Page 41 of Her Dark Salvation

“You signed an agreement granting me permission to utilize surveillance to protect my company’s assets, and I am exercising that right. I need to know if you are at risk, if someone thinks they can use you to get to me.” His breath came faster now, his voice low and gravelly. “That’s my end of the bargain, and I take that responsibility seriously. I will protect you.”

“Protect me from whom?” I shouted. “Seems to me, you’re the one I need protection from!”

He looked at me like I’d slapped him across the face, and his eyes went dark with menace. “There’s more danger around you than you know, Anna, and I will do whatever I deem necessary to ensure your safety.”

The promise in his voice created fresh turmoil, the invasion of privacy taking a backseat to his declaration he’d protect me. My pulse pounded in my ears, an incessant drum of confusion. I was so emotionally flustered I couldn’t move or speak or think. It was like my brain had disconnected from my body.

He must have sensed my deep freeze because he backed off and moved to retrieve the coffee from his desk. The second he broke eye contact, I released the hold on my shoulders and sagged against the side of my chair, unsteady on shaking legs.

“So.” He reclined against the edge of his desk. “How was it?” He sipped his coffee, giving me whiplash with his charming smile and mild tone.

I scoffed and turned my attention to the bookcase.

“That good, huh?”

My head snapped back to meet his taunt, and I scowled at the amusement in his black eyes.

He shrugged, a surprisingly easy gesture on his powerful frame. “You wouldn’t be so put out if you’d had a good time.”

He was right, of course, and it rankled. Especially since I’d spent the majority of the night thinking about him.

I lifted my chin in defiance, refusing to give him the satisfaction of knowing he’d hit the nail on the head. “It was lovely,” I lied, cold and haughty, and ran my fingers back and forth along the length of my necklace.

“You’re a terrible liar, Anna.” A playful menace danced in his eyes, and they travelled to where I fidgeted my necklace. “More tells than a sinner in church.”

I dropped the necklace, but his eyes lingered, focused on where my chest rose and fell to meet the demands of my rapidly beating heart. Maybe the red sweater hadn’t been the best idea.

“Stop that,” I whispered.

“Stop what?”

“Stop looking at me like that. I—I can’t think when you look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

My mouth went dry. I licked my lips, searching for an answer, but my brain had lost the ability to form words.

“Like what, Anna?”

“I…”

He pushed off the desk and stepped forward until his face hovered inches above mine. Cigar smoke and aftershave and masculinity dominated my world, his energy humming with an unapologetic and desirous intent. “Like I want to worship your breasts with my eyes?”

My lips parted in shock.

“Maybe you’d rather have me use my hands. Or my tongue?”

I sucked in a ragged breath, his brazen words conjuring images of him running his tongue over my nipples. Aching need pulsed between my legs, and I swayed under its merciless attack. A groan formed deep in my chest, but I caught it before it escaped.

“That’s—That’s sexual harassment.” The whispered words sounded ludicrous, but I needed to douse the flames threatening to engulf me.

His chest rumbled with deep, cynical laughter. “No, it isn’t.”

“Then what is it?” I asked, my voice breathy with desire.

He leaned forward, and for a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me and end my silent torture.

“It’s called flirting.” His gaze travelled to my breasts again, and his warm breath tickled the naked skin of my chest. “And if you don’t like it, maybe you shouldn’t have worn that sweater.”

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