Page 35 of Her Boss

“Against my better judgment, I’m going to give you one last chance. You can stay, and do exactly as you’re told, no matter what.” He pointed toward the door with two long fingers. “Or you get the fuck out of here. Right now. There is still time, still a chance for you to lead a normal life.”

My heart was in my throat at the words, the confidence in my tone a paper-thin façade only barely masking my fright. Try as I might, I was unable to shake the sinking feeling that I might be making a terrible mistake.

But would that mistake be staying… or leaving?

“You don’t own me, Rick.” As I pushed myself away from the glass, my suddenly rubbery legs made a mockery of my attempts to stride confidently over to his desk once again. Finally, I stood before him, trying desperately to project a strength I didn’t at all feel. “You don’t just get to tell me what to do like I’m some stupid little girl.”

“Oh?”

The arch of his dark brow should have infuriated me, but instead I wanted to lick it.

Have you lost your fucking mind? Stop thinking with your pussy, you idiot!

“You know what I think?” I tried to will saliva back into my mouth. Letting on that I was petrified was not going to help my case. “I think you’re afraid. I think you’re pants-shittingly scared of letting someone get to know the real you. Why is that though?”

He tapped the desktop with the tips of his long fingers. “Funny. Did you hear that line in a movie? Read it in a book? This isn’t fiction, Geneva. This is real life. You don’t even know what you don’t know. Part of that isn’t actually your fault—you’re just young and dumb. But you can’t mask the fact that you haven’t a fucking clue what you’re doing by delivering snarky lines and running that little smart mouth of yours. With a man like me, that’s going to get you one thing—a very, very sore ass. And an attitude adjustment.”

“You don’t have the balls.” I knew it was a stupid thing to say, approximately one nanosecond after the foolish words left my lips.

Rick was up on his feet and around his desk in the blink of an eye. He took hold of my upper arms, giving me a sharp shake, sending my head swimming for a moment.

So fucking strong!

“This isn’t a goddamned game, Geneva! Or a performance. This is real. Deadly serious.”

“Y-you don’t think I’m serious?” I tried to pull free of him, but it was only a half-hearted effort. Despite the fact I was genuinely afraid of what he might do to me in the next few seconds, I was more turned on than I think I’d been my entire life.

Because you’ve gone bat-shit insane.

“I think you’re terrified. I think you know how out of your depth you are.” He brought me even closer, until we were almost nose to nose, where the mouthwatering scent of his cologne and his sweat filled my nostrils. “And I think you’re fascinated. Something is keeping you here. I’ve given you chance after chance, reason after reason to leave.” His gaze searched mine, as a predator might before dealing the coup de grace to cornered, helpless prey. “And yet, you’re still here.”

“You don’t know a thing about what?—”

His lips closed over mine, his hands squeezing my arms so hard the pain had me gasping into his mouth. Unhurried, arrogant, possessive, his tongue leisurely explored my mouth. His teeth clamped my lip gently, then let go. He kissed me harder then, the firm bulge of his erection jutting against my belly.

I wanted him. I feared him. Why didn’t I run out that door?

Because he has what you cannot hope to resist.

“I-I’ll stay,” I whispered when he finally pulled away.

His eyes flashed cold anticipation. “Then it’s going to be on my terms. Understand?”

“O-okay.”

“You do exactly as I tell you. No defiance. No resistance.” His voice dropped to a growl. “You obey.”

I nodded quickly, suddenly desperately afraid I’d lose my nerve at the last second.

“Good,” he said. “Then we start now.”

What the hell have you done?

CHAPTER 16

Rick

My cock was already iron hard as I made her stand before my desk.

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