* * *

Chapter 1

Sloan

The music pumped through the speakers, and I swayed lightly on the balls of my feet. I wasn’t much of a dancer, but it didn’t look like anyone else in the club could dance either. The floor was so packed that bodies rubbed up against each other as they jumped and gyrated. Shoved into a corner, I gripped a bottle of beer in one hand and kept a tight grip on my phone in the other.

Sweaty and more than a little drunk, my roommate Randi danced her way to me and snagged my beer. Taking a long sip, she frowned at me. “Sloan, that phone better be out because you’re collecting phone numbers from hot guys,” she yelled at me.

“I’m just checking it,” I shouted back over the base of the music. “The dress is too damn short, and I’m afraid it’s going to fall out!” Because the dress she forced me to wear didn’t have any pockets, I had my card, car key, and phone strapped in a small pouch against my thigh. It was a little uncomfortable, but I knew that I’d lose a purse if I tried to bring it.

“Girl, that dress looks sexy as hell!” She handed me back my beer and turned to smile at the man standing next to me. Randi was an exotic beauty. In a city of fake tans, her own Latin blessed skin was always dark and smooth. Her streaked dark hair fell to the middle of the back, and she had those perfectly pouty lips. Everywhere we went, she drew the attention of most of the male population.

And, if I were being honest, quite a few females as well.

I, on the other hand, was easily overlooked. No matter how hard I tried, my Irish skin refused to tan. My long auburn hair curled on a good day but usually stayed in a tangled frizzy mess. To tame it, I usually kept it pulled back either in a bun or tied at the nape of my neck. I tried to cut it once, but it was a year-long disaster. I wasn’t the kind of woman to spend any significant amount of time in front of the mirror primping and preening, so my hair was a mess that could not be tamed.

I wasn’t a complete disaster. I do have nice green eyes, but I was already forced to wear reading glasses. As a student, my nose was usually stuck in a book, and the glasses felt like a permanent fixture on my face.

These days, looks were not all that important to me. I was one semester short of graduating with my Master’s in Childhood Education. I was a busy girl.

Tonight was Randi’s birthday, and she literally threatened me with hell and high water if I didn’t go out with her. Disgusted with most of my own clothes, she squeezed my curves into a short and slinky green halter dress. I felt completely exposed.

“You haven’t danced with a single guy since we got here,” she accused me. “We’re supposed to be having fun!”

“You’re supposed to be having fun,” I corrected her. “And from what I can tell, you’re having a ton of fun. Let me get you a drink, and you can find your next victim.”

“You’re impossible,” she growled, but she didn’t stop me as I leaned over the bar and waved down the bartender. One good thing about my outfit was that I didn’t have to wait for my drinks. My tits were practically spilling out of my top, and the bartender couldn’t stop looking at them.

“A tequila shot for my friend. No training wheel,” I ordered. He stared at my cleavage the whole time he poured.

“You should give him your number,” Randi muttered in my ear.

I just shook my head. While I was pretending to enjoy myself, the truth was that I was scrolling through the latest email from Professor Elliot. My advisor had pretty much torn my thesis idea to shreds. Of course, at the end he had written excellent start.

What the hell did that even mean? I couldn’t help but obsess.

Randi downed her tequila shot and scanned the crowd. I knew she was looking for her next dance partner, but suddenly, she reached over and grabbed my arm. “Sloan,” she shouted in my ear. “That guy is staring at you.”

“He’s probably staring at you,” I said absently as I held my empty beer bottle up. The bartender popped the cap off another one and handed it to me.

Her nails dug almost painfully into my skin. “Believe me, I wish he was staring at me. He’s got to be the sexiest guy in here.”

Curious, I turned around to follow her line of sight. Above us, on the second floor balcony, the man leaned over the bannister. Randi wasn’t lying. He looked like sin personified. Dark hair swept low over piercing blue eyes and curled at the nape of his neck. His stubble didn’t do anything to hide his strong square jaw, and it was clear that he was tall and built.

Chills raced down my spine. He did seem to be staring at me. I’d indulged in some loaded fries earlier. Maybe I had parsley stuck in my teeth. Self-consciously, I turned and ran my tongue over them before I tilted back my beer.

“Go talk to him,” Randi urged me.

“Hell, no,” I muttered. It was too quiet for her to hear, but I’m sure she knew exactly what I had said. Randi had been my best friend and roommate for two years. She knew my weaknesses and limitations. I didn’t talk to men. Lately, I’d been hiding behind the fact that I was so busy with school, but she knew that I was still hurt from my last relationship.

My one and only boyfriend, Victor Willis, had spent two years keeping me down before I realized he was cheating on me. That was six months ago, and I hadn’t even tried to hook up with anyone since.

“Suit yourself. I’m going to go dance.” Randi gave me a disgusted look before heading back to the dance floor. Two of her friends had made it to the edge, and she sandwiched herself between them and gave everyone quite a show.

I envied Randi’s confidence. She could use her body like a weapon, but she was also brilliant. As a student of childhood psychology, she was often the driving force behind my teaching theories, but while I had to spend almost every minute working, she could go on a weekend bender and still ace her Monday test.

Once again left to my own device, I returned my attention back to my phone. I typed a quick reminder to myself when someone rammed into me.

Gasping, I stumbled back and dumped my beer all over myself.

“Damn it,” I swore. Looking up, I tried to pinpoint the culprit, but there were too many people near me, and no one was paying any attention.

“At least it’s not my dress,” I grumbled as I leaned over the bar to grab some cocktail napkins. “Can I get some club soda?” I asked loudly.

To the dismay of some of the other patrons waiting, the bartender moved quickly to fulfill my request. Holding my phone between my teeth, I tried to maneuver through the crowd until I burst onto the patio. “I had a little accident,” I explained to the bouncer who stared at me like I’d lost my mind. Deeply breathing in the fresh air, I dipped the napkin in the club soda and tried to dab at my dress. I didn’t know what I expected it to do. It wasn’t just a little spot. The beer had spread from the straps all the way to my midriff and was slowly soaking through my skin.

My cleavage was sticky, and I reeked. Disgusted, I tossed the napkins and left the glass on the table. I kept several changes of clothes in the trunk of my car, and there was a tank-top and jeans in there that would get me through the rest of the night. Snagging my keys from the small pouch, I opened the gate of the patio and slipped out.

I’d just made it to the car when a dark van came to a squealing halt in front of me. My heart stopped when the door slid open.

Son of a bitch. I was about to be kidnapped not more than twenty feet from a crowded club.

The first masked man jumped out, and I could feel his eyes raking over me. “Damn. Lucas Montgomery is going to pay handsomely for your safe return.”

Who the hell was Lucas Montgomery?

“I don’t have any cash,” I said as I tried to keep my voice calm. “And I don’t know any Lucas Montgomery.”

The masked man snickered. “From the way he was looking at you, I bet he knows you quite intimately. No one looks at a woman like that unless he’s already licked every inch of her skin.”

I shuddered and fisted the key in my palm so the metal edge stuck out between my fingers. If he thought I was going to meekly get in the van, he had another thing coming.

The two of them tried to grab me, and I moved. I wasn’t a Kung-Fu master, but I’d learned a few things from the kick-boxing classes Randi had dragged me to, and I’d taken more than a few defense classes. I swung my key around to dig it into one guy’s eye and lashed out with my foot. It connected solidly with the guy’s nuts, and he screamed and hit his knees.

Dodging my key, the man wrenched me around and slammed me against the car. Fear coursed through me, and I kicked out wildly again. I didn’t hit anything, but it was enough to make him move. He pulled me roughly to the ground and wildly looked up. “Come on,” he yelled as he grabbed the abductor still moaning on the pavement.

I guess I had caused too much of a scene. By the time I’d pushed myself off the loose gravel, they’d jumped back in the van and were gone.

Chapter 2

Lucas

She was captivating. I couldn’t help but stare as I caught sight of her. After a two long and boring hours of an investment meeting, I was ready for a drink, but watching her was better than a shot of whiskey.

It was obvious that she was completely out of place. When she wasn’t staring at her phone, she was constantly tugging on her green dress. First she’d pull it up in an effort to hide her ample cleavage, and then she’d tug it down to cover more of her creamy thighs. I was already lost in a fantasy of what I would do to her if we were alone.

What would I touch first? Her tits were just begging to be held, but I also desperately needed to fill my palms with her ass. I wanted to pull out the clip that held her curls and yank her hair back until I could press my lips to the column of her neck. I wanted to yank her dress up and discover what kind of treasures she was hiding underneath. Would she be hiding a black lacy thong? Pearly white panties with bows? Maybe she was naked underneath, and I could sink my fingers inside her.

I was the kind of man who didn’t have to look far for a beautiful body to warm my bed, but there was a distinctive downfall to having so many women to choose from. It took more work to excite me, but one look at her, and my cock was already rising to the occasion.

Fuck. The blonde that I’d tied to my bed last night didn’t even have this effect on me, and she’d been very talented with her mouth.

The mystery woman’s friend said something in her ear, and she looked right at me. When her gaze met mine, I saw her eyes widen as she took me in. Her lips parted in surprise, and she suddenly whirled around. Amused, I straightened and started walking to the stairwell. I craved her. I’d pull her on the dance floor and hold her against me. It was so crowded tonight that I could easily flick my fingers over her clit until she came in the middle of all the other horny dancers.

Then I’d take her home and fuck her until she screamed.

Just as I reached the top of the stairwell, the bouncer grabbed my arm. “Mr. Montgomery? There’s a phone call for you.”

Of course there was. With a sigh, I headed back to the VIP room where the young waitress handed me the phone. She was a cute little brunette with a smile that said she knew she was attractive. If there was one good thing I could say about the club, it was that the owner knew how to staff it.

The glass separated me from the rest of the clubbers, but the floor still vibrated with the base, and I could still faintly hear the music. At the back, a private bar was fully stocked with only the finest liquors.

“Montgomery,” I growled into the receiver.

“You’re not picking up your cell,” Steinburg growled. Howard Steinburg was my Vice President of operations, and he’d been stressing over the investment meeting. While it was my money to do as I pleased, investing in Club 9 would have been a public move. He was concerned about how it would reflect on my character and my company.

Steinburg worried too much, but that’s why I kept him on.

“It’s a club,” I growled. “I can barely hear my own thoughts, let alone my damn phone. What is so important that it couldn’t wait until morning?”

“How did the meeting go?” Steinburg was a good twenty years older than my own thirty-two. He always liked to say that he was too old for pleasantries.

I turned around to watch the dancers below. “The numbers are good. The club has done well for the past six months, but I have a feeling it’s just a trend. In a few more months, it’ll be old news, and it’ll die just like the other ninety percent of the clubs in the city. I told the owner that I would think about it, but I don’t think it’s going to make me any money.”

Steinburg sighed in relief, and I couldn’t help but smile. I wasn’t exactly the golden child of the media, but the press wasn’t knocking down my door in search of scandal. The city had come to know me as a perpetual bachelor and playboy, but I didn’t break hearts or cause drama. Still, Steinburg made sure that my PR agents stayed on top of things. He’d been pissed when I told him that the manager of Club 9 had invited me to an investment meeting.

I was careful with where I invested my money, and I fielded offers on a weekly basis. It was rare for me to actually attend these meetings, but Club 9 was all the rage these days, and while I wouldn’t be investing, I was happy that I took the meeting.

As Steinburg blabbered on about how I had made the right decision, my mind wandered to the delicious treat downstairs. “Steinburg,” I said abruptly. “This is all stuff that you can tell me on Monday during normal business hours. Go to bed. Men your age went to sleep hours ago.”

“One day, if you’re lucky, you’ll get to my age and you won’t think those jokes are so funny,” he snapped. Without bothering to say goodbye, he hung up the phone. I chuckled as I put the phone back on the receiver and headed out of the room. The small second floor lounge served as overflow, but because it didn’t have a bar or dance floor, it was mostly for people trying to take phone calls or hide from club creepers. The glass windows separated it from the VIP room, but heavy curtains obstructed the view.

Leaning over the bannister again, I scanned the main floor for the woman, but she was nowhere to be found. Irritated that I had lost her, I headed back to the VIP lounge to exit out the back private entrance of the club.

My faithful driver, Danny O’Brien, had been with me for almost five years now. Although he’d moved from Ireland more than a decade ago, he still held fast to his Irish accent. He told me it was because it drove women crazy, but I had a feeling that Danny felt a little lost sometimes. Like everybody else, he needed something to remind him of home. A man in his late forties, he’d been married to the same woman since he was eighteen years old.

His wife was terrifying.

“Going home alone, Mr. Montgomery?” Danny was one of the few members of the staff who spoke freely to me. Although he was always polite, he rarely filtered his words.

I was not a fan of the backseat, so unless I was making a public appearance somewhere or riding with another passenger, I almost always sat up in the front with Danny. I was much more comfortable in the driver’s seat, but I always had Danny drive me when I knew that I would be drinking.

“It wasn’t a successful night,” I muttered before ducking into the car. The dark steel colored Bentley Continental GTC was my favorite car in my collection.

“Unsuccessful because you’re going home alone or because the investment didn’t work out like you wanted?” Danny teased as he started the car. The engine purred rather than roared, and I settled back in the leather seat.

“Both,” I said wryly. “I had my eyes on a beautiful wallflower, but Steinburg had to call and pull me away. I lost her.”

“Wallflower? That’ll be different,” Danny commented with a sly grin.

As we pulled out to the main street, several police cars flew past us with their lights flashing. “Just because you have to go home to the same woman every night doesn’t give you the right to judge my own love life,” I muttered as I watched the police cars. They were pulling into the club parking lot. What had happened?

“I get to go home to the same woman ever night,” Danny corrected. “And it’s not really a love life unless you actually cultivate more than a one-night stand.”

“Turn around.” I wanted to see what all the commotion was all about.

Danny obeyed without comment and within minutes, he parked close to the police cars. “What happened here?”

“That’s what I intend to find out. Stay here and keep the engine running. I won’t be long.” Exiting the car, I walked slowly to the closest officer as I took in the scene. A small crowd had gathered, and the police were still taping off a small section of the parking lot. In the middle of everything, one officer was draping a blanket across the shoulders of a woman.

My wallflower. As I took in the tangled mess of curls and green dress, I felt an invisible fist punch me in the stomach. “Excuse me. What’s going on?”

“No questions,” the officer said gruffly as he tried to wave me away.

“I’m Lucas Montgomery,” I said quietly. “I was just inside a few minutes ago.” It was rare for me to drop my name like that. Normally people knew who I was, and if they didn’t know, I didn’t care to tell them.

The officer’s eyes widened. “Did you just say Montgomery? Hold on just a minute. Don’t move.” He ran over to someone else and, after a few seconds of conversation, waved me in. I ducked under the tape.

“Mr. Montgomery, I’m Detective Allen. Are you familiar with a Sloan Whitlow?”

I noted that the detective had flipped open a notepad. “I’m not,” I said slowly.

The detective pointed to the woman behind him. Paramedics were still checking Sloan out. “That’s her. You have no idea who she is?”

“I saw her in the club, but I’ve never seen her before tonight, and I didn’t know her name. If you’re asking if I witnessed anything, the answer is no. I’m just here out of curiosity.”

“Curiosity, huh? Are you the Montgomery from Montgomery Industries?” Allen asked. His eyes gazed at me shrewdly.

I knew when I was being interrogated. Peeved, I shook my head. “I’m not answering any more questions until you tell me what happened. Otherwise, you can talk to my lawyer.”

“I apologize for the third degree, Mr. Montgomery. You’re not a suspect, but it took me by surprise when you showed up at the crime scene. Ms. Whitlow contends that while she was at her car, two men tried to abduct her. They said that Lucas Montgomery would pay for her return. She says that she has no idea who you are or what you do. She must have fought like hell to get away.”

“Is she okay?”

“A few scrapes from the pavement. Nothing severe. She’s a very lucky woman. Do you think she knows who you are?”

Immediately, I clenched my teeth. “She’s probably telling the truth. I did see her at the club, and I may have exhibited some signs of interest. Anyone watching me may have misconstrued that.”

“Did you walk to her? Dance with her? Buy her a drink?”

“No,” I said softly. “She was by the bar on the first floor, and I was on the second floor by the stairs leading up to the VIP room. I just watched her.”

“It must have been some look that you gave her,” the detective said softly. “Leave a number where we can contact you if we need to. There are cameras in the parking lot, but apparently the men were masked. We may have some further questions for you.”

I rattled off my cellphone number as I stared at Sloan. As if she knew that I was watching her, she turned her head and locked eyes with me. Her mouth parted in surprise, and I knew that she recognized me from the bar.

Rather than go talk to her, I thanked the officer and headed back to my car. I wasn’t quite ready to speak to her yet, but I did need to get more information about her. If she had been harmed because of me, I wanted to keep an eye on her. And if she were running some kind of game, I wanted to know.

There was just something about her that I wasn’t quite ready to let go of yet.

Chapter 3

Sloan

The blue lights flashed around me, and I wrapped the blanket tighter around my body. The officer took my statement, and the paramedic kept urging me to go to the hospital. The attack kept flashing in my mind.

“Damn. Lucas Montgomery is going to pay handsomely for your safe return.”

It couldn’t have lasted more than a few minutes, but it felt like an eternity. My skin still burned from where I’d scraped it on the pavement, and loose gravel still bit into the palms of my hand.

