I’ve been trying to wrap this dinner up as fast as humanly possible, but I feel with each second that passes, there’s another strike against me. Or worse, against Jeff.

Scar has to be waiting outside. I wasn’t supposed to work late.

Mount will know.

I’m not naive enough to think that there’s any way in hell he won’t have Jeff’s name, address, Social Security number, and complete bio by the time Scar delivers me back to my cage.

Mount will probably even know what brand condom Jeff used when he screwed me—terribly, I might add—in the back of his dad’s Caddy when I was seventeen.

“I’ll take another look at the presentation your assistant sent in advance, and will wait for you to let us know when you’re ready to rock. I think this could be really great, Keira. We could use another attraction off Bourbon Street for people who don’t just want to party. This would be educational, and they can taste some fantastic hometown whiskey.”

He raises his glass to mine, and I force the smile to stay on my face as I clink my glass with his, sending up a prayer for his safety as I down the contents.

“I hate to end this dinner, and the great conversation, but I have another appointment I have to get to. Thank you so much, Jeff. Temperance will be in touch as soon as we have the details sorted out for you.”

I stand up, smoothing my skirt, and Jeff rises from his side of the booth and steps forward to wrap me in a hug.

“It’s good to see you again, Keira. It’s been too long. I hope next time we can do a little more catching up instead of just talking business.”

I nod because that’s the only response I can give, hoping I’m not signing his death warrant. “We’ll definitely be in touch. You should stay and have another drink. On me.”

“Maybe you could reschedule your next appointment and join me?”

“Unfortunately, I can’t.”

The wattage of Jeff’s smile dims a few degrees, but I keep mine firmly in place as I give him a final nod. I turn and cross the restaurant floor, blindly smiling at other patrons, but don’t stop to speak to anyone before I hit the elevator.

It seems to take forever to descend to the basement level, and my foot taps impatiently in the slightly less provocative shoes Mount left in the closet for me today.

When the doors finally slide open, I rush down the hall and shove open my office door, mumbling to myself. “I just need to get my purse, get to Mount, and explain—”

“Explain what, exactly?”

The familiar deep voice comes out of the darkness. My heart hammers in my chest, and I slam my hand over it.

“Jesus Christ, you scared the hell out of me.”

“I should. Because you have thirty seconds to explain why you’re having dinner with your high-school fuck buddy instead of returning early like I ordered.”

“It wasn’t like that—”

Mount flips on the desk lamp, reminding me of the first time I saw him sitting in my chair. Then, terror like I’d never experienced raced in my veins. Tonight, I definitely feel fear, but not for myself. For someone else.

“Get over here.”

As I cross the cracked floor, each click of my heels seems to echo in the otherwise silent room. “He’s not—”

“I changed my mind. I don’t want a fucking explanation. I want your ass in front of me right now.” The chair scrapes against the concrete as Mount shoves away from the desk and stands.

I clamp my lips shut, not wanting to piss him off, but also not willing to let Jeff suffer consequences he had no clue existed. My feet move at Mount’s command as I explain anyway.

“It was business. He’s innocent, I swear to God. Leave him alone.”

I don’t realize I’m within arm’s reach until Mount wraps a hand around my wrist, pulling me against his chest.

“Innocent? Do you really think his thoughts were virtuous when he looked at you? Not fucking likely.”

“It was business,” I say again. “Please don’t hurt him. He did nothing to deserve it.”

Mount reaches up and grips my chin. He stares into my eyes as though he’s peering into my mind to find the real truth.

“I swear to you, I’m telling the truth.”

He searches my face, and he must find something that appeases him because he releases his hold on me. “I believe you.”

His words send shock waves rolling through me. “You do?”

“You’re a shitty liar at best. And I saw the footage. He might want to fuck you, but he wasn’t threatening you. He’s safe.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. “Thank—”

Before I can get the word you out, Mount spins me around and grips the back of my neck to press me forward until my breasts touch my desk.

“But that doesn’t mean I don’t feel like reminding you that I’m the only man who touches you.” He leans down, his words a rumble against my ear. “You. Are. Mine.”

I release another harsh breath, but it doesn’t have anything to do with fear. In fact, I should be ashamed at how fast my body switches gears. At my very core—my deepest, darkest secret depths—this is what I’ve always wanted. Always. A man who wants me with this intense ferocity and makes damn sure I know that I belong to him and only him.

But why does it have to be this man?

It’s a question I have no answer to, yet I can’t help but mouth off to him anyway. Mount expects nothing less from me. And for some reason, my rebellion always makes things hotter.

“You don’t own me.”

Mount yanks the hem of my dress up and tugs my thong down. “That’s where you’re fucking wrong.”

His palm slaps my right cheek, the smack just hard enough to sting but not enough to cause true pain. Instead, a bloom of heat follows, and my inner muscles clench at the sensation I’ve come to crave. Mount delivers smack after smack before stopping to massage my ass and the decadent burn he caused.

I try to stifle the moan, but it escapes against my will. His hand slides between my legs, and he growls at the wetness he finds.

“You can deny it all you want, but we both know you love this. Unlike your smart little mouth, your body always tells the truth.”

I can’t say anything because he’s right. I do love it. When he releases his hold on me for a moment, I lift up, but he quickly grips my shoulder.

“I didn’t say you could move. We aren’t even close to done here.”

Shivers ripple across my skin, and my nipples pebble in my bra as he pushes me back down. This is the hold of the man from that night at the masquerade. The one who took me up against a wall, never letting me turn around. The man who gave me everything I needed, and because of that night, I thought I eloped with him.

Now I know I was wrong. I was wrong about everything . . . except this.

This is what I want. What I need.

The hiss of Mount’s zipper breaks the silence between the hammering beats of my heart, making me anticipate his touch. He pushes a thick finger inside me, circling my piercing until I’m writhing on my desk. Then he pulls it away to rim my asshole.

“Where’s the plug?”

“I took it out like you said.”

“Where is it?”

I lick my lips, debating how I’m going to answer the question. While I’m contemplating, he squeezes a still-burning cheek of my ass.

“In the bottom left drawer with the lube. I cleaned it before I wrapped it up and hid it.”

“Good girl. Because now you’re going to find out what it’s like to be fucked with both your holes filled.”

Another rush of moisture floods my center. Another secret dirty fantasy of mine.

He releases his hold and opens the desk drawer I just described. A few seconds later, lube coats my asshole, and he slides the plug inside as he teases my pussy. It takes every ounce of self-control I have not to writhe on the desk and beg.

Mount grips my hair and turns my face to the side to study me. He shakes his head, his gaze black and his smile arrogant. “You were fucking made for me.”

With that shocking declaration, he fits his cock against my entrance and pushes the head inside.

“Oh my God.” My voice comes out a harsh whisper at the intense fullness, but Mount’s groan covers my words as he pushes inside another inch.

“My cock barely fits in your tight cunt with that plug. Jesus fucking Christ.”

I’m losing my mind, pleasure overtaking any rational thought as Mount fills me slowly and proceeds to fuck me thoroughly, bent over my desk, until I’m a mess of pleas and moans.

My orgasm rips through me moments before he comes, and then the only sound in my office is the mingled sound of our labored breathing.