Page 88 of Wicked Fantasies

His gaze traveled to her lips and he considered her comments. If she hadn’t declared kissing off limits, there was a good chance he wouldn’t have cared or wanted it. Now he couldn’t help but wonder what her lips would taste like. Would she offer soft, sweet kisses, or would her lips battle with his for dominance, control? He rather suspected she’d do both.

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Are you agreeing to the wager?”

“Do you agree to my condition?”

He nodded.

“Then I accept your challenge. I already know my first fantasy.” She offered him a wicked grin. “You might want to brush up on your submissive skills.”

He laughed. “I was about to tell you the same thing.” He extended his hand toward her and she accepted it. They shook on the deal. For the briefest moment, Reed considered using her hand against her, pulling her forward in an attempt to claim her lips.

She waited for only a second before removing her hand from his. “Game on.”

Chapter Three

Frankie sat across from Reed in the conference room and tried to fight back her anger, her frustration. She’d spent a week developing her bid for The Golf Connection, working close to eighteen hours a day. She’d busted her ass on her presentation only to receive a cursory pat on the head from the CEO of the company who just happened to be golfing buddies with the man whose painful death she was currently plotting. She’d known from the second they stepped into this room she’d been set up.

She rubbed her eyes wearily. Hard work wasn’t the only thing that had cost her sleep. She’d lain in her bed night after night, tossing and turning at the image of all the fantasies she’d like to fulfill with Reed as her lover. He’d played the stranger role to perfection, but there was so much more she wanted to try.

He’d become a perfect gentleman the moment their wager had been placed. No doubt, biding his time until today, knowing perfectly well what the outcome would be. They’d actually spent the last week in relative peace, talking about their careers, the company, future plans and goals. There had been moments when she’d actually felt a kinship with the man, their paths were so similar.

Reed had popped his head through the door connecting their offices just prior to the presentations and wished her luck. She’d thought the gesture charming and friendly.

She scowled at him again. Snake in the grass.

“So it’s settled.” Marcus Pruitt, the CEO of The Golf Connection rose and shook hands with Brian. “Awesome ideas, Bri, Reed. Gonna be great working with you. See you Sunday morning. Nine o’clock tee time.”

She stood as well and pasted on a smile, shaking the asshole’s hand while silently cursing the good old boys’ society that seemed to rule everywhere.

“Good job, you two. Well done.” Brian was grinning from ear to ear, but Frankie couldn’t understand what in the hell he was so pleased about. Surely he’d known it was a done deal before his buddy at The Golf Connection ever walked through the door.

Her face flushed hot with anger as she recalled Reed magnanimously saying “Ladies first,” as they’d walked in the conference room. She’d offered her presentation—the campaign she’d spent no less than a hundred hours of her life on. Marcus had smiled politely through her whole speech.

Then Reed stood up. Within five minutes of his presentation, Marcus slapped the table and rose excitedly. “You nailed it, Reed. One hundred and twenty percent. This is exactly the angle I was looking for.”

He hadn’t even made his entire pitch. Brian pulled out contracts and Marcus’s name was on the dotted line before she could even think the wordsucker. She’d been played for a fool.

Brian offered to walk Marcus out and Frankie followed. She opted for the stairs, instead of the elevator, hoping the extra exertion would burn off some of her anger. Unfortunately one flight of stairs wasn’t going to touch it. Maybe she should clock out for the day. Go for a ten mile run.

“Everything go okay, Frankie?” Jessica asked from her station behind the receptionist’s desk.

“Just peachy,” she said through gritted teeth.

She entered her office and slammed the door harder than she’d intended. Storming to her desk, she began packing up her stuff, preparing to leave for the day. She’d have Jessica cancel all her afternoon appointments. She’d had enough of this place to last her a lifetime.

A soft knock at the door between hers and Reed’s sounded. She closed her eyes and prayed for patience. Son of a bitch was probably coming in to gloat.

He opened the door without waiting for her to bid him to enter. She turned, ready to eviscerate him for the rudeness, but he cut her off.

“I need to see you in my office, Frankie.”

She shook her head. “I’m leaving for the day.”

“This won’t take long. Be over here in five minutes.”

He shut the door before she could tell him to take his five minutes and shove them where the sun don’t shine. How dare he?

Then she recalled the wager. Surely he wouldn’t consider today’s setup as part of the game. He’d cheated, stacked the deck against her.

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