The paramedic interrupted my thoughts, and I blinked. “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you.”

“That’s okay. There isn’t a whole lot more we can do, but if you feel any type of unusual pain, you need to get to a hospital. Do you understand?”

I nodded my head and tried to smile at him. As he packed his bag, I felt the heat of someone staring at me. Turning my head, I felt shock jolt through me. The gorgeous stranger from the club was speaking to the detective and watching me. Dropping the blanket from my shoulders, I took a couple steps towards him, but he had already turned and disappeared into the crowd.

“Excuse me, Detective? Who was that man that you were just speaking with?”

Detective Allen gazed at me steadily. “Why? Do you recognize him?”

Immediately, I flushed. After everything that had happened, I felt strange telling the detective that I needed the name of the man that made me wet with just one look. “He was watching me at the club,” I said lamely.

“I didn’t realize a man could cause so much trouble with just one look,” the detective muttered. “That’s Lucas Montgomery.”

“What?” I gasped. “I don’t understand. Is he someone important?”

The detective snorted. “He owns Montgomery Industries. He’s one of the richest men in the city.”

“I don’t pay much attention to business,” I said softly. “What did he say to you? Does he know who attacked me?”

“He wanted to know what happened and if you were okay. Says he doesn’t know you and doesn’t know why someone would think that he’d pay ransom for you.”

Rubbing my arms, I nodded. An angry shout drew my attention past him to the crowd where Randi was screaming at an officer.

“She’s my roommate,” I said as I rushed over. “It’s okay.”

“Sloan!” Randi wailed. “What the hell happened? These assholes wouldn’t let me talk to you. Are you okay? Do I need to kill someone?”

“It’s her birthday. She’s a little drunk,” I apologized to the officer as I grabbed her arm. “Randi, maybe don’t offer to kill a police officer. I’m okay. I’ll explain everything later.”

“Ms. Whitlow, do you want an officer to escort you home?”

A shiver of fear slid down my spine. Was there any chance that the men knew where I lived? “It might be nice if someone followed us.” I swallowed hard and squeezed Randi’s arm.

“Officer Jackson will follow you,” the detective said with a nod. “Go home and try to get some sleep. I’ll let you know if I have any further questions.”

Nodding, I pulled Randi through the small taped off area. Before I could get in the car, she threw her arms around me.

“I was so scared when I saw all the police lights and couldn’t find you in the club,” she whispered in my ear.

Holding her tightly, my eyes scanned the parking lot for any sign of the would-be kidnappers or for Lucas Montgomery. “Come on,” I murmured. “Let’s go home.”

I desperately needed a shot of tequila and a long hot shower. Anything to help keep the nightmares that would surely haunt me tonight at bay.

By Monday, I had pushed Friday night’s horrific events to the back of my mind. Determined to focus on school, I’d spent most of the weekend in the library, and now the only thing that split my focus was the image of Lucas Montgomery.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn´t stop thinking of him. He’d looked at me like I was a main course.

I kind of wanted to be his main course.

“Hi, Sloan.”

Locking the front door to my apartment behind me, I turned to the sound of the soft spoken voice. Matthew was our next-door neighbor, but we didn’t know much about him. He looked to be somewhere in his thirties, and he was attractive in a dark and brooding way, but he rarely said more than just hello and goodbye. I had no idea what he did for a living, and I never saw anyone go in or out of the apartment with him. He kept strange hours, and we never heard a peep from his apartment. No television or music blaring. Trish felt sure that he was a serial killer.

“Hi, Matthew. How was your weekend?”

“Fine.” Without offering any more information, he opened his door and left me standing in the open courtyard.

I don’t even know why he bothered to say hi at all. Grumbling, I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and started walking towards my car. Our apartment building stood three stories high and surrounded the courtyard. The company did a good job of maintaining a small garden in the middle, so it was always pretty to look at. The top two levels had railed walk-ways that overlooked everything, but those of us on the first floor had a small patio where we could put out chairs. Because we were so close to the university, most of my neighbors were students, so we were all friendly with each other.

Matthew was an exception.

When I reached my car, I saw a dark car in the overflow parking spot near my apartment. It wouldn’t have caught my attention except that it had been there all weekend. Every time I saw it, it looked like there was a person inside.

Like surveillance. Detective Allen had offered me security detail if I felt like I was in danger, but it seemed unlikely that the kidnappers would know where I lived, so I had turned it down. Maybe he was having me followed anyway.

They stayed parked as I pulled out of the complex, so I pushed that out of my mind as well. I had three classes today, and I hoped to squeeze in some time to work on my thesis.

Campus was in full swing by the time I pulled in to one of the student parking lots. Since it was early, most of the students rushed to class with cups of coffee in their hands. I had already had two cups this morning, and while I loved to stop at the campus coffee shop, I probably needed to cool it with the caffeine.

It wasn’t until my last class that I realized that I was being followed. When I passed the Business Center building, I could see their reflections in the tinted glass. When I stood in line at the dining hall, I saw them lounging by the entrance. And when I headed back to the library, I just had a feeling that if I turned around, they’d be no more than a few feet behind me.

Turning the corner, I bumped into a hard body. Books and papers spilled on the floor. “Watch where you’re going,” a younger woman snapped.

“I’m sorry,” I muttered. Bending down, I tried to help pick up her things, but I kept looking over my shoulder. “Did you see two guys in suits following me?”

“Paranoid much? Lay off the rooms.” She grabbed the book out of my hand and stalked off in a huff.

“Rude,” I muttered, but she was right. I did sound paranoid. Maybe I hadn’t shaken off the attack like I’d thought. Feeling like a crazy person, I gripped the strap of my bag and quickly climbed the steps to the library. Only people with student or faculty passes were allowed inside, so if anyone was following me, I’d lose them inside.

But the hairs on the back of my neck never went down.

Chapter 4

Lucas

“Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Hamburg is here to see you.” Cecilia poked her head in my door and gave me a friendly smile in an effort to soften the blow.

I grunted my displeasure and wrinkled my nose. “Did he say what he wanted?”

Hamburg was a member of the board, and he was always a thorn in my side. Still, it was unusual for him to stop by for an unscheduled meeting. Cecilia gave me a pained look. “I’m afraid not.” She was a pretty woman a few years older than myself. Single, but I’d never been tempted. Not only did she had three kids, but I didn’t mix business with pleasure. She’d come to me as a temp, and we’d worked well together, so I had hired her full time.

“I have a conference call in Tokyo in ten minutes, but it shouldn’t keep me too long. See if he wants a cup of coffee. If he wants to see a specific department, get Walsh to take him.”

Gordon Walsh was my personal assistant. He’d started as an eager intern, and a year later he still hadn’t lost his irritating cheerfulness. But he was organized and energetic, so I kept him on as well.

“Yes, sir. Would you like me to bring you a coffee as well?”

“No. That’s Walsh’s job,” I grumbled.

I knew she was about to argue, so I look pointedly at the clock to usher her out. She closed the door quietly behind her, and I pulled my notebook from my briefcase. My production line in Tokyo was still in its early stages, and they had to check in every week with updates. Normally someone else would take the calls, but the last time I had tried to expand to Tokyo, the deal went disastrously South. I didn’t need any more black marks against me in Japan.

Despite the stress that my company put on my shoulders, my office was my place of peace. Large and sparsely decorated, it had a wall of glass that overlooked the city below. I despised clutter, so my desk was neat and organized. I had a couch for when I wanted to relax, Bluetooth speakers for when I needed music, and a television for when I needed to watch the news. It connected to my own private bathroom and shower, so when I needed to take a break and go for a run or do some push-ups, I would wash up afterward. The door locked automatically behind me. My retina scan got me in, and several members of the company had key cards that could override the system. Here, I felt in control.

My phone vibrated, distracting me. The text message was quick and simple. I think she’s made us.

Damn it. I had four men tailing Sloan Whitlow. They rotated throughout the day, and they were supposed to keep her safe, but they were also supposed to keep their distance. She was never supposed to know that they were there.

Annoyed, I texted them back. Not okay. Keep me updated.

Logically, it was not my fault that someone had tried to kidnap her, but I couldn’t help but feel guilty. It would have been obvious to anyone at the club that I was interested in her.

More than interested. She’d been on the forefront of my mind all weekend, and even now, the image of her haunted me. My inner voice taunted me. Maybe I wanted her to realize that I was having men follow her. Maybe I wanted a reason to talk to her again.

“Konnichiwa, Mr. Montgomery.” The video feed popped up on the computer, and the representative bowed to me. “How are you this evening?”

“It’s still morning here,” I grunted and held up my coffee. “I appreciate you staying up late.”

“We are used to it. Progress is good. We have filled almost all the employment slots. We have a mountain of applications.”

I paid my employees well, so I expected nothing less. I demanded a lot from the people who worked for me, but I compensated them accordingly. “Good. How is the construction going?”

The man cringed. “I’m afraid it still looks a week behind schedule.”

“My contract for the builder only gives a four-week margin of error. If they push it behind anymore, they’ll be breeching the contract, and I’ll find someone else who can finish the job. And I won’t hesitate to do that. I’d rather waste time finding a new builder than work with someone who can’t meet my demands,” I said harshly.

“Of course. I’ll make sure they know that.”

“See that you do. Email me their response.” The small red light on my phone indicating that my secretary wanted to speak to me started to blink, and I ended the conversation with Japan and pushed it. “Yes?”

“I’m sorry to bother you again, Mr. Montgomery. Mr. Hamburg is insistent that he needs to see you right away.”

The damn man was pushy. I sighed and shook my head. “That’s fine, Cecilia. I’ve wrapped up my conference call. Send him in.” I pushed the button under my desk that unlocked my door.

The door clicked, and Cecilia swung it open and led Hamburg in. He was a tall, portly man with thinning gray hair and shrewd dark eyes. Of all the board members, he was the least irritating, but he was also the most involved. Most of the members only showed up during meetings, but Hamburg liked to call frequently with new ideas. He’d recently retired from his own company, and I think he missed the action. I usually welcomed his ideas. He had a mind for business.

“Hamburg,” I said as I rose from my desk. Grabbing his hand, I shook it firmly and gestured to the empty seat. “What brings you in today?”

He sank into the seat and took a few deep breaths. Years of drinking, smoking, and poor eating were taking a toll on him. “Montgomery. I’m sorry for barging into your office, but there is something that I thought you should see.” He reached into his inner jacket pocket and slid a newspaper across the table. The Boston Times. Narrowing my eyes, I unfolded the paper and scanned over the headline.

“Montgomery Industries to buy up prime Boston real estate.” I read. “What the fuck is this shit? We just voted on the expansion last month. I haven’t even set up an appointment with real estate, and we sure as hell haven’t bought any property yet.”

“I doubt anyone would have even noticed had I not had some connections in Boston,” Hamburg said. “Someone thought they could leak information without it reaching you.”

I quickly read through the article. “My public relations department doesn’t even take phone calls from the press unless we’re unveiling a project or dealing with a public issue. Any reporter calling for more details would have been ignored,” I murmured. “Hamburg, that was a closed door meeting, and all the information in this article is correct.”

“I know.”

His words hung heavily between us. He didn’t dare come right out and accuse the members of leaking the information, but we both knew that there were few other explanations. “I’ll have security sweep the room for bugs,” I said stiffly. “None of this is damaging information, but I don’t want to risk any critical information reaching the public before we’re ready.”

“Bugs. Right,” he said with a wry smile. “And if you don’t find any?”

“Then we follow normal protocol. You all signed a transparency agreement with the company. If the majority of the board agrees, I’ll be able to pull financial records. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

The older man nodded. He pursed his lips, and I could see the wheels in his head turning. “If I were you, I wouldn’t announce the leak to the board just yet. It could cause unneeded duress. There is nothing more dangerous than powerful men who don’t trust each other in the same room. If you can’t find a reasonable explanation for the leak, you could set up private meetings with each board member and feed them each a different false lead. When the story is leaked, you’ll have your man.”

I nodded. “Excellent idea. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. I’ll have my team do a search each day to make sure that no other information is out there. Is there anything else I can do for you while you’re here?”

“You could give me the number for your secretary,” he said with a devious smile.

“And have your wife beating down my door? I don’t think so.” I rose again and shook his hand. “If you’re so inclined, my assistant will walk you around. Feel free to talk with anyone that you like.”

“Can Cecilia give me the tour?” he pushed.

“Absolutely not,” I said with a grin. “Thank you again, Hamburg. And I appreciate your discretion on the matter.”

As he nodded his head, I walked around the desk and opened the door. When Hamburg exited, I noticed Torrence leaning over Cecilia’s desk. She was deeply enthralled in their conversation, and neither noticed me standing there. I cleared my throat, and he jumped away guiltily.

“Montgomery,” he said as he cleared his voice. “I was just coming to see you.”

“Really?” I asked with a raised eyebrow. “Or are you here to see my secretary?”

“I just told him that you were in a meeting,” Cecilia said hastily. I cocked my head and stared at her. In all the time that I had known her, she had never been nervous around anyone before.

“Where the hell is Walsh?” I growled. “I want him to show Hamburg around.”

“I’ll page him immediately,” she said as she reached for the phone.

“Hamburg, behave yourself while you wait,” I said in a low voice. “Torrence, come in.”

My security gave Hamburg a suspicious look before walking through the door. “Why would he not behave himself?” Torrence demanded.

“I trust you’re not here to question the actions of a board member,” I said mildly as I closed the door.

“No. I’m here because the police called. Why didn’t you tell me about the incident at the club? You have four of my men tailing some strange girl? They’re hired to protect you, and that’s hard to do when you leave out pertinent information and keep them from the building,” he said sharply.

Torrence was pushing forty. He worked as part of my father’s security detail, and he was the only man I’d ever consider to run my own security. We’d been friends for a long time. He was married to the job, and he took personal offense when I did anything to make that job even harder.

“I didn’t say anything because the attack wasn’t targeted at me,” I said calmly. “And I’m protecting the woman because I’m the reason she was harmed in the first place.”

“Not targeted at you? Someone wants to hurt you through other people. How is that not targeted at you?” Torrence snapped.

“They don’t want me. They want my money. And if you really want to help, you’ll look into it so I don’t have to worry about it.” I sat down and stared at him.

“Lucas, we’ve been lucky so far. The most I have to deal with is angry activists. In order for me to keep it that way, you need to let me know when something like this happens. I’ve looked at the police report. There isn’t much to go on. The plates on the van were stolen, and the men wore masks, so we can’t run them through the facial recognition database.”

I blinked. “The police just gave you the report?” I asked suspiciously.

“Sure. We’ll go with that. I want to speak to Mrs. Whitlow.”

“Ms. Whitlow,” I said automatically. He narrowed his eyes and watched me as I hesitated. I could see where Torrence was coming from, but as much as I wanted to see my wallflower again, I wasn’t sure it was a good idea. “I wanted her followed at a distance, but I think she’s already suspicious. I’ll have her brought in tomorrow.”

“Good. Next time you withhold information from me, I’ll kill you myself.”

“I don’t see why you’re so upset. If I had told you, you wouldn’t have had a reason to come up and flirt with my secretary,” I said coolly. He narrowed his eyes, and I smirked. “Before you go, I need you to quiet sweep the board conference room for bugs.”

He raised an eyebrow, but he didn’t ask any questions. I felt almost guilty as I watched the door close. Normally I would brush this kind of situation aside. As cold as it seemed, I was far too busy to deal with every little infraction, but my body burned to see her again.

Was I making things worse for her just so I could insinuate myself into her life?

Chapter 5

Sloan

It wasn’t my imagination. Someone was following me. When I walked out of the courtyard from my apartment, the same dark car was parked in the overflow parking lot. Only this time, two men were standing outside the car.

My heart pounded against my chest as I froze on the sidewalk. I was torn between making a break for my car or turning and heading back into the safety of my apartment. They approached me before I could make a decision, and I reached into my bag to grip my pepper spray.

“Ms. Whitlow?” the tall one asked.

I ripped the can out and aimed it. As I sprayed it, I screamed at the top of my lungs. “Get away from me!”

They both covered their eyes, and I turned to run. Before I could get far, one of them wrapped their arms around her. “Ms. Whitlow, stop! We work for Mr. Montgomery! We’re just trying to protect you!”

I struggled against him. “You really expect me to fall for that, you creep!”

“If you give us a minute, we can call him,” he grunted. The tall one walked around us and gasped as he wiped his eyes. Pulling out his phone, he held it up to his ear. “Mr. Montgomery? We’re having some issues.” He turned his back to me and spoke in a low voice.

I stopped struggling, and after a minute, he put the phone up to my ear. “Ms. Whitlow, this is Lucas Montgomery. I assure you that my men don’t mean you any harm. I just wanted to have a word with you.”

“They’ve been following me for days,” I spat.

“Yes. I was concerned for your safety.”

Even though I’d never heard him speak, I somehow knew that it was him. His voice matched him. Quiet and intense. Controlled and authoritative.

Seductive.

Tempting.

“I’m listening,” I said quietly.

“You misunderstand. I would like to speak to you at my offices.”

“I can’t come see you right now. I have class,” I said as I took a deep breath. It settled me, and the man finally let me go.

“This class is more important than your safety?” he asked mildly.

I rolled my eyes. “Pretty much. Look, if you have information that I’m in immediate danger, you need to tell me so I can call the police. Otherwise, you’re just being a little dramatic. Give me the address, and I’ll meet you this afternoon.”

