’re going, Mister?” I say, giving him a suspicious look.

“You don’t think I’m going to drop you at the curb, do you? What kind of barbarian do you take me for?”

I lean over the console and press my lips into his. He pulls me into a deep kiss that lasts longer than I expect it to. When we finally break apart, I give his nose a quick nuzzle with my own.

“You’re sweet, but if you set one foot outside of this car I will never speak to you again.” His brow draws close together as his eyes widen in a dumb, confused stare. I tap the end of his nose with my finger, giving him an amused grin. “I’m a big girl, I can take care of myself. Don’t insult me by treating me like a child.”

His frown deepens, but finally he nods.

“When can I see you again?” he asks.

I shrug.

“You already know where I live and work. I’m sure you’ll see me around.”

He gives me an intense stare. I wonder what he could possibly be thinking right in that instant, but I’m too afraid to ask. Some things are best left unsaid, and I get the feeling that whatever is trying to claw its way across his tongue is better left for another time.

“Be safe,” he says, finally.

I grin at him.

“Thanks for the lift.”

The night is cool and crisp as I dash up the steps in front of my building. I have no idea how late it is, but I’m certain my alarm is going to be going off before too long, and I’m desperate to get as much sleep as possible. Somewhere behind me I hear the Jag’s engine roar to life as the car disappears down the road. I don’t even bother to hold back the smile that spreads on my face as I think about Isaac and everything that’s happened between us since I met him just one night earlier.

It’s incredible how something can sneak up on you when you least expect it, when you’re not looking for it at all. Hell, even when you’re trying to hide from it. That’s what Isaac has done to my life: snuck up on it.

As I get to the door of my building I’m so lost in thoughts about the Sexy Brit that I don’t notice the dark figure sneaking up on me. A hand grabs my arm from behind and spins me around, hard.

I belt out a scream as the dark figure descends upon me…