He paused, and I bit my lip. Maybe I’d been too harsh. I didn’t even know him, but he made me feel extremely uncomfortable, and I was lashing out. “Your last class is at two. My men will drive you to campus and shadow you until then. They’ll drive you straight here.”

“How the hell do you know my schedule?” I exclaimed, but he’d already hung up the phone. “Is he always like this?” I asked as I returned the phone.

“Yes,” the tall man said grimly.

The day seemed to crawl by, and I couldn’t even begin to concentrate on my classes. I don’t even think I heard a single word about the lecture on children’s literature. I should have just gone to see Lucas in the morning and been late. At least then the day may not have been such a complete waste.

By the time my last class ended, my hands were shaking. I had no idea what to expect from Lucas Montgomery.

The car pulled up to the front of the skyscraper labeled Montgomery Industries and kept the car running as I stepped out. No one followed me, and I turned back around. “Are you coming?”

“No. The receptionist at the front desk will you show you to Mr. Montgomery’s office.”

“Which floor does he own?”

“All of them.”

They drove away, and I stood, stunned, on the sidewalk. All of them? I knew he was wealthy, but there had to be close to a hundred floors. How could they all be his?

Nervously, I pulled open the glass door and walked into the bright and open lobby. A young woman smiled at me, but before I could say anything to her, a man stepped in front of me.

“Ms. Whitlow?” he asked sternly.

I blinked. Damn. He looked good. Older than me, but his rugged features were really working for him. “Yes,” I said softly.

“I’m Drew Torrence, head of security. I’ll take you up to see Montgomery.” As he guided me to the back of the lobby, he pulled out a badge and held it up to the elevator. The doors immediately opened. “This is the executive elevator. It’s the only one that leads to the top floor.”

“That sounds nice,” I said lamely. Jesus. Nice? Was this how my conversation with Lucas was going to go as well? “So you’re security? Does that mean that you’re looking into the men who tried to kidnap me, or do you just protect the offices?”

“I protect Montgomery,” he said shortly.

He didn’t offer any more information, and I didn’t ask. It was clear from his stance that he didn’t like me very much, and I didn’t have the courage to ask him why. I had a sinking feeling that he could strangle me in the elevator, and no one would blink an eye.

The doors opened, and I quickly rushed out of it. The short hallway had huge windows running from ceiling to floor, and I had a breathtaking view of the city. It almost made me dizzy to realize how high up I was. I didn’t have a fear of heights, but I don’t think I’d ever been anywhere that had that kind of view.

The door down the hall opened, and a young man came rushing out. He looked determined and almost terrified as he made a beeline for the elevator. I quickly stepped out of the way.

“Please forgive Gordon. He’s always full of energy,” a woman said from behind a large desk. “I’m Cecilia. Mr. Montgomery will see you now.” She smiled warmly at me, but when she saw Torrence behind me, her cheeks reddened slightly, and she looked down.

“Thank you,” I murmured. Rather than following me into the office, Torrence leaned against the wall and stared at Cecilia. I had no idea what the story was between them, but the tension was enough to set the damn building on fire.

Opening the door, I couldn’t help but gasp. To call it an office was an understatement. The executive suite had three doors that led into other rooms, and a huge leather sofa placed along the wall. A large flat screen television sat over the door, and a well-stocked wet bar ran the entire length of one of the walls.

“Impressed?”

His voice wrapped around me, and I froze. Leaning against one of the door frames, he stared at me. He was dressed in a crisp white shirt that was rolled up to his elbows and dark slacks. It was clear that his outfit probably cost more than I spent in a month. I tugged nervously at my jeans and t-shirt. “It’s nice,” I said hoarsely. “Mr. Montgomery, I presume?”

“Nice?” he chuckled. “I suppose that will have to do. Please call me Lucas. Can I offer you something to drink?”

Mutely, I shook my head. Drinking around him could be a dangerous thing. “Why am I here?” I blurted out.

He poured himself a drink and gestured to the empty chair. I sat down, and he leaned back in the leather chair behind his desk. I couldn’t stop the image that popped inside my head.

Me, kneeling on the desk as he plunged inside me from behind.

Gasping, I wrapped my arms around myself. What the hell was wrong with me?

“Are you okay?” he asked as he stared at me.

“I will be once you tell me what I’m doing here. I appreciate you thinking that you have to protect me, but I don’t know you.”

“I don’t think that will help you,” he said as he sat his drink down. “I showed interest in you at the club Friday night, and it was enough for someone to think that we were somehow connected. I would be upset if they tried again.”

I couldn’t help but shiver. “I don’t think someone would get that impression just from you looking at me,” I muttered. “It’s clearly just a misunderstanding. I’m probably not even in danger anymore.”

“You’re clearly uncomfortable around me. You’re protecting your body and avoiding looking directly at me. Over the phone you were sassy and dominant, but when you’re close to me, you’re quiet and submissive. Either my office makes you uncomfortable, or I do. I’m inclined to believe the latter. My office is very inviting. Anyone watching you now would see the interest in your eyes. Anyone watching me would know that I was attracted to you. That I wanted to get to know you much more intimately.” His voice was low and silky as he tried to make his point.

I trembled under his words. If he could make me wet just from talking to me, I could only imagine what would happen if he touched me. Whatever was between us was both intense and stifling, and it terrified me. When I got scared, I got mean. “You’re a complete stranger, and you’re telling me that you find me attractive. Any woman would feel uncomfortable,” I snapped. “The club is a highly sexualized place. It’s designed to be a breeding ground for desire and lust, but when you portray those same qualities in a professional atmosphere, it’s uncomfortable.”

“Those are all valid points. If it will make you more comfortable, I’ll try to avoid portraying my desire and lust,” he said dryly. I immediately flushed. He probably thought I was a complete idiot.

“Let’s just get back to the reason why I’m here. You think having me followed is an appropriate response, but I thought I was being stalked. You can’t just try and protect someone without telling them,” I muttered. Lowering my arms, I tried to seem more assertive and comfortable.

“They weren’t supposed to be so obvious, but now that you’re aware of it, you don’t have anything to fear.”

My eyes widened. “You’re going to keep having me followed? The police are going to find who tried to kidnap me, and it’s highly unlikely that they know where I live. You should be more concerned about the people close to you. They’re the real targets.”

“I am having them watched as well. Sloan, I’m not going to remove your security. You can argue until your last breath, but I don’t change my mind easily. Like it or not, we’re going to become quite close until the deal is settled.”

Outraged, I stood. “You’re really not great at listening to people, are you? Before Friday night, I didn’t even know your name. Stalking is a crime. If you don’t leave me alone, I will call the police.”

“Well,” he said with a small smile. “You’re not uncomfortable now, are you? I’ll make you a deal. Allow my men to keep an eye on you for the rest of the week. This Friday, allow me to convince you to accept my protection when I take you out. If you still no longer want it, I’ll leave you alone.”

My eyes narrowed, and I regarded him suspiciously. “Where would we be going?”

“If I told you, it wouldn’t be as much fun, would it? I’ll be in touch with you.” His words were final, as if the conversation were over.

“Damn it, I haven’t agreed to anything!”

“The only time a woman should use profane language is when they’re in pain or in the throes of pleasure.”

His voice was hard, and my jaw dropped. In one sentence he’d enraged me and turned me on, and I had a feeling the bastard knew it. “Fuck you,” I snapped. Turning on my heels, I stormed out of his office.

It wasn’t until I was in the elevator that I could breathe easily again. Despite having the last word, I knew that I hadn’t won the conversation. He would continue to have me followed.

And I’d be forced to see him again on Friday.

It was hard enough to be near him in the office. How was I going to react in a more private setting?

“You are in way over your head, Sloan,” I muttered.

Chapter 6

Lucas

When I called her earlier, I’d requested that she wear the green dress from the club last weekend. She opened the door in jeans and a sparkly tank-top. I couldn’t help but smile. She was a mess.

“Is this going to take long? I have an early morning tomorrow,” she asked as she grabbed her purse. If I hadn’t caught the look in her eye, I would have thought that she was irritated. But her pupils dilated as soon as she caught sight of me.

She liked what she saw.

“You’re a college student. You’re supposed to enjoy your Friday nights and sleep in all day on Saturday.” While her back was to me, I took a moment to drink her in. Despite the casual dress, she looked phenomenal. The long sleeveless shirt didn’t quite cover how well her ass filled out those jeans, and for a brief moment, I enjoyed the fantasy of running the palm of my hand over it.

“I’m a graduate student. Friday nights don’t exist and Saturdays are for research,” she muttered as she straightened. Turning to face me, she pulled her unruly hair back and pulled it through a band. “We’re both in agreement. If I go with you, you’ll leave me alone?”

“Is that what you want?”

“A simple yes or no would be fine,” she snapped.

“Yes. If, after tonight, you want me to withdraw my protection, I’ll honor your wishes. But if you get kidnapped, I won’t be paying the ransom.”

“Fine. I’d hate to be in your debt anyway.” She glared at me and waved her hands to shoo me out of the doorway.

“Why don’t you like me?” I asked as I watched her lock the door.

“You nearly got me kidnapped. You’re stalking me. You’re incredibly inappropriate, and you actually tried to pick out my outfit for tonight. I’ve had all of one conversation with you. Just because you are rich doesn’t mean you get to control my life. Are you going to tell me now where we’re going?”

There weren’t many people who spoke freely to me. Strangers certainly didn’t speak to me that way. Women didn’t speak to me that way. “Just dinner.”

“Dinner? That’s not vague at all.” She tucked the keys in her purse and turned to face me. The moon bathed her in light. She looked ethereal. Far too pure for someone like me.

But I wasn’t about to let that get in my way. I was certain that by the end of the evening, I’ll finally have tasted her. And if things really went well, I might taste more than just her mouth.

Her apartment was quaint and small but well maintained. I put my hand on the small of her back to lead her to the car where Danny waited. Her muscles tightened under my touch, but she didn’t turn away. I was tempted to slip her shirt up and touch her bare skin, but I knew that she would push me away.

As instructed, Danny didn’t say anything when he opened the door. She thanked him politely and slid into the furthest corner of the luxury car. Amused, I kept the distance that she seemed to need.

She nervously chatted during the short ride into the city. Our destination, Wu tong Shen, was named for the five Chinese deities that represented lust and carnal desire. They were known for their power to possess and ravish beautiful women.

Despite its name and reputation, Wu tong Shen had a reservation list that lasted months. Their food was excellent, and the entertainment enticing. The restaurant catered to all different tastes. The more restrained could enjoy a normal restaurant on the first floor. The more daring could enjoy the erotic entertainment on the second floor, and those that had a standing invitation like myself could book a private third floor.

“Wu tong Shen?” she asked in alarm. “I know the food is good, but I’ve heard what they do on the second floor.”

“We won’t be dining on the second floor, my little wallflower.”

Her eyes flickered at the nickname, but she didn’t comment on it. We walked in, and she glanced suspiciously around the restaurant. It looked very much like an expensive five-star restaurant. White table cloths, flickering candles, silver trays, and a serving staff dressed in formal wear. Sloan was far too underdressed, and she knew it the moment we walked in.

“Mr. Montgomery,” the hostess said warmly. “It’s always a pleasure to see you.”

She was fresh and young, but she wasn’t allowed above the first floor. The owners were very strict about the rules, and it’s what kept the place running smoothly. When it first opened, the press eagerly came in search of scandal, but they left disappointed. It went above and beyond the legal requirements of a strip club. Tips were encouraged, but the cover fee to get upstairs was more than enough to keep the local ruffians at bay.

We could have taken the stairs to the third floor, but the hostess walked us to the elevator instead. Sloan dragged her feet, and I pushed her gently. “You said we weren’t going to the second floor,” she said nervously when the doors closed.

“We’re not.” I smiled when she bit her lip uncertainly. She was so innocent. I wanted so badly to dirty her just a little.

The door opened up to a hallway. The third floor was sectioned off into four closed rooms. Only four reservations could enjoy the third floor at a time, but they were allowed to stay as long as they wanted. I ushered her down the hall to the last door on the left. When I knocked, the door opened to reveal a small dining area.

Dark leather booths lined the walls, and a small table stood in the middle of it. Like the tables downstairs, it was covered in a white cloth but I had specifically requested the candle be removed.

“You have your own private dining room here?” she asked in confusion as she glanced around.

“Not me specifically. The four rooms can be rented for prescreened individuals for a fee.”

“Why do they have to be prescreened?”

“These rooms are private for a reason,” I said vaguely. She glanced at the gentleman who had opened the door, and he smiled indulgently and held out his arm. I allowed him to escort her to the table and pull out her chair. She seemed delighted in the experience.

“I have to say, this is not what I expected.”

I took my own seat, and the gentleman turned to me. “Who will you be requesting, this evening?”

“Sandra will be fine. Thank you.”

He looked surprised but merely nodded and quietly left the room.

“You have your own waitress?” she asked as she opened the menu. “That’s awfully fancy.”

It was time to chip away at her innocence just a little. “Each of the women and men who work up here are designed to satisfy individual satisfaction. If you want your waitress to serve you naked, it’s allowed. If you want to eat your meal off her body, it’s allowed. And if you want to watch her engage in certain activities during your meal, it’s allowed.”

Her jaw dropped. “That’s illegal,” she whispered.

“The one thing you are not allowed to do is fuck the waitresses or ask them to pleasure you. You’re welcome to ask them to join you when they get off work, but it’s not allowed here in the restaurant. Nothing illegal happens here.”

She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. I could tell she was embarrassed to ask, but she finally let curiosity win. “What sort of activities could you request?”

“The staff are very close. If they’re so inclined, they can pleasure themselves or each other while you watch.”

The blood drained from her face, and her eyes widened. “I guess I knew that kind of thing was popular, but I didn’t think there were places designed for it.”

“I believe it’s required for the staff on the third floor to enjoy being watched. They get off on it,” I said quietly.

“How many times have you watched?” She looked almost horrified after asking and quickly shook her head. “Never mind. I don’t want to know.”

I smiled indulgently. “I am quite fond of the food here, and I like the privacy the third floor provides. I have never requested anything special here, but if you’re curious, I’d be happy to change that.”

“No,” she said quickly. “I don’t think I’d like that. Why would you even bring me to a place like this?”

From the way she was gripping her menu, I knew she probably might like it a little too much. Did she get off on watching other people? Or did she like the idea of someone watching her? “I told you. I like the food and privacy. I’m fond of the filet’s here, but if you like seafood, the stuffed flounder is divine.”

“We’re just here to eat and talk?”

“Does that disappoint you?” I asked her quietly.

“Of course not.”

We both knew she was lying.

Chapter 7

Sloan

My body ached to be touched. Had he taken me to a normal restaurant, I would have still been turned on by him, but the thought of what might be happening on the other side of the wall nearly pushed me over the edge. Just because it wasn’t prostitution didn’t mean this wasn’t a sex club.

Expensive, but a sex club none-the-less.

Sandra, the waitress he’d requested, did not serve us naked. She wore an incredibly slinky dress, and if she bent over, I knew that we’d get an excellent view of an area that’s supposed to remain private. She was attractive, her voice was sultry, and she couldn’t keep her eyes off Lucas.

I couldn’t even believe how jealous it made me.

Downing the glass of red wine in front of me, I tried to enjoy the food. It really was delicious, but it paled in comparison to the other hunger that grew inside me. I was never the kind of girl who had fantasies about strangers or sex in public, but that wasn’t stopping the film of torrid fantasies that continued to play in my mind.

“You’re supposed to be convincing me why I need your protection,” I reminded him. It was something to distract me.

He swirled his glass of whiskey around and cocked his head. “I watched the video feed from the surveillance cameras. You put up quite a fight, but there was only one thing that worked in your favor. You were in a parking lot of a crowded club. Because you didn’t come easily, they were afraid that you’d attracted too much attention to them. You stay late at the campus library. What if they had caught you in the deserted parking lot at midnight? What if they had attacked outside your apartment when everyone was asleep? You defended yourself, but they could have overpowered you.”

The thought had occurred to me, but I didn’t want to think about it. “That doesn’t explain why I need your protection. By now they probably know that we’re not in a relationship, and they’ve moved on. It would be ridiculous to try again.”

“Would it?” he asked quietly. “Even if we weren’t acquaintances before, we certainly are now. I have no family in the area. I have no close friends that are easily accessible, and I don’t date. If they decided to try again, targeting you is the only real choice. They’ve pushed you into my life, and I can no longer call you a stranger. It would be no small thing for them to request a million dollars for you. That’s pocket change to me. I’d shell it out without a second thought.”

A million dollars was pocket change to him? I almost asked how much he was worth and decided that I really didn’t want to know the answer. “All of that assumes that they’ll even try again. They’ve already failed, and they know that the police are investigating and that I’m being watched.”

“But if you decide that you don’t want my protection, you won’t be watched anymore. My head of security did his research. They weren’t there by chance. That same van has been tailing me for days. It’s quite possible that they were going to try and take me hostage and demand that my company pay for my return, but you became a much easier target. You still are an easier target. They’ve put in an awful lot of effort to give up after one failed attempt. The police don’t have their names or identities. They choose another vehicle, and they´ll try again.”

Shuddering, I pushed my plate away. I had suddenly lost my appetite. As much as I hated to admit it, he had a point. It didn’t make sense that they saw me and hatched a kidnapping scheme. Of course they’d planned something. It was too much to be a coincidence.

Sandra came in and cleared our plates. “Will there be anything else that you’d like to enjoy?’ she asked seductively. I couldn’t help but glare at her. I know I wasn’t gorgeous, but I wasn’t invisible.

“Sloan?” he asked in a low voice. “Would you care for dessert?”

He probably didn’t mean a piece of chocolate cake. Reddening, I shook my head, and he smiled at Sandra. “Some privacy then. Thank you for your services.”

Was it my imagination or was she snarling at me with her eyes? I tried to return the look, but she only rolled her eyes and stalked out of the room. “I think she was disappointed,” I said dryly. Pushing my chair back, I folded the napkin and placed it on the table.

Lucas stood as well. “Going somewhere?”

“The meal is over,” I said, confused. “I figured we were done.”

“We’re not. I think that the only reason I am where I am now is because I’m a careful man. I’m not willing to take any chances.” He moved slowly around the table, and I was torn between the urge to flee and stand my ground. “I have the means to protect you. You should take advantage.”

He closed the distance between us. As I leaned against the table, his hands settled on my hips, and I couldn’t help but place my hands on his chest. I couldn’t explain the pull I felt towards him, but it seemed that I was powerless to stop it. “Is that the only thing I should be taking advantage of?” I asked breathlessly.

Chuckling, he slipped his hands under my top and skimmed the pads of fingers across my skin. His hands were strangely rough, and they awoke every nerve in my body. Desire coiled low in my belly, and I arched my back.

“Do you know what I was thinking when I saw you for the first time at Club 9?” he whispered in my ear. My head rolled to the side, as his fingers caressed my belly. A single finger skimmed under the waistband of my jeans, and I moaned.

Fuck. Anyone who looked up right now would think that I was ready to take him right on the table. Maybe I was.

“I wanted to know what you would sound like when I touched you. I wanted to know where all your sensitive spots were. I wanted to know how you would react to my touch. I wanted to slide my hand under that dress and see just how wet you were.”

I tried desperately to find my grip on reality. “You didn’t even know who I was.” His body was warm and hard beneath my touch. I wanted to be as brave as he was. I wanted to lift his shirt and press my lips to his chest.

“Knowing who you are doesn’t change the way my cock reacts to you,” he said harshly as he pulled me from the table. I’d barely had time to react before he sat in a chair and pulled me across his lap. As I straddled him, I couldn’t help but buck my pussy against him. We were both fully clothed, but I was desperate for any kind of relief.

“Tell me what you like, Sloan. I’ll take you anyway you want tonight. I’ll fuck you senseless right across this table. No one will bother us.” He fisted my hair and yanked my head back so he could graze teeth down my neck.

He hadn’t even kissed me, but I already belonged to him. Every bone in my body screamed for his touch, but in the middle of the sexual haze that surrounded us, a single moment of clarity had me arching away from his body. I wasn’t some toy for him to amuse himself with.

“And when I no longer need your protection? What happens to me then?”

He frowned, but he didn’t stop touching me. Sliding the hem of my shirt up even higher, he grazed his thumb over my bra. My nipples immediately puckered. “What do you mean?” he asked quietly.

“You know damn well what I’m asking. You use your money and charm to seduce women, but how long does it last? One night. One week? Maybe a month if they’re lucky?”

“Tell me that you don’t want me,” he commanded as he dug his fingers into my sides. “Tell me that you’re not curious about us?”

“I want you. More than I’ve ever wanted anyone. So much so that it doesn’t even make sense to me, but I’m not going to be just a tally for you.” I yanked his hands away and slid off his lap. The more space I put between us, the more I could think clearly.

“I see,” he said quietly. “You want romantic dinners and expensive gifts. You want to show me off to your friends and hold hands in public.”

“I want to be treated with respect,” I said as I closed my fingers into a fist. “I’m not a whore. I’m not going to fuck you because I’m grateful that you want to protect me. I’m not a goddamn damsel in distress!”

He didn’t say anything, but his eyes hardened as they swept over me. “I’ll get my security to assign you two men to keep an eye on you. I promise more discretion than the last men showed,” he finally said.

I guess I had my answer. I was good for quick ride but nothing more. “Thank you. I appreciate that. If you don’t mind, I’m ready to go home now.”

He nodded and stood, and I breathed a silent sigh of relief. Had he pushed, even a little, I knew that I would have melted in his arms.

And I wouldn’t have even cared if I regretted in later.

Chapter 8

Lucas

By the time Monday morning rolled around, I was feeling rough. Sloan stayed in my head all weekend. I wasn’t even mildly interested in inviting another woman to warm my bed. At least she’d agreed to the protection detail.

Gripping my coffee like a lifeline, I exited the elevator and walked in on Torrence staring at an unsuspecting Cecilia. She was bent over the desk, fumbling through her papers, and he had a clear view of her cleavage. “Is this really how my week is going to start?” I grumbled as I pushed past him.

“You’re late,” he snapped in return as he followed me to the office. Startled, Cecilia looked up sharply and immediately blushed. “Good morning Mr. Montgomery. Good morning Mr. Torrence.”

“I thought I told you to call me Drew,” he said with an easy smile.

“Torrence,” I said in a warning voice. He gave her one last smile before following me into my office. “You should really just ask her out and put me out of my misery,” I grumbled as I dropped my briefcase to the floor.

“Who pissed in your cheerios this morning?” he asked with narrow eyes. “I emailed you a detailed background check on Sloan Whitlow. Nothing raised any red flags. I hired two men outside the agency to follow her. They’re ex-military, so they should stay out of sight. I also swept all the conference rooms.”

I froze and stared at him. I’d only asked him to check one room. If he checked them all, then he found something. “I want signal jammers installed everywhere on this floor. Hell, maybe even the whole damn building. This week.”

Torrence shrugged and tossed the little gadget on my desk. “The bug itself is pretty cheap, and it doesn’t have much range. I’d say someone would have had to be within two floors of the room to hear anything.”

It relieved me to know that it may not have been the board members, but it opened up the pool of suspects to anyone in my building. Only the top floor was restricted. I tipped my coffee mug back and wished desperately it was something stronger.

“Hire whoever you need to help you find the mole. I want it kept quiet, but I want them found immediately.”

“Whoever put it there will already know that you found it. We won’t exactly be taking them by surprise,” Torrence noted. “But it’ll be easier to find them if they’re nervous. I know of a few guys who could help.”

“Someone who will blend in, please. Your poker buddies look like ex-cons.” In fact, many of Torrence’s contacts were ex-cons, but some were military and a little rough around the edges.

He nodded his head and stared at me for a moment. “Do you really think I should ask her out?”

“Torrence, you’re a grown man. Please don’t ask me these questions.”

“But—“

“Leave,” I growled. I sure as hell didn’t want to deal with anyone’s love life right now. Catching sight of the clock on the wall, I hissed. I had a meeting starting in five minutes.

So much for enjoying my coffee and trying to get my thoughts together. Grabbing my notebook and pen, I tried to clear my mind and pull myself together.

The marketing department had pulled together some new ideas of Montgomery’s new line of camping equipment. I’d acquired Galavant Supplies two years ago, but I was just now trying to give it my full attention. Most of the marketing ideas were polished and approved by Steinburg before they crossed my desk, but I liked to make the rounds to all the departments and judge how they were progressing and working with each other.

Walsh met me in the elevator. “Good morning, Mr. Montgomery,” he said eagerly. “I’ve picked up your suits from the dry cleaning and sent flowers to Mrs. Addison for her birthday.”

Helen Addison was the only female member of the board, but she was also the most terrifying. Normally I’d made it a point to never forget her birthday in order to stay on her good side, but this year it had completely slipped my mind.

“Thank you,” I said gruffly to Walsh. He was irritating, but he was on top of his game.

“There’s one last thing,” he said nervously. Cecilia has an engagement lined up for you this weekend, and I’ve been looking at the recent blog posts about you.”

I put my hand out to stop the elevator doors from closing. “People blog about me?”

“Oh yes. The average person gets their news from social media. Anyway, you haven’t brought a date with you anywhere in public for the last couple of months. Some are saying that you’re hiding a real relationship. Some are speculating that your gay, and a few are wondering if your annual membership to an escort service ran out.”

Narrowing my eyes, I glared at him. “Excuse me? All of these rumors are popping up just because I’ve showed up to one or two events alone?”

“Seven,” Walsh said quietly. “You’ve showed up to seven events alone. I know it’s not my place, but you should really have a date this weekend.”

I didn’t cater my personal life around the whims of the media, but an idea was forming in my head. The more I thought about it, the more wicked it became. “Write this down.”

He quickly pulled out his phone and waited expectedly.

“A green dress. Sexy but still appropriate for the function. Have the saleswoman call me when you get there so I can give her the measurements. I’m also going to need a dozen red roses.”

“You’re going to buy a dress for your date?”

“I’m going to make it impossible for her to turn it down,” I said with a sly smile. “I’ve got a meeting. This is your priority. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir,” he said with a small salute. I snorted as the doors started to close. Just before they shut completely, I thrust my briefcase out.

“Walsh!” I called out.

“Yes, sir?”

“For the love of God, please take Cecilia.” He didn’t respond, and I couldn’t help but smile. Neither one could stand the other, but I didn’t trust Walsh to pick out something that wouldn’t be completely slutty.

The marketing staff was already assembled on the fourth floor meeting room by the time I got there. The department was so big that they spanned ten floors and were headed by eight different people. I had everything from ship building to baby supplies under my umbrella, and while each company retained their own marketing team, I liked to know that my own teams were supervising them.

“Good morning. Sorry I’m late,” I said as I slipped into the room. The chair at the head of the table was open, and I sat down heavily. “I’m just here to observe, so please continue as though I’m not present.”

I said that every time, but I doubted that it had any affect. I’m sure the meeting ran quite differently when I wasn’t around.

Someone slid a box of doughnuts my way, and I hesitated before grabbing one. It wasn’t often that I indulged, but the sugar rush wouldn’t hurt. I snagged a glazed one and settled back. The meeting started, and I aimlessly ran my pen over the paper.

Of course my little wallflower was looking for romance. Most women that I saw wanted more, but none of them dared ever say anything to me about it. In fact, I couldn’t remember the last time a woman had turned me down.

“Most of the Galavant products are geared towards men. In fact, in their ten-year history, they’ve never had a single female in their advertising. I think it’s important to portray that the products are tough enough for men and women,” the girl said nervously up front. She pointed the remote to the screen at the front and an image appeared.

It was a beautiful woman, clearly a model, hiking up a mountain with a large bag strapped to her back. There wasn’t a single strand of blonde hair out of place, and her face was heavily made up. I immediately frowned. I could see where she was going with the idea, but it was all wrong.

“She’s too pretty,” I said out loud. “The average woman who goes camping will turn their noses up at that image. You want someone who isn’t as put together. Someone who doesn’t care if her hair isn’t perfect. Someone who isn’t going to worry about make-up. She’s not there to impress other people. She’s there to enjoy nature. She’s searching for solace and not approval from society.”

It was the first time I’d ever made a suggestion at one of the meetings, and a hush fell over the room. I pitied the poor young girl in the front. “It’s a good concept. I absolutely want to market equally to both sexes, but we’re not selling glamour. We’re selling equipment. The idea is excellent. You just need a new model. Someone with long and unruly curls. Someone with soft skin but tough eyes. A genuine smile. No skinny frames or large fake tits. A real woman.”

“That’s very specific,” she said nervously. “I’ll start a search immediately.”

It was specific. Too specific. Pissed that I’d let Sloan distract me from work, I nodded my head to encourage her to continue. If there was one thing that I prided myself in, it was my focus on the job.

Today I was thinking about her silky skin. The way she’d arched into my touch. The look in her eyes when she’d rubbed herself on my hard cock.

While the meeting droned on, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through the email Torrence had sent me on Sloan.

Both her parents were still alive and living in Washington. Her mother was a school teacher and her father was an engineer. She had no siblings. Graduating at the top of her class, her undergrad professors had given her glowing recommendations to the graduate program. Torrence wasn’t wrong. Not only were there no red flags, but there wasn’t even a traffic ticket to her name.

She’d lived with Randi Jones for the past two years. There was only one noted relationship. Victor Willis.

I made a note to check out this Victor Willis. I didn’t even bother trying to convince myself that it was for the case. I just wanted to know what he was like.

I wanted to see who Sloan Whitlow had said yes to.

Chapter 9

Sloan

My eyes slid over the paper as I mentally tried to rehearse what I was going to say to Dr. Elliot. I had a meeting in an hour, and if I couldn’t get him to approve of my paper thesis, I’d be even more behind. As it was, I was already having a hard enough time catching up.

I reached for the cereal, but the box slid across the counter. Frowning, I looked up to see Randi holding it up. “No breakfast until you tell me what happened with your date Friday night. You’ve spent all weekend avoiding me.”

“I’ve spent all weekend at the library. And it wasn’t a date.”

“When Lucas Montgomery takes you out on a Friday night, it’s a date. I can’t believe you’re not making a big deal about this. He is the number one hottest bachelor in the city, and he doesn’t take women out. Please tell me you climbed on top of him for a nice, long, hard ride. And then give me the details.”

“Randi!” I exclaimed as I snatched the cereal box. “Of course not!” Although I still wasn’t sure how I’d walked away from him. Every time I closed my eyes, I felt his hands on me. “He just took me out to dinner to convince me that I needed his protection until this whole thing blew over.”

“You’re not looking at me. When you don’t look at me, it’s because you’re lying. What are you not telling me?” She narrowed her eyes and stared at me. I felt a flush creep up my cheeks, and she gasped. “You dirty, dirty minx. You did do something scandalous with him! Details.”

I poured the cereal and shook my head. “There’s not a lot to tell. He made it clear that he wanted me, but you said it yourself. He doesn’t date. He fucks a woman for a short time and then moves on. I don’t do casual relationships.”

“You don’t do casual relationships because you’ve never done casual relationships,” she said with a sly smile.

Rolling my eyes, I grabbed the milk from the fridge. “I’ve never done heroin either, but I don’t see you making that argument.” Taking a bite of my cereal, I immediately spat it out. The rancid taste of the spoiled milk caused my eyes to tear up, and I immediately turned on the faucet and ducked my head under to wash away the taste.

“Jesus,” I hissed when my gag reflex finally died down. “When was the last time we went to the grocery store?”

“You were supposed to go this weekend,” she smirked. “But you were too busy hiding from me.”

“For the last time, I wasn’t hiding from you. I was busy.”

“Right. Busy. How do you expect to have a relationship with someone when you can’t even remember to buy milk?”

“All the more reason for me to stay away from Lucas Montgomery,” I muttered, but I already knew what she was going to say.

“All the more reason for you to enjoy some hot and dirty sex with a hot and dirty man. It’ll help you relax. It might even help you focus a little better.”

I grabbed my paper and shoved it in my bag. If I hurried, I might be able to grab a bagel from the coffee shop before my meeting. “And just how do you know that he’s hot and dirty?”

“Please,” she snorted. “Anyone looking at that man can tell that he knows what he’s doing in bed. If you don’t jump on that, I will.”

“Be my guest.” We both knew that it was an empty threat. If there was one person I could always count on to have my back, it was Randi Jones. “I have to go. We’re not going to talk about this again.”

“It’s like you don’t even know me,” she called out as I escaped the apartment.

As usual, I scanned the parking lot for signs of Lucas’s men, but if he was still having me followed, they were much better than the first crowd.

Campus was still fairly empty, and I snagged a parking spot close to Professor Elliot’s office. With just enough time to spare, I bought a bagel and cup of coffee from the coffee kiosk. Scarfing the plain bagel down, I entered his office breathless and with my mouth full.

“Ms. Whitlow. Good morning.”

I swallowed, and smiled. “Good morning, Dr. Elliot. Sorry about the bagel. Spoiled milk.”

He frowned sternly. “I have no idea what that means. Please have a seat. I assume that, by your excited email, you have something to show me?”

As I reached for the papers in my bag, the strap slid down my shoulder. When I tried to grab it, I spilled my coffee all over me, and I inhaled sharply. “Shit.” Snapping my mouth shut, I immediately colored. It wasn’t exactly appropriate to cuss in front of my advisor. “I am so sorry.”

“That’s all right. You’re having a trying month. Why don’t you go to the bathroom and clean yourself off while I review the paper?”

Luckily, my paper wasn’t soaking in coffee. “Thank you Dr. Elliot. I’ll be back in just a minute.” Leaving my bag, I hurried down the hall towards the bathroom. The professor had been so patient with me, and here I was acting like a bumbling idiot in his office.

At least he was forgiving.

Throwing some paper towels under the running water of the sink, I started trying to dab at the stain on my red top. Since the shirt slung off my shoulders, most of the coffee hit my chest, and luckily, it wasn’t scalding hot.

How did he know that I’d had a trying month?

I froze and stared at my reflection. For a second, I was aware of every sound in the bathroom. The flushing toiled from the men’s room on the other side of the wall. The footsteps of people hurrying by the door. My own heart pounding in my chest.

“He’s just talking about your paper,” I scolded myself. What the hell was wrong with me? I was either shoving the threat on my life from my mind, or I was suspecting everyone who walked past me. There seemed to be no reasonable in-between.

Angrily throwing my paper towels in the trashcan, I threw open the bathroom door and glanced down the empty hallway. “This is all his fault,” I said to the stealthy men that I knew had to be somewhere close. “If it wasn’t for him, I could actually focus on my school work. I wouldn’t be suspecting people who are close to me. I wouldn’t be weeks behind on my thesis.”

A large man stepped around the corner and leaned against the wall. He regarded me coolly, and there was only one word that came to mind when I saw him. Danger. “You have reason to suspect your professor?” he asked in a low voice.

“No,” I snapped. “I have no reason to suspect anyone. I just wish that whoever it was would make their move already so I could go back to my normal life. I’m a graduate student. I don’t lust over ridiculously wealthy playboys. I don’t get kidnapped by weirdos, and I sure as hell don’t have people like you following me around!”

Rather than respond to my crazy rant, he simply stepped back and disappeared around the corner again. Alone, I closed my eyes.

Tell me what you like, Sloan. I’ll take you anyway you want tonight. I’ll fuck you senseless right across this table. No one will bother us.

Lucas’s promise never seemed to leave me. Even angry, paranoid, and alone, my body still responded to the memory of his touch. His breath hot in my ears. His eyes staring into mine.

“I’m not this woman,” I whispered to the empty air, but there was no one to convince but myself.

Chapter 10

Sloan

By the time my day ended, I was in desperate need of a drink. Dragging myself from the car, I rubbed my temples and waved half-heartedly to a couple out walking their dog.

There was a large box in front of my door. Frowning, I checked the mailing label. It didn’t have one, but it did have my name scrawled across the front. It wasn’t heavy. I opened the door and pushed it inside with my foot.

When I got it settled on the kitchen table, I stepped back and stared at it. A box just appears on my door without a mailing label? That sounded like an excellent reason to call the police, but maybe that was because I watched too many crime dramas.

With a pair of scissors, I slowly sliced through the tape. “Please don’t be a severed head. Please don’t be a severed head,” I chanted as I cautiously pulled the flap back and peered inside.

Instead of a bloody scene, I found two more boxes. A long narrow box from Lotte’s Florist and a bigger box from Goddard’s Women’s Boutique.

I opened the florist box first and gasped. Inside were a dozen long-stem red roses with a note. “I would very much appreciate your company to the Harrison-Belle Gala this evening.”

There was no signature, but I already knew who it was from. I wasn’t big on current events, but I knew of the Harrison-Belle Gala. It was an annual event where the rich mingled and gave away insane amounts of money to a charity of their choice. The Harrison and Belle families both had lost children to cancer, and they’d hosted this event each year. The Children’s Cancer foundation was always the headlining charity, but the gala also invited four other charities to join the event. The only person that I knew who was wealthy enough to even get an invitation to the gala was Lucas Montgomery.

Was this an apology? My hands tingled in anticipation as I opened the other box. Inside, nestled in tissue papers, was a beautiful green shimmery fabric. I pulled it gently out by the straps and gasped as the gorgeous dress flowed to the floor.

“So much for saying that I have nothing to wear,” I whispered.

There were plenty of reasons I should turn down the invitation. I had work to do tonight. I had class in the morning. Any type of press with me on Lucas’s arm would be bad. Simply being near Lucas was bad.

But he had bought me a beautiful and expensive dress. And roses. How could I say no to that?

You just want to see him again.

I pushed the accusation aside and grabbed my phone. “Sloan,” he answered in a low voice. “I take it that you got my invitation?”

“I think this counts as an expensive gift,” I said with a smile.

“You seem to have an affinity for jeans and t-shirts. I wasn’t sure if you had anything appropriate to wear.”

“And the flowers?”

There was a pause. “I just thought it would be polite,” he said softly.

That wasn’t the answer that I was looking for. “Why would you want to take me?”

“I’ll pick you up at seven,” he said without answering my question. He hung up before I could say anything, and I couldn’t help but smile.

Was it possible that Lucas Montgomery actually liked me?

Feeling almost giddy, I put the phone down and held the dress up against me. There were only a couple of hours before seven. It didn’t usually take me long to get ready, but I did absolutely have to get some mock classroom questions written up for my Children’s Lit class.

Lucas Montgomery was taking me out on a date. Maybe my luck was finally turning around.

He would find a dress similar to the one that I had worn at Randi’s birthday. It was the same halter style that dipped low over my cleavage and scooped all the way down my back. It fell to my ankles with a long slit up the side.

I don’t know how he’d done it, but it fit every single one of my curves just perfectly.

By the time I’d finished pinning my curls up and applying a little bit of make-up, I stared at myself in the mirror. I could have actually passed as pretty. Stepping into the same heels that I’d borrowed from Randi that first night, I completed the look.

There was a sharp knock at the door, and I took a deep breath. “Here goes nothing,” I whispered.

On the other side of the door, Lucas Montgomery looked absolutely immaculate in a black tuxedo. My mouth went dry as I stared at him. With just a little bit of scruff and those intense eyes, he looked like sin wrapped up in a pretty bow.

“You look nice,” he said stiffly, but as his eyes roamed over me, I felt almost complete naked. Exposed.

“You look nice as well.” At least my voice didn’t crack this time. Gripping my clutch, I stepped outside and closed the door behind me. Rather than one of his expensive cars, a limousine waited for us out in the parking lot.

“I think this was how my prom was supposed to go,” I said without thinking.

“Excuse me?”

“The pretty dress and the limousine,” I said hastily. “I’m not trying to cheapen anything, but it’s the only other formal occasion that I have ever experienced.”

“And how exactly did your prom go?”

I gritted my teeth. It was eight years ago and shouldn’t still upset me. “It didn’t. My date stood me up,” I muttered. Dustin Wheeler. He’d been one of the best looking guys in the school, and I’d been speechless when he’d asked me out. In high school, I’d been a joke. I was the bookworm with the frizzy hair. All I needed was the dorky glasses to complete the cliché.

And the handsome football player to humiliate me. That part actually did happen.

“This isn’t prom, Sloan,” he said as the driver opened the door.

“Of course not. Forget I even said anything,” I blushed. Slipping into the car, I berated myself. Already I was sounding like a complete idiot. “Tell me what to expect.”

“At the gala?” He sat close to me and rested his arm on the seat behind my head. There were empty seats along the other side of the limo and spots just behind the driver’s seat and at the back. Plenty of room to spread out, but his thigh pressed against mine. All he had to do was move his hand an inch, and he’d be touching me. Instead, he seemed completely relaxed and oblivious to how my body was heating up. “The intention behind the charity gala was noble, and the Harrison’s and Belle’s both strive to keep it that way, but most of the guests don’t go to support charity. It’s all politics and appearances. But when people are flashing that much money around to impress others, the charities do win out.”

“You sound like you don’t approve.”

“I wouldn’t have even gone if it weren’t for my board members. The demand that I make certain appearances each year. Since I’ve turned up solo to all the events in the past few months, I was advised that taking a date would be good for my reputation.”

His voice was easy and unconcerned, and I felt my heart drop. Of course this had everything to do with his appearance and nothing to do with me. He’d probably known that I’d be so easy to manipulate.

“I see,” I said coldly. I thought about moving to another seat, but I didn’t want it to be obvious that my feelings were hurt.

“You’re upset.” He moved his hand and stroked his thumb down the column of my neck. I knew it was to distract me, but I still couldn’t help but warm under his touch.

“It’s fine. Do you know how long it will last? I have class in the morning.” I leaned down to move away from his fingers, but he simply took advantage and slipped a finger down the length of my spine. I couldn’t even help myself as I gasped. “Damn it,” I muttered. “Why do you do that?”

“Do what?” His finger slipped under the fabric of my dress, and I immediately straightened and cleared my throat.

“Touch me when I’m angry,” I snapped as I wiggled away. Every time he was close to me, I felt all logic fly out the window.

“Do you want me to stop touching you?”

No. Yes. Fuck. “I can’t think when you’re touching me,” I said lamely.

“You’re not supposed to think, Sloan. You’re supposed to feel. I do have an ulterior motive for tonight, and you should be very aware of it.”

My heart fluttered. “What ulterior motive?” I whispered.

He leaned down and kissed my bare shoulder. My eyes drifted shut as his hand skimmed under the fabric of the dress to brush along the side of my breast. “You’re not wearing a bra.”

Just a little more. I was almost ready to beg for it. Just a little more, and he’d finally be touching my aching nipple. “It’s not the kind of dress you wear a bra with.” I turned my face to him and desperately hoped that he would kiss me. My lips burned for him, and although he’d already set my body on fire, he still hadn’t let me taste him.

He pulled his hand away, and I moaned in frustration. Chuckling, he slid a finger up the slit of my dress. “Is it the type of dress that you wear panties under?”

No. “That’s for me to know,” I said as I licked my lips. Silently berating myself, I knew that I was playing with fire. We both knew it. Just a couple of days ago I’d told him that I wouldn’t be his toy, and here I was, on the cusp of begging to be used.

“That’s fine. I have every intention of finding out for myself before the night is over with.”

“Lucas!”

“Don’t. When the night is over, if you want me to take you home, I will. No questions asked. But I think you’re going to want to satisfy your curiosity.”

He continued to caress my bare thigh, and I grew wetter by the second. “Curiosity?”

“Just how many times do you think I can make you come in one night?” he whispered in my ear. “From my fingers. From my tongue. From my cock.”

Fuck. I was so ready to find out. I wanted to find out right then and there, but the car pulled to a stop. He immediately straightened and gave me a cocky smile. “We’re here.”

Taking a deep breath, I tried to collect myself, but no amount of straightening my dress could dampen the desire inside me. I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to hold him at arm’s length forever.

Chapter 11

Sloan

Politicians. Celebrities. Business tycoons. My eyes widened as I took everything in. The wait staff moved with silver trays through the crowd carrying champagne, martinis, and wine glasses. Everyone mingled in the middle, and while they were laughing and talking, none of it looked genuine.

“It’s pretty,” I said lamely. It wasn’t a lie. Someone put a lot of money into decorating the place. The tables lined up along the wall were dressed in white with gold embroidery. Each was decorated with a tall center candle and several smaller candles surrounding it, all in crystal hurricane vases. Lights swooped over the large curtain that hung from ceiling to floor, and right in the middle of the charity booths was a champagne fountain.

“Pretty?” he said with a cheeky smile. “This is thousands of dollars’ worth of decorations in here, and all you can say is pretty?”

“To those of us who have never seen thousands of dollars’ worth of decorations, it’s pretty.” I suddenly brightened. “Do you think Chris Pine is here?” I had a huge crush on Chris Pine.

He rolled his eyes and guided me into the crowd. We could barely take a couple of steps before someone would stop him to talk. All eyes seemed to land on me, but no one asked me for my name.

Maybe they knew I wasn’t important. His hold on me never wavered, but as the time passed, I realized that I was no more than a decoration on his arm.

“Montgomery! What is this I hear about you buying real estate in Boston?” one pot-bellied man said as he stretched out his hand.

I felt Lucas tense before he reached out and shook it. “Jackson. I haven’t bought any property in Boston,” he said with a forced smile. “But I did see the article. I guess someone jumped the gun on that one. I’m fairly focused on the Japan project.”

“I see,” he said skeptically. His eyes dropped to me, and I decided that enough was enough. “Hi. I’m Sloan Whitlow,” I said as I held out my hand.

Lucas looked at me sharply, but the man just smiled and took my hand. His lips grazed across my knuckles and lingered a little too long. “Daniel Jackson, at your service. I own the Surf and Sand resorts.”

“Wow. I’m a graduate student.”

He roared with laughter and dropped my hand. “A graduate student? That’s rich.”

Lucas steered me away, and I glanced back, confused. “Why is that funny?”

“Don’t worry about it. Would you like some champagne? I see someone that I need to speak with, but you’re welcome to help yourself to any of the food and drink. Just don’t leave the hotel. I had your security detail take the night off since you’re with me.”

My stomach growled, and I realized that I was a little hungry. “I’ll probably just steal some food and go talk to the people at the charity booths. They look like they’re more my speed anyway.”

He nodded shortly, but his eyes scanned the crowd. “Pick your favorite one. I’ll donate to that one.”

“What? I don’t think that’s how it works, Lucas. You’re supposed to donate to the one of your choice. It’s not my money.”

“They’re all the same to me,” he said. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

Aghast, I watched him walk away. They were all the same to him? That was cold.

Wrapping my arms around myself, I made my way through the crowd until I stopped at the Animal Rescue Foundation. Snagging some finger sandwiches from the tray, I offered one to the guy behind the booth. “Hungry?”

A smile broke across his face as he took the sandwich. “Starving. Thank you. Most of the guests here don’t pay much attention to us.”

“What do you mean? Aren’t you here to talk about the charity?”

“I am. I have a whole speech planned out, but no one really ever asks. They just hand me their credit cards and sign after I swipe it.”

I studied him. He was close to my age, and while he was dressed in a suit, he was clearly uncomfortable in it. Finally, someone I could relate to. “Well, I’m Sloan Whitlow. Unfortunately, I have no money to give you, but my date told me that he’d donate to the charity of my choice. So by all means, give me your speech.”

He laughed and handed me a brochure. “All right. The Animal Rescue Foundation is a hundred-acre sanctuary for domestic and farm animals. We accept any surrenders, no questions asked, and we also rescue animals from euthanasia in kill shelters. Right now we’re fostering seven horses, twelve pigs, several birds, close to a hundred dogs and cats, and a camel. Most of our animals are sick or have been severely abused. We charge a small adoption fee, but most of the animals live their entire lives on the sanctuary. Money for food and medical services comes entirely from donations, and our staff is made entirely of volunteers. We don’t have to pay anyone in the organization a salary which means that a hundred percent of the donations goes to the animals.”

I opened the brochure and put a hand over my chest. The pictures showed a straggly rag-tag group of animals, but they all looked content splayed out on their chewed and torn beds.

“We only have two stables, and both of them are in desperate need of repair. We’re also hoping to install a shallow pool to provide therapy for our older arthritic dogs,” he said as he pointed to the brochure. His finger slid over my hand, and he immediately reddened. “Sorry.”

I couldn’t help but smile. He was attractive. Certainly more my speed than Lucas, but I didn’t feel the same sizzle. “I think I’ve heard of you guys. Do you do field trips for the local elementary schools?”

“We do, but we just implemented the program a couple of years ago. You can’t possibly be old enough to have a kid in elementary school!”

“No, I’m a graduate student studying childhood development and education. I’m actually working on my thesis, and I came across a list of popular field trip destinations in the area. What do you do with the kids?”

“We try to teach them proper care and responsibility for animals, but I think, to them, we’re a petting zoo. The schedule allows them to leash, walk, train, and feed the animals. They get a pamphlet about pet responsibility when they leave.”

“Do any of the parents complain that their kids come home begging to adopt a pet?” I asked with a laugh.

“Actually, we get a good percentage of families that come back. They either want to adopt, or they want their kids to help out during the summer. We offer a camp program for kids to volunteer and help out once school lets out.”

The wheels in my head were turning. There were no activities for elementary kids in the summer that were connected to the school system, but an organized program where kids could try out and volunteer at a number of places around would both educate and entertain. They could volunteer at animal shelters, soup kitchens, nursing homes, and even hospitals. It would go a long way in teaching them compassion, responsibility, and diversity.

“Do you have any information on your summer program that I could take with me?” I asked suddenly.

“Sure. We’re still accepting applications for camp counselors. If you like animals and kids, it’d be a great place for you. It’s part time, so you can still work,” he said as he bent behind the booth and grabbed a folder. When he stood back up, he immediately paled and looked down.

An arm wrapped around my waist, and I stiffened. Lucas possessively pulled me towards him. “See something that you like?” he asked me softly.

“If you’re talking about the charity, yes,” I said with narrow eyes. Pulling out of his hold, I took the flyer. “Could you write your contact information on here in case I have any questions?”

His eyes widened, but he grabbed a pen and scribbled on the paper. “Thank you. I will definitely be in touch.”

Lucas had a firm grip on my elbow as he steered me away. “What is wrong with you?” I hissed as I jerked away. “You told me to pick a charity.”

“Talk to them. Not get their numbers,” he growled. “When you’re on my arm, you don’t flirt with other men.”

Trying to keep my voice down, I glared at him. “You are such an asshole. I wasn’t flirting. I think his organization’s program could be implemented in schools. Not that you’ve ever bothered to ask, but it’s what I’m busting my ass to study. And if you’re not going to actually treat me like a date, I’ll talk to whomever I want.”

“Not treat you like a date? I bought you flowers and a dress,” he said as he stared at me. “I thought that’s what you wanted.”

“Then you don’t know the first thing about me. I came along because I thought this was your way of apologizing to me, but it’s obvious that the women you drag around are supposed to be seen and not heard. You should see the surprise on these people’s faces when I try to introduce myself. You might as well have picked some whore off the street.”

I watched as his jaw clenched with rage, and I took a deep breath. “I’m going to the ladies’ room. Don’t follow me.”

Spinning on my heels, I kept my head up as I walked towards the bathrooms. Tucking the paperwork into my clutch, I turned at the last minute and skirted around the crowd. What I really needed was some fresh air, but I knew he would freak out if he thought I was trying to leave without him.

“Controlling bastard,” I muttered as I strode through the lobby and opened the double doors. The cool air rushed to my skin and instantly calmed me. I inhaled deeply and rolled my shoulders.

How mad could I be at him? I agreed to join him tonight knowing full well that all he wanted was a quick roll in the sheets. I had nobody to blame but myself.

I turned to explain to the valet that I was just here to walk around a bit when I realized that no one was at the stand. Dread filled me when I scanned the parking lot.

No security. No people milling around.

The headlights weren’t turned on when the van barreled out of the darkness. As it screeched to a stop, I whirled around and ran desperately for the door. I would have made it too if they weren’t waiting for me. They stepped from behind the columns and grabbed me. Before I could scream, they shoved something into my mouth.

This time, they were ready for me. Binding my arms with a zip tie, they quickly lifted me and shoved me in the van.

Ten seconds. It couldn’t have taken longer than that for me to realize that I wasn’t getting out of this one.

Chapter 12

Lucas

She was gone. As soon as I burst through the doors of the hotel, I saw the familiar van speeding off. Her clutch lay on the asphalt with the contents spilling out.

Fear gripped me as I pulled out my phone. Torrence grumbled as he answered, but I didn’t have time for that. “They have her,” I said urgently. “I need a trace on my phone. If they call, I want to know where they are immediately.

“You’re at the gala?” he asked, obviously awake now. “Which direction did they go?”

“South down Waters Edge. White paneled van. No obvious markings. I couldn’t see the license plate.”

“I’ll see if I can direct some traffic cameras that way and track them. Call the police, and for God’s sake, Montgomery, do not leave that hotel. Don’t even think of trying to play hero.”

What the hell did he think I was going to do? It wasn’t like I could run after them on foot. I had more money than God at my disposal, but at that moment, I felt completely helpless.

Logic told me that they’d try to ransom her first, but all I could see was her mangled body lying on the side of the road. What if this had nothing to do with money? What if they were just sadistic bastards bent on hurting me?

I called Detective Allen before heading back inside to pull the hotel manager aside. “I don’t want you to raise an alarm, but there was just an abduction in your parking lot. I’ve alerted the police, but I want to see your security tapes.”

His eyes widened. “Mr. Montgomery, are you okay?”

“Do I look okay? The tapes. Now.”

Rubbing his hand nervously, he shook his head. “Should we wait for the police? I really think —”

“I will wire a thousand dollars into your personal account if you’ll just shut up and do as I ask.”

Money talks. He snapped his mouth shut and nodded his head. “Of course. Our security office is right back here.”

The Water’s Edge Hotel hosted many expensive private parties each year, so their security was impressive. Monitors covered the walls, and I could see the ball room, the lobby, the bar and elevators, each floor of the hotel.

And the parking lot.

“Rewind the outside feed,” I said darkly.

They took one look at my face and bent their heads to comply. Staring at the screen, I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach.

Sloan was practically fleeing the hotel. She’d barely made it down the front steps when two men stepped out from the shadows and shoved something in her mouth. She tried to fight, but they had no problems binding her and tossing her in the van.

“Where the hell is the valet? Your outside security men?” I barked. “Don’t you have people out there?”

“Yes, sir.” One of the guards picked up the radio and tried to contact the valet station and patrolling security. When there was no answer, I felt my whole body break out into a cold sweat.

“Find them,” I said hoarsely. Praying that they were just knocked out instead of dead, I pulled out my phone and gripped it in my hand.

There wasn’t a chance in hell that Sloan wasn’t going to fight. If they decided that she wasn’t worth the trouble, they’d kill her.

Torrence beat the police to the hotel. I wasn’t even surprised. Before he could cut the engine, I slid into the passenger seat. “Drive.”

He didn’t follow the command. Instead, he turned off the car and turned to face me. “She’s here.”

“Are you insane? I saw them drive off with her. I just watched the security tapes. I will fire you and make sure that you never find work in this city again if you don’t turn this car on and start driving.”

“Montgomery.”

I blinked and stared at him. There was something earnest in his voice. “How can she possibly be here,” I finally whispered.

“The traffic cams caught them turning left at every light. Either they’re the least organized criminals in the world and turned the wrong way out of the hotel, they’re circling back. If it were me, I’d hole up in the one place I knew the police wouldn’t be looking.”

I shook my head. “There are cameras crawling all over this hotel. They’d never get back out unseen.”

He unbuckled his seat belt and climbed out of the car. “I need to talk to security, but I bet the staff uses the tunnels that run under the hotel to get in and out without bothering guests. I doubt there are cameras monitoring them. Stay here and wait for the police. I’ll be right back.”

As soon as he disappeared into the hotel, I followed him and grabbed the nearest employee. “I’ll give you five hundred dollars if you tell me where the employee entrance and exits are.”

Her eyes widened, and she nodded. “There is only one that leads out of the ballroom. It feeds directly into the kitchen.”

“Show me.”

Shrugging, she put down her tray and led me to the hallway with the bathrooms. At the end was a door marked employees only. “How many tunnels lead outside?”

“Just one. It leads into the employee lounge before it breaks off. The maids’ offices are down there, and the laundry. It’s easy to get lost if you don’t know where you’re going. The trash receptacles and storage rooms are down there as well. It spans the whole length of the building.”

“Are there any employees down there?”

She shook her head. “I doubt it. Most of the staff have gone home, and those of us that are still here won’t leave until well after midnight. The cleaning staff is gone for the night.”

It was the perfect place for them to take her. No witnesses, a maze of rooms, and the one place the police wouldn’t look. “I need you to find a man named Torrence and tell him that I’m down there. He’s going to be with security and he’s probably going to be pissed. Can you do that?”

She nodded and scurried away. Loosening my bow tie, I took a deep breath and slowly eased the door open. I had no weapon, but if it was money they wanted, I would clear out my bank accounts to save her.

The hallway led directly into the kitchen. I could hear the clanging of pots and pans and the cook shouting orders. All noise ceased and everyone stared at me as I walked through the double doors.

“Don’t mind me,” I muttered as I crossed the kitchen. “Which door leads to the exit?”

“The one you came in,” one girl said timidly. She obviously thought I was drunk and turned around.

“The employee exit,” I asked impatiently. “Which door leads to the employee exit?”

Wordlessly, they all pointed to the door on the left. I nodded curtly, and eased it open. Just as I walked into the barely lit tunnel, my phone vibrated.

It was an unknown number.

Answering it, I held it up to my ear and waited.

“We have your woman. If you want to see her again, you’ll get two million dollars to us within two hours. Call the police, and she dies,” a distorted deep voice ordered.

“You kidnapped her from a public parking lot full of prominent people. Security already called the police,” I snapped. “Not to mention that banks are closed. I won’t be able to get my hands on that much money until the morning.”

There was a pause and some chatter in the background. They’d had at least two weeks to get their shit together, and they were still fucking up. They had to be the dumbest criminals ever.

“Well?”

“We’ll call you back.” The call ended, and I grimaced. They clearly hadn’t thought things through when they decided to hole up in the hotel. What would that mean for Sloan?

Pressing myself into a darkened corner, I dialed Torrence and waited.

“Where the hell are you?” he snapped.

“I just got the ransom call. I don’t think they counted on the banks not being open. Get some police to the exit of the hotel. They’re going to try to leave with her.”

“How do you know?”

“They don’t have a choice. If they’re still here in the morning, the staff will catch them.”

I hung up the phone and waited. The faint sounds from the kitchen echoed into the hallway, but there were no footsteps. I had to get closer to the exit if I wanted to catch them.

The phone vibrated again, and I answered it. “Get the money by ten in the morning. We’ll call you then with further instructions.”

“I want proof of life,” I said immediately, but the call had already ended. “Damn it.”

Shucking off my jacket, I rolled up my sleeves and moved cautiously down the wall. Each time I came to a corner, I peered around it, but I was still alone. Worried that Torrence was wrong and they weren’t here, I kept following the exit signs.

Just as the girl had said, the last room before the door was the employee break room. I eased the door open and hid just inside the opening. If they were here, and the police were out back, there was nowhere for them to go.

Time blurred. I had no idea whether I’d waited minutes or hours, but a single voice finally echoed off the walls.

“Let go of me you, you fucking assholes!”

There was my proof of life.

Chapter 13

Sloan

As they dragged me down the tunnel halls, I spat out the rag and started to scream. “Let go of me you fucking assholes!”

“Shut the hell up!” one of them hissed. “Duncan, shut her up.”

The fist came out of nowhere and connected to my jaw. Pain radiated throughout my face, but I didn’t stop. “If you want me to be quiet, you’re going to have to fucking kill me. Who will pay your damn ransom then?” I snarled.

We neared the exit doors, and my heart dropped. If I didn’t get free before we left the hotel, God knew what they would do to me. Dropping my body, I let my full weight slow them down. They grunted and reached for me, but before I knew it, they’d dropped me to the floor.

Stunned, I watched as Lucas leapt from an entryway. He’d struck two of the men before the doors opened up and police swarmed the area.

“Sloan,” Lucas shouted as he grabbed me. “Damn it, baby. Are you okay? Say something.”

He pulled me to my feet, and I just blinked and stared at him. “I didn’t know you even knew how to fight,” I said softly. “I figured you were the type who paid other people to do that.”

“Is that your way of saying thank you?” he said softly. He pulled a small knife from his pocket and sliced through the ties on my wrists. I immediately wrapped my arms around his neck and sagged against him. Now that I was safe, there was no more fight left in me.

That just left fear, horror, and shock.

“You scared the hell out of me.” As the police surrounded us and people barked orders, he finally lowered his head and kissed me.

Hot. Desperate. Urgent. This wasn’t the hesitant first kiss. I could taste fear, anger, and desire wrapped all in one. For a moment, he chased the demons away, and I returned the kiss with fervor. He may not be the forever kind of guy, but he was here now.

When I grew too dizzy and breathless, I had to break the kiss. Burying my head in his chest, I ignored the buzz around me. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. I just wanted to be alone.

“Can she talk to you tomorrow? I don’t think she’s ready to give a statement,” he said in a low voice.

“We’ve got paramedics here to check her out.”

The voice sounded familiar. I pulled back and looked into the kind eyes of Detective Allen.

“I’m fine,” I muttered quietly. “I just don’t want to be here anymore.”

He nodded. “Take her home. I’ll give you both a call in the morning.”

Lucas wrapped his arms around me and slowly walked me through the doors. I turned my head and watched the flashing blue lights. I’d seen them far too much lately. Just past them, the limousine was waiting.

I slid inside and huddled in the corner. Lucas sat across from me, and I wondered why he wasn’t touching me. Why he wasn’t holding me.

“My bag,” I said hoarsely. “My bag is still inside.”

“My head of security has it. It’ll be returned to you,” he said in a low voice. There was something dangerous and restrained in his tone. “Do you want me to take you to your apartment?”

Randi would be there. She’d want to comfort me. She’d want to talk to me. I wasn’t ready for that. Numbly, I shook my head.

“Where do you want to go?”

Turning away from him, I rested my head on the window. I had no idea where I wanted to go.

I stared out the window. The moon hung high over the acres of the Montgomery Estate. I should have been exhausted, but I think I was still in shock.

“Sloan, do you want something to drink?” Lucas asked softly. He hadn’t said much of anything in the car. There was a dark rage that swirled in his eyes, but he was gentle as he helped me from the car to the house. Even now, I could hear the anger simmering just under the surface.

“You’re angry,” I said softly without turning around.

“Do you want a drink,” he asked again.

“Sure.” I didn’t really, but it would give me something to do.

I heard the click of the cabinet and the distant sound of running liquid. His reflection appeared behind me, and I held my hand out. The glass slid in my hand, and I gripped it automatically. “Thank you.”

Raising it to my lips, I sipped slowly at it. “Your place is nice.”

“What the hell were you thinking, Sloan?”

There it was. The accusation that was written all over his eyes. I knocked the rest of the bourbon back and sat the empty glass on the table before I turned to stare at him. “I was upset and needed some fresh air. There shouldn’t be anything wrong with that,” I said softly.

“You knew that I’d pulled your detail because you were with me. You knew that no one was watching you when you left that party,” he hissed.

Something inside me snapped, and I narrowed my eyes. “So this is my fault? What was I supposed to do? Spend the rest of my life under your protection?”

“At least you would have been safe!” he roared. He dropped his glass and let it shatter against the floor as he grabbed my arms and pushed me up against the window. “The minute I realized that you were gone, I thought I’d gotten you killed.”

His body pressed up against me, and I realized that he wasn’t angry at me. He was angry at himself. “Lucas,” I said softly as I reached up and touched his face. “You didn’t kidnap me. This isn’t your fault. You can’t blame yourself.”

“You do,” he said through clenched teeth.

“I don’t.” A storm raged inside him, and was terrified to think of what he would do if he continued to carry the guilt on his shoulders. “I blame the men that kidnapped me. I blame myself for letting my feelings cloud my judgment. The one person that I do not blame is you. And it’s over now. They’re never going to touch me again.”

“It’s over,” he echoed.

“We can both go back to our normal lives. You don’t have to worry about me anymore.” My pulse spiked as I spread my hands over his chest. “It’s over, Lucas. The night is almost over.”

His eyes darkened as he pressed his body harder against mine. “It’s not over until I say it’s over,” he growled. “You should have gone home, Sloan.”

I lifted my chin and stared at him. The memory of the night’s events was blurring, but I remembered his lips on mine. It was the only thing that had shaken me from my fear.

“I didn’t want to go home.”

“Tell me no, Sloan. Tell me that you don’t want me. You should have someone gentle, and I don’t think I can be gentle tonight.”

I should have. I should have done all those things, but the only thing I truly wanted was for someone to chase the fear away.

I wanted to feel good.

Hooking my arms around him, I took his hand and slid it up the slit of my skirt. Higher until he could feel the heat pulsating from my pussy.

He groaned and rubbed his thumb across my wet lips, and I jumped at the pleasure that cascaded through my body. I knew that if I did this, nothing would ever be the same, but my life had changed the minute he’d touched me at the club.

I didn’t have the strength to do what was right. I wanted to do what felt good.

“I need you,” I whispered, and I dropped my inhibitions.

Tonight, my body would be his.

* * *

Chapter 1

Sloan

“Tell me no, Sloan. Tell me that you don’t want me. You should have someone gentle, and I don’t think I can be gentle tonight.”

I should have. I should have done all those things, but the only thing I truly wanted was for someone to chase the fear away.

I wanted to feel good.

Hooking my arms around him, I took his hand and slid it up the slit of my skirt. Higher until he could feel the heat pulsating from my pussy.

He groaned and rubbed his thumb across my wet lips, and I jumped at the pleasure that cascaded through my body. I knew that if I did this, nothing would ever be the same, but my life had changed the minute he’d touched me.

I didn’t have the strength to do what was right. I wanted to do what felt good.

“I need you,” I whispered, and I dropped my inhibitions.

Tonight, my body would be his.

His lips were on my throat as he hiked the fabric of my dress up to my waist and slowly inserted a finger inside me. Leaning my head back against the glass, my eyes drifted close. My body had been waiting for this the moment I’d laid eyes on him, and now that it was here, I thought I might explode before we’d even begun. Unable to help myself, a low moan escaped me.

Lucas hissed at the sound and raked his teeth across my skin. “I’ve dreamed of the sounds you would make when I pleasured you. When I fucked you,” he muttered. “Everything about you makes me so goddamn hard.”

He added a second finger and stroked deep inside me. My legs weakening, I had no choice but to wrap my arms around his shoulders and try to hang on as he continued to wreak havoc on my body.

“Lucas,” I whispered. “If you don’t stop…I’m going to…God, we haven’t even started…please…” I panted, but when his thumb circled my sensitive nub, I lost all control. Burying my head in his shoulders, I cried out as my body convulsed around him. I was embarrassed by how easily my body had responded to him and upset that it was already over.

Suddenly, his hands swept under me and easily lifted me in the air. When he laid me down on the bed, I took a deep breath. He’d obviously keep going until he’d found his own pleasure, and I needed to prepare myself. It had been rare for my ex-boyfriend to make me come before he’d even entered me, but when it did happen, sex was almost painful.

“Sloan,” he said in a low voice. “Why do you suddenly look upset? Do you want me to stop?”

“No,” I said with a forced smile. “I can handle it.”

His face was full of concern as he leaned over me and slowly stroked my cheek with his finger. “Baby, I know I said that I might be rough, but I’m not going to hurt you. If you’re not ready, we can stop.”

It was sweet of him to give me an option, but I wasn’t going to stop just because I had some issues with sex. “I want to keep going. I’m just a little nervous. It’s been a while.”

“You look more than nervous, my sweet. Let me see if I can make you feel more at ease.” There was a wicked look on his face as his hands slid up my thighs and pulled my dress up. I lifted my hips and then my back and shoulders as he slipped it off my head. Completely naked and feeling vulnerable, I tried to cover myself, but he quickly pinned my arms to the side.

His eyes darkened considerably as he gazed at me. “Let me see you, Sloan. You have no idea how badly I’ve wanted to see this. God, you are absolute perfection.”

There was something in the way he looked at me, but I felt my body warm despite my hesitation. He let go of my wrist and trailed a hand down my throat and over the swell of my breast. I arched against his touch and felt my body reawaken.

“You like that?” he asked softly as he bent down. “What about this?” Running a tongue over my erect nipple, he pulled another deep moan from me. Before too long, I was bucking against him. I desperately wished he was naked, but I couldn’t help rubbing my pussy against the cock still restrained in his pants. “It seems that you do.”

His head slid down my body as he licked a path to my sex. I saw his intentions, and quickly grabbed his head. If he fucked me with his tongue, I’d come again, and I wouldn’t have anything left to give him.

“Please,” I muttered as I forced his head up. “Just fuck me. I’m ready.”

Lucas’s eyes narrowed. “Did you just deny me?”

“I’m ready, Lucas. Please. I’m ready for you.”

Sliding off the bed, he began to unbutton his shirt. “Touch yourself,” he demanded hoarsely. “I want to see you touch yourself.”

My cheeks reddened. I had never done that in front of anyone. When I didn’t quickly follow his command, his hands stilled. “Sloan. Do it. Touch yourself.”

Afraid that he’d stop and I’d never feel him inside me, I slowly moved a hand down my body until I could lightly strum my clit. There was something forbidden about having his eyes on me while I played, and it only made me hotter. My hips twisted under my touch, and I bit down on my bottom lip. “Please,” I whimpered. “Please hurry.”

“You can stop.” He stood naked by the bed, and every fantasy in my head hadn’t even come close to reality. Every inch of his skin seemed to beg for my touch. Hard sculpted muscles, skin smooth and taut. His erection was, to say the least, impressive.

He covered my body with his and kissed me with a desperate urgency. As I spread my legs, his erection rubbed against me until I could take no more. “Lucas,” I begged. “Fuck me. Now. Please.”

Without another word, he slid inside me with a grunt and immediately stilled.

God. He stretched and filled me, and I gasped.

“Sloan,” he hissed. “Hold still. Let me have a minute.”

I froze under him and closed my eyes. I’d never felt anything like it. “Are you…?”

“Not yet,” he hissed. I saw the sweat forming on his forehead. He was straining to stay in control and not push the rest of his cock inside me. Slowly, I rocked my body just a little. I liked the way he felt, and I wanted all of him.

“Fuck, Sloan,” he moaned. “Baby, you have to stop. You’re too tight. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Don’t hold back. I can take it. I need you.” I couldn’t stop even if I wanted to. The more I rocked, the deeper he slid until he released a guttural moan and lifted my knees as he finally sank all the way home.

Wrapping my legs around his waist, I leaned up and licked the sweat from his skin as he started to pump his hips. Although he tried to be slow and easy, we were too far gone for that. Soon, he was hammering inside me.

Flames licked my body as the tension grew inside me. I wanted to touch and kiss him, but I could do nothing but let him control me, twist me, and move me as he pleased. When he sucked my breast into his mouth and flicked his tongue over the nipple, I arched helplessly under him. Sex had never felt like this before, and I was almost afraid to climax.

Gasping and panting, I gripped the bars of the headboard and held on to it as it slammed into the wall.

Faster. Deeper. I was so close. “Lucas,” I whimpered. “I’m going to come. Fuck. I don’t know.”

“I’ve got you,” he moaned. “Come, baby. I want to feel you around my cock.”

He covered my mouth with his and swallowed my scream as I lost all control of my body. Growing almost rigid under him, I tightened my legs around his waist in an effort to keep him inside me as I careened over the edge of chaos. My toes curled, and my nails dug into his back. I’d leave marks, but he didn’t seem to care.

“Fuck. Sloan. Ah, God,” he moaned as he suddenly slammed hard inside me and grunted. I felt him spill his seed until finally, he slumped over me, nothing but dead weight and complete and utter satisfaction.

I didn’t give a damn how heavy he was. As I tried to catch my breath, I traced my fingers over his back like an old lover familiar with every curve of his body.

Finally, he lifted his head and stared at me. “You want to tell me what the hell that was?” he asked accusingly.

Surprised, my eyes widened. Why was he mad? “What do you mean? Is there something wrong with me?”

“With you?” he laughed hollowly. “Your body is nothing but an addiction waiting to happen. But I wanted to taste you, and you stopped me. Why?”

Embarrassed, I tried to wiggle out from under him, but he kept me trapped. “Sloan,” he said warningly.

“I don’t usually orgasm more than once,” I admitted finally. “It can make sex a little uncomfortable for me.”

A slow smile spread across his face. “Ah, baby. You are so sweet and so innocent.”

He rolled us over until I was sprawled out on top of him. As if on instinct, my legs fell apart and I straddled him. His hands immediately started to stoke my side and ass. I couldn’t even believe it as I started to grow wet again. He dug his finger into my ass cheeks and slowly forced my body to slide over him.

“You don’t ever have to worry about that,” he whispered. “I’ll train your body to be wet just by my mere presence. A single word. A memory.”

I shivered and stared at him. Was that the kind of woman I wanted to be? At the mercy of a man who could make me wet with a single word? It troubled me, but I couldn’t stop my body’s reaction. He stirred and hardened, and I couldn’t help but shake my head.

“You’re ready?” I whispered. “Again?”

“And that’s my problem with you,” he hissed. “I’m always ready for you.”

Before I could decide what to do with that, he slid inside me and chased away all my logic.

When he touched me, stroked me, kissed me, and filled me, I couldn’t deny him anything. I was his.

Chapter 2

Lucas

I stood at the large windows of my office and looked down below. The city continued as if nothing had happened. Cars sped along the streets and honked angrily at each other. People scurried back and forth, desperate to reach their destinations in time. Everything was the same as yesterday and the day before.

Except for me. I was hardly the same. The object of my desire had been in my bed all night, and I’d thought my obsession would finally abate. Slake my desire, and I’d be able to satisfy my curiosity.

Sloan was gone the next morning. She’d slipped out of my bed after only a few hours of sleep and asked my driver to take her home. She hadn’t even said goodbye.

It was rare that a woman voluntarily left my bed. Rarer even still that a woman didn’t call afterwards for round two.

I don’t know if it was my pride or my confusion that kept me from calling her. Even after slating my desire twice in one night, she was still on my mind. She hovered about in my dreams. She flitted across every thought.

Sloan controlled my body even when she wasn’t there. It was maddening. Even worse, I couldn’t help but suspect that she didn’t feel the same.

“For the love of God, Montgomery, your secretary has been calling you for five minutes. What the hell is wrong with you?”

I turned suddenly to see Howard Steinburg, my vice president, frowning at me from the doorway. Annoyed that Sloan was once again keeping me from work, I forced a smile. “Sorry,” I muttered. “A lot on my mind.”

“When the hell were you going to tell me that there was a bug in the conference room?” he growled. His face was red with anger. Steinburg was pushing retirement age although he never discussed stepping down. I always had the feeling he’d keel over from a heart attack before he let that happen.

“I’m trying to keep it as quiet as possible,” I said mildly as I sat down.

“You should have told me.”

“I don’t have to tell you anything.” My voice was low and hard. Although I hated to do it, sometimes I had to remind Steinburg that he worked for me and not the other way around. He was a brilliant businessman, and I paid him an obscene amount of money to work for me, but he was a man of control. I knew he thought of me as a son, and he only bothered me when he also thought of himself as a boss.

My boss.

There was an awkward moment of silence before he visibly relaxed. “Damn it, Lucas. Don’t you trust me?”

“It had never even crossed my mind that you would be a mole.” I leaned back in my chair and cocked my head. “But you were focusing on a major overhaul in the legal department, and I didn’t want to add this to your work pile. Torrence is handling it. This is why he works for me.”

Steinburg narrowed his eyes. “Torrence was hired to head your security department. Since when does that extend to investigating?”

“Torrence has many talents.” I rocked gently in my chair. It wasn’t really the time or place to go into Torrence’s abilities.

“Fine,” he grunted and slumped into the chair. “And what is Torrence doing about it?”

“Narrowing down the pool of suspects. I’ll let you know if there is anything worth telling. Was there any other reason you decided to storm my office?”

“This kidnapping business that happened over the weekend. The woman is all right?”

The woman was driving me insane. “She’s fine,” I muttered.

“And you have no idea who the perpetrators were?”

I rolled my shoulders. “The detective called me yesterday. Their bank accounts showed that someone paid them, but they’re not talking. They’d rather rot in prison than reveal the name of whoever paid them.”

“You think someone might try again?”

“They’d be a fool,” I retorted. “My security is far too vigilant for that.”

“Any idea why they targeted the woman? She could have been involved. Prey on your weaknesses for pretty women. Take a cut of the money.”

Anger surged through me, but I kept a lid on my temper. Sloan was a weakness that I was not ready to admit to just yet, but I sure as hell didn’t want anyone suspecting her of anything. She was completely innocent. In more ways than one. “She was researched at length. Torrence and the police have cleared her of any wrongdoing.”

“So you’re done with her?”

I heard the underlying suspicion in his words. “What exactly are you asking me, Steinburg? You’ve never given a damn about my private life before,” I said softly.

He studied me for a few minutes before shrugging. “I don’t give a damn. Your father never let personal relationships get in the way of his success, and I’m sure you won’t do the same.”

Snorting, I shook my head. “I own an international company, Steinburg. I’ve already achieved success.”

“Don’t think it can’t be taken from you, my boy. Even Rome fell in a single day.”

I looked at him sharply as he rose, but I couldn’t decide if he was threatening me or warning me. “I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to know you think she has that much power.”

“I don’t think she has that much power, Montgomery. I just know how much power a man can give when they’re thinking with their cock instead of their head,” he said coldly. “The company is a success because you are always in complete control.”

He wasn’t wrong. I enjoyed women quite frequently, but my thoughts never strayed past morning. At work, I was focused. At night, I could play.

“Is that all?” I said with great restraint. This wasn’t a conversation I was prepared to have.

He shifted uneasily and nodded. It was obvious that he had more to say but was afraid to push the envelope. Instead, he rose and smoothed a hand over his shirt. “Keep me informed, Montgomery.”

“If I feel that’s necessary, I will.” I didn’t bother getting up or showing him to the door. I didn’t care if it was rude. I was unhappy with his accusations, and I wanted him to know it.

When I was left alone with my thoughts, I couldn’t help but replay the scene again in my head. Steinburg wasn’t one to overstep his bounds often. Just what had gotten into him today?

I asked my secretary, Cecilia, if she could page Torrence to my office. There had been some heavy flirting between the two of them lately, but I tried not to concern myself with it. Torrence was a hard man to love, and while Cecilia had love to give in spades, her main focus was always on her kids. So if she wanted to indulge in some harmless flirting at work, it wasn’t my business.

Half an hour before my next meeting, Torrence entered the office. Tall and broad, Torrence had a few visible scars from his time in the military and perhaps twice as many invisible scars. He was a rugged and hardened man with a dark past, but I trusted him with my life.

He’d worked for my father for several years before I hired him, and although I considered him a friend, his past was so classified that I couldn’t even begin to investigate it. Not that I would.

If there was one person that I trusted in this world, it was Drew Torrence.

“You rang,” he said with a yawn as he walked in. Plopping himself on the couch rather than the chair, he groaned and rolled his head around.

“Long night?” I asked dryly.

“Long weekend. It wasn’t easy getting information about your would-be kidnappers from the detective and even harder trying to figure out what the hell happened. These aren’t professionals who are maintaining their loyalties. They’re so amateur that if I held a gun to their heads, they’d piss their pants. Whoever they are protecting scares the shit out of them, and that’s never a good thing.”

I leaned back and frowned. “You think this plot to extort money from me and the mole are connected?”

“I think there isn’t enough information about either to come to any conclusions. One would definitely distract you from the other, but the only other way I can see a connection is if the mole wanted to blackmail you for money. If that were the case, I would have thought that we would have heard something by now. How’s the woman?”

“Sloan is fine,” I said shortly.

“She spent the weekend with you.”

Taking a deep breath, I shook my head. “She spent one night with me.”

Drew narrowed his eyes and studied me for a minute before bursting out laughing. “My God, man. It bothers you that she didn’t stay the weekend. What happened? Did she slip out without saying goodbye and now your feelings are hurt?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I snapped angrily. “A one-night stand is just fine with me.”

“So Steinburg storming out of your office and muttering that the woman had you by the balls has nothing to do with Sloan?” I shot him a startled look, and he smiled coyly. “Cecelia knows all.”

“Steinburg needs to keep his fucking mouth shut. I’ve made him a rich man, and he needs to keep his opinions out of my personal life. And Cecelia needs to —”

Torrence held up his hands and interrupted me. “Whoa. Easy, boy. Take a breath and check that temper. If you piss Cecelia off, she’ll leave and your life will be in shambles. You wouldn’t be able to find your arm pit without that woman, and you know it. If Steinburg is concerned, he’s not wrong. You need to get your personal life in order before it affects your professional life.”

“My personal life is in order,” I said icily. “I wanted her. I had her. End of story.”

“So you don’t plan to see her again?”

The right answer would have been, yes. I had no plans to see her again. The honest answer was that if she walked through the door right now, I’d bend her over the desk and slide into her sexy little body until we were both breathless. “If the urge arises, I won’t deny myself the pleasure of having her again,” I said finally. “What’s the next step in identifying the mole?”

“I’m sweeping for bugs everyday, but nothing new has shown up. I have the PR department scouring for information about you on the web, but nothing has turned up. I’m still looking through your employee’s finances, but frankly, it’s a long process. Until they try again, I don’t have a whole hell of a lot to go on.”

How ironic was that? “I would prefer if we found them before they leak any more sensitive information.”

Torrence rolled his eyes. “Thank you for pointing out the obvious. If I could wave my magic wand and produce them before that happens, I would. I told you from the beginning that this could be a lengthy process. You need to be careful with what you say in the conference rooms and don’t ever have a meeting before I can sweep for bugs. Ideally, we’d search the board members as well.”

“You know I can’t do that.”

“I know that. You want secrecy, and I’m trying to keep a low profile, but you’re playing a dangerous game, Montgomery. You may have to decide between keeping things a secret and protecting your business. It’s probably just someone trying to make an extra buck by spying for another company. If they’re spooked, they’ll probably stop, but you’re taking a great chance.”

I studied him. Despite his words of warning, he was practically falling asleep on the couch. “Last week you were chomping at the bit over this. Now you’re unconcerned.”

“Last week I was pissed because you weren’t sharing information. Now that we’re on the same page, I’m thinking a little more clearly,” he said with a shrug.

“Excellent. I’m so glad you’re thinking clearly,” I muttered sarcastically. “Get back to work.”

“You’re awfully cranky for someone who got laid this weekend,” he chuckled as he stood. “Maybe you should figure out a way to make it more of a regular occurrence.”

“Out,” I ordered. “And stay away from my secretary!”

His laugh followed him all the way out, and I shook my head. Still, his words rang in my head.

If quenching my desire for Sloan kept me levelheaded, maybe I did need to find a way to see her on a more regular basis. Eventually I would get tired of her.

Women rarely kept my attention for long.

Chapter 3

Sloan

The day was absolutely beautiful. I tried to bask in the sun’s warmth as I looked over my textbook. Campus buzzed with life with students rushing to and from class, students laying out on the dorm lawns, and several games of Frisbee and tossing footballs, but these weren’t the things that kept me from studying.

After an hour of trying desperately to read about cognitive recognition in adolescents, I wasn’t even pretending to look at the book.

I had all but begged for him. I’d been a mess in his arms, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. What the hell had happened?

I tried to tell myself, once again, that I wasn’t this woman, but I was starting to sound like a broken record. Maybe I wasn’t the woman who fell for complete strangers, got kidnapped, and had mind-blowing sex a month ago, but I certainly was now.

“Hey!”

I looked up sharply to see Randi bouncing my way. Her dark skinned glowed under the sun’s rays, and her hair was absolutely perfect as it flowed down her back. She looked absolutely gorgeous in a pink halter-top and a pair of jeans that clung to ever curve.

I, on the other hand, was burning to a crisp with my curls pulled into a pony-tail. In jeans and a blue t-shirt, I looked like a complete bum next to her.

As she closed the distance between us, I thought briefly about pretending that I was running late, but I knew that look of determination on her face. She was out for information, and she wasn’t going to let me go until she got it. “You have been gone all weekend. What is going on?”

I closed the book and tried to give her an innocent smile. “Hi, Randi.”

“You’re about to lie to me. I can already tell,” she said dryly. “Your cheeks are already reddening, and you’re biting your lip. You’re a horrible liar so you might as well save yourself the trouble and tell me the truth.”

“I’ve been in the sun, and my lips are chapped,” I said defensively, but I was about to lie to her.

“Sloan!”

“I slept with Lucas,” I said quickly. Once the words were out of my mouth, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. I didn’t even know I was dying to tell someone until just now.

Randi clapped excitedly. “It is about time! Tell me everything. Was it amazing? I bet it was amazing.”

“It was…nice,” I said breathlessly. “It was more than nice. Trust me when I say that Victor was never like that. I just don’t know what I’m supposed to do now.”

My friend frowned and studied me. “Sloan, I know it’s been awhile for you, but you can’t fall for a man just because he’s good in bed. This is Lucas Montgomery we’re talking about.”

“I know,” I said as my shoulders slumped. “He’s way out of my league.”

Randi quickly slapped me in the arm. “No. You don’t ever say that, and it is certainly not true. You are worth ten of him. But he’s not the man for you, Sloan. Lucas is the kind of guy you have a couple rolls in the bed with, enjoy immensely, and then walk away from. He’s a playboy, and if you let feelings get involved, you’re only going to get hurt.”

I guess it was something that I had known all along, but hearing it said out loud was so harsh to my ears. “You’re right. I’ve never done a casual relationship before. What exactly am I supposed to do now? Do I call him? Do I wait for him to call me?”

“You absolutely wait for him to call you. He’s probably used to women falling all over him. It will do him some good to work for what he wants.”

My ears burned with embarrassment. Had I just been another woman who had fallen all over him? It certainly didn’t take me very long to give into his seduction. “I should just walk away and never think of him again,” I muttered as I leaned over to shove my textbook back into my bag.

“Sweetie, are you okay? I know it’s not your usual thing, but casual sex can be pretty rewarding. Of course, if you have feelings for him, it would be disastrous. You should definitely walk away.” She cocked her head and studied me, and I tried to smile.

“I don’t have feelings for him,” I said with as much conviction as possible. “But he is distracting, and I’m too far behind in my thesis to indulge myself.”

I could tell that Randi didn’t believe me, but she didn’t say anything else. She started chatting about her weekend, and I tried hard to pay attention. As usual, she was the freest person I meant. She lived life with absolutely no fear and no regrets. When she finally gave me a hug, it was tight and comforting. “I’m here for you,” she whispered.

As she walked away, my phone vibrated in my pocket. Pulling it out, I glanced at it and felt my blood run cold.

It was Lucas.

I willed myself to ignore it and push it back into my pocket, but just before my voicemail picked up, I answered it.

God, I was weak.

“Hello,” I said softly.

“Ms. Whitlow,” he said in a low voice. “I thought that you might join me for dinner tonight.”

Ms. Whitlow? So we were back at that again. “Lucas, you’ve seen me completely naked. Please don’t call me Ms. Whitlow again,” I growled.

“Good to hear your temper is still intact. I’ll pick you up at seven.”

“I did not agree to go out with you,” I snarled. “This is what you do. You just assume that you’re always going to get your way. You didn’t even actually ask me out to dinner. You just said that I wanted to join you for dinner. Why don’t you try asking me for once?”

There was silence on the other end, and I thought he’d actually hung up. “Lucas?”

“I’m suspicious that you’re setting me up just so you can have the pleasure of denying me,” he said finally.

“Would it really be so bad if someone turned you down once in a while?” I muttered.

Lucas cleared his throat. “I don’t want you to turn me down.”

I had a feeling that was the closest thing I was ever going to get to a confession of any sort out of him. “Seven will be fine,” I said finally.

He didn’t even bother to say goodbye as he ended the call, and I rolled my eyes in annoyance.

But I did feel a little lighter as I picked up my bag. Lucas Montgomery wanted more than just a one-night stand. Something about that felt very good.

By the time he’d picked me up, I had once again gone through every piece of clothing in my closet. Part of me wanted to raid Randi’s closet, but I wanted this date to finally be about me. Not about protecting me. Not about using me for the media. Just about me.

I chose a pair of black pants and a simple blue top. It was filmy enough that I hoped it was sexy but it didn’t reveal any cleavage.

“Classy,” I whispered as I stared at myself. “It’s classy.”

Sure. Maybe if I said it one or two more times, I’d start to believe it.

He was prompt. Always prompt. I opened the door right at seven and tried not to drool. He just got sexier every time I saw him.

His eyes slowly raked over me. “Hello, Sloan.”

“Lucas,” I whispered. “Thank you for the dinner invitation. I didn’t think you’d contact me again. I figured that since you didn’t need to protect me anymore, you wouldn’t feel obligated to hang out with me.” Hang out with me? Could I sound any more immature?

“Tonight isn’t about your protection,” he said quietly. “I’m sure you already figured that. Come on. We’ll be late for our reservations.”

He kept a hand on my back as he led me to the car. I was surprised to see that his driver, Danny, wasn’t present.

“You drove?” I asked as he opened my door.

“I like to drive.” There was no other explanation, and I slid into the car.

“I assume that you’ve been busy with your paper, and that’s why you slipped out of my bed without saying goodbye.” He didn’t even bother looking at me when he started the car, but I heard the accusation in his voice.

He wanted an explanation. I latched onto his excuse. “Yes. Study, study. That’s me.”

“Have you recovered from the incident?”

I’d barely even thought about. No nightmares. No residual fear. Memories of my night with him consumed me.

“Yes, thank you. It helps me to stay busy.”

The conversation was strained and polite, and we soon lapsed into silence. I was already regretting my decision to dine with him.

When he pulled into Chateau Jean-Paul, I breathed a sigh of relief. A public restaurant that hopefully had no secret level that afforded couples more privacy and intimacy.

Being alone with Lucas was dangerous. Being intimate with him again would be worse.

“Relax,” he whispered in my ear as we walked into the restaurant. “Tonight we’ll eat like everyone else.”

When I did relax, he chuckled but didn’t remove his hand.

Conversation at dinner was just as tense as the car ride. I hid frequently in my wine glass and behind my food. When the bill finally came, I looked forward to leaving. The ritzy restaurant was his world, but I was too busy trying to not embarrass myself that I couldn’t even enjoy the food.

There were times when I thought Lucas had lust in his eyes, but it wasn’t often. I started to think that maybe I was wrong. He seemed cool and controlled. I couldn’t help but wonder if this date was to remind me that we were from different worlds.

That would be for the best, but that didn’t stop my heart from pounding painfully in my chest. I grew so anxious that my hands visibly shook when I picked up my wine glass to finish it.

“Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” I muttered. Maybe it was the three glasses of merlot, but I decided that hiding wasn’t the answer. If I wanted to know what he was thinking, I would have to ask. “Actually, I’m not fine. I’m not sure why you invited me out tonight.”

He smiled slowly. “Why do you think I invited you out?”

Clearly, he wanted to play one of his games. “You know what? It doesn’t matter. I think we can both agree that tonight is just not working. So thank you for the meal and the wine. You can clear your conscious of guilt.”

“You think I feel guilty?” he chuckled. “If I seem quiet to you, it’s because I’m trying to gauge your state of mind. There is something that I want to discuss with you.”

“Oh yeah? And what’s that?”

“I enjoyed spending the night with you, Sloan. I think you enjoyed yourself as well.”

My eyes widened, and I felt my stomach twist. Where the hell was this going? “Lucas!”

“I’ll compensate you for your time, of course. I know it’s valuable.”

Freezing, I stared at him. “I’m sorry. What exactly are you saying? You want a repeat?”

“Don’t you?”

“And you’re going to pay me for it?”

“Compensate.”

For a half a second, I had no idea how to react. I just blinked. “My God. You’re serious.” The anger hit me like a brick wall, and my jaw dropped open. “I will not be paid to service you!” I hissed.

He just raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t enjoy our night together? I think your multiple orgasms would suggest otherwise.”

His voice was a little too loud, and I glanced around nervously. “Lower your voice,” I growled. “What I enjoyed is not the point. You’re like a drug, and drugs are not good. They’re fun for a few minutes, but then there’s hell to pay afterwards. I have too much going on to deal with this, and I am not a whore. Take me home. Now.”

Trying to keep my composure, I got up and smoothed a hand over my hair. Squaring my shoulders, I held my head high. Of all the nerve! Did he think that just because I was a poor student, I would whore myself out for him?

I left him sitting at the table and prayed that he wouldn’t be so angry that he wouldn’t take me home.

I was a poor student, and I didn’t exactly have money for a taxi to take me across the damn city. Of course, using my credit card and digging myself deeper in debt might have been preferable to riding home with a man who wanted to pay me for sex.

Chapter 4

Lucas

“You’re upset with me,” I murmured as she inserted the key into her door. She hadn’t said a word as I drove her home, and I wasn’t sure what exactly I’d done to warrant the cold shoulder. I wrapped my hands around her waist and felt her stiffen.

“I told you how I felt,” she said stiffly. “I’m not some gold-digging whore that’s going to be at your disposal whenever you want.”

She opened the door. I had a feeling she planned on slamming it in my face, so I followed her quickly inside. When she whirled around, there was fury in her eyes. “I did not invite you in,” she hissed.

Shutting the door with my foot, I pushed her hard against the wall and slid my hands up her side until my thumbs brushed under her breasts. She pissed me off, but God did she turn me on.

“At no point did I ever call you a gold-digging whore,” I growled. “The problem with you is that you insinuate too much. Why can’t you just take my word instead of reading between the lines?”

“Take your word?” she hissed. “Be at your beck and call and you’ll make it worth my time? Just how exactly were you planning on paying me for my services?”

She may have been angry, but she was slowing arching into my touch. “Just because I was going to compensate you for your time doesn’t mean you’re a whore. I have connections, Sloan. I can accelerate your career path. I can get you in touch with anyone you need to finish your thesis. I can help you.”

“You’re an idiot,” she said through gritted teeth. “It doesn’t matter if it’s money or not. It’s payment for sex. That’s what a whore does. If you didn’t want a relationship, all you had to do was say so. I’m a big girl, Lucas. I can take it.”

Despite the fury in her eyes, I saw the flame of desire. Her pupils dilated, and her breasts heaved. She wanted to fight, but she also wanted to fuck. And I was hardening with every breath that she took.

Leaning down, I kissed her hard. The time for talking was over. I didn’t want to hear another word come out of her mouth unless she was begging me to fuck her. She didn’t even bother pushing me away. Wrapping her arms around me, she just pulled me closer and reached for my pants.

I let her fish out my hardness and wrap her hands around it. As she squeezed, I moaned and rested my forearms on either side of her. Smiling coyly, she started to stroke me. “Is this what you were going to compensate me for?” she mocked.

“Damn it,” I hissed. Pulling out of her grasp, I whirled her around and shoved her against the wall. She automatically bucked her ass against me, and I smiled. “You can talk all you want,” I muttered. “But you want me.”

“I can want you and still be pissed at you,” she grunted and pushed against me again. She looked over her shoulders and narrowed her eyes. “Just like you want me despite your anger.”

I wanted to pull her pants down and take her hard against the wall right then and there, but that wouldn’t teach her a lesson. I knew exactly what she was trying to do. “You think that because I want you, you can control me?” I hissed as I pressed the palm of my hand to the apex of her thighs. “What happened to the naive woman in my bed not days ago? The one who didn’t know could have multiple orgasms?”

“She’s thinking a little more clearly now,” she snapped, but her eyes were already closing as I pressed my fingers against her.

She moaned softly and rubbed herself on me. Even through the fabric of her pants, I could feel her heat. “God, Lucas,” she panted. Suddenly, she slapped her hands against the wall. “I think you’re the one trying to control me through sex.”

Unbuttoning her pants, I slid the zipper down and peeled them slowly them down her legs. As I bent to my knees, I felt completely at her mercy as I gently ran a finger down the black lacy edge of her panties. We could talk about control all we wanted, but I was hers, and she didn’t even have to touch me to prove it.

Fuck. It pissed me off to no end.

I ripped her panties down and turned my body so I could slip my head between her legs and the wall and press my lips to her. She practically screamed as I dragged my tongue across her slit and tasted her.

She couldn’t seem to help herself as she rubbed her wet pussy across my tongue. Her legs quivered in my hands until my hold on her was the only reason she was still standing, but I didn’t let up. I flicked my tongue over her clit until she cried. I shoved my tongue deep inside her until she whimpered, but when I could feel her close to her release, I let up.

“Lucas,” she moaned. “Please.”

“Please what?” I hissed as I looked up at her. She rested her forehead against the wall, and her hair spilled down her shoulders.

“Please let me come,” she whispered. “Please.”

I blew gently against her until I had her squirming, and I finally raked my teeth lightly over her clit. Her whole body shuddered as the climax ravaged her body, and I loosened my hold as she slid down the wall. Pushing my body up, I leaned back and let her fall right onto my lap, her legs straddling me.

She blinked and stared at me. “That doesn’t prove anything,” she whispered as she slowly moved across my erection. Lifting my knees, I worked my pants the rest of the way down.

“It proves that you want me. And you can have me, Sloan,” I murmured as I tucked her hair behind her ear.

Her eyes searched me. “Why can’t you just call it a relationship?”

The word bit sharply into me. There were relationships with women, and then there was a relationship to one woman. I had plenty experience with the former but virtually none with the latter.

And I wasn’t about to start now.

Rather than answer her, I simply lifted her until I could slide into her. She welcomed me snugly, and I grunted as pleasure swept through me. She knew what I was doing. I could see the accusation in her eyes, but need drove us both. Instead of pushing the issue, she just lifted her shirt and unsnapped her bra so that her breasts swung free. As she rode me, I leaned over and took a nipple in my mouth.

I was addicted to every sound of pleasure. The more she moaned, the more I wanted to hear her moan. She moved faster, her pussy stroking me, her body slamming against mine. I dug my fingers into her hips and urged her on.

“Shit, baby,” I hissed. “You feel too good. I can’t hold on much longer.”

She whimpered, and I knew that she was close. Digging my heels into the floor, I pushed my body against the wall until she took me so deep that I didn’t know where I ended and she began. The contact was too much for her, and she arched her back rigidly and exploded around me.

As her muscles clenched and milked me, it was all I could do to hold her up as I reached my own climax. Moaning her name, I emptied everything inside her. All that I could give was hers.

When she slumped against me, I closed my eyes and held her. I didn’t know if minutes or hours passed, but she finally pushed herself up and stared at me. “We should probably move before Randi gets home,” she whispered.

“I’m not leaving,” I said darkly as I anchored her to me. “I don’t give a fuck if your whole apartment complex walks in on us. I’m not done with you yet.”

She laughed dryly and shook her head. “I just meant that we should move this some place more private, like my bedroom. It has a door that locks.”

Sloan slowly eased off me and grabbed our clothes. She didn’t even look back as she led me to the bedroom, and I felt a little relief when she locked the door behind me.

“It’s going to be hard to slip out of your own bed before morning,” I remarked as I slid my shirt off. She stiffened and turned to face me.

“You’re really not going to let that go, are you?”

“Not until you tell me why.”

She tossed the clothes on the floor and shook her head. “I shouldn’t have to. I’ve had exactly one sexual partner, and we were in a long relationship. I’d just had a one-night stand with a man I barely knew. I didn’t know how to act.”

“It’s not a one-night stand anymore.”

“It’s still a casual relationship, and I don’t know that I can do that.” She sat on her bed and brought her knees up to her chest, effectively covering her nakedness.

She looked so innocent and vulnerable. I could barely look at her. Sweeping my gaze around the room, I tried to find some answers. The white walls of apartments were so sterile, and the neutral carpeting didn’t help. Her color scheme was safe. Grey and white. There were a few pictures here and there, but no bold works of art on the walls. With the exception of her desk, it was meticulously neat. Clothes were hung, her shoes were lined neatly on the walls, and there was nothing strewn about on her dresser.

Her desk, on the other hand, was a clusterfuck of books and papers. It was the first time I could say something concrete about her.

She was a walking contradiction. Quiet and organized. Bold and passionate. Innocent and naive. Seductive and dangerous. If I had any sense, I would have walked away right then.

I kept my voice even despite the knot growing in my stomach. “So tonight is it, then?”

“I didn’t say that.”

Good. Even though I knew it was wrong, relief swept through me. I walked back to the bed and slowly crawled towards her. Pulling her ankles down, I moved up her body until she could do nothing but lie back as I settled my weight on top of her. “So what are you saying? You want romance? Flowers, jewelry, candle-lit dinners?”

“Yes.”

Fuck. I gritted my teeth and shook my head. “I can’t give that to you, Sloan. I’m just not that kind of man. I don’t want marriage or kids. I can’t look past today. But I can show you exactly what your body is capable of. I’ll let you act out your fantasies on me and explore yourself.”

Her eyes darkened, and I smiled. She was hooked. “Would you be monogamous while we were together?”

I chose my words carefully. “I don’t usually use the term monogamy because I don’t do relationships. But I know that your last boyfriend cheated on you, and I can only assume that it’s a sensitive point for you. If it will help you, I won’t be with anyone else while I’m with you, but I can’t pretend this is more than a sexual experience.”

She never broke eye contact while she considered the agreement. Wordlessly, she nodded. Placing the palms of her hands on my shoulders, she pushed until I flipped us over. Giving me a quick kiss on the mouth, she slowly slithered down my body, her tongue trailing down my skin, until she poised hesitantly over my cock.

The thought of her sucking me off already had me stirring. When she didn’t move, I wrapped my hands gently in her hair and tried to tug her back up. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do,” I whispered.

“No, I want to. My ex said I wasn’t very good at it.” She glanced at me uncertainly. “I just thought that if you were going to let me explore, I could practice.”

Nothing in the world would have made me turn down that offer. “Take your time,” I muttered hoarsely. Leaning back, I closed my eyes and waited.

She was tentative at first. A tongue from base to tip. A few gentle squeezes. A quick lick at the tip.

It was more erotic than if she’d taken me all the way down her throat. I grunted and tried to keep my hips still while she played.

“Is that okay?” she whispered.

“Oh yeah,” I muttered hoarsely. She was going to be the fucking death of me.

When she finally wrapped her lips around me and slid slowly down my cock, I moaned and couldn’t help thrusting ever so slightly into her mouth.

As she grew more comfortable, she took more. Bobbed her head faster. At that moment, I would have done absolutely anything she asked me.

“Sloan?” I finally grunted through gritted teeth.

She used her tongue to play with me as she slid her mouth up and over. “Yes?”

“Your ex-boyfriend is a goddamn idiot.”

Chapter 5

Sloan