Page 34 of Power

“How’s our progress with the search?” The question was directed toward Jai and me.

Jai took the lead. “We have complete profiles on all of his men, with current photos, but no matches have come up with the facial-recognition software. They seem to be in hiding too. We’ve seen activity move into nearby states, as well as into Delhi. Tarun’s men have set up factories in the east of Delhi.” He typed busily on his keyboard as he spoke.

“That’s dangerously close to our base,” Shyam replied, his voice lacking any hint of surprise. The information seemed to be redundant to him. Jai had probably shared everything with him before the meeting.

I had picked up on some of India’s geography since I’d started working on this project. I knew that Bengal, where Tarun was from, was on the eastern-most border of India. Delhi was in the north and held the capital of the country, New Delhi. But I wasn’t sure where Shyam and Jai’s Indian base was located.

I cleared my throat involuntarily as I pondered my question. Everyone turned to look at me. My cheeks flamed from the direct attention of four sets of eyes trained on me. I felt so awkward, like a kid in school getting ready to give a presentation in front of the whole class when I wasn’t prepared.

I swallowed the lump in my throat before speaking. “Where is your base?” My voice sounded so small and shaky compared to the ones that came from the men who sat before me.

“Our base is in Punjab. It’s on the western border,” Shyam replied in his most professor-like voice. His intense gaze scorched me on contact.

“Oh.”Answer received. I averted my eyes back to my laptop screen.

Shyam resumed speaking. I sank back into my seat as I typed out notes. Just then, a low-battery warning popped up on my screen. I had forgotten to charge my device.

I looked around for an outlet to plug my power cord into. I saw that Jai had an extension cord set up on his side of the table with his laptop connected to it. There was an extra outlet available for me. Luckily, I had packed my power cord in my bag.

Jai was responding to another one of Shyam’s questions as I quietly leaned over in my chair to fish my power cord out of my bag without disturbing everyone else. I felt goosebumps spread over my thighs, starting just above my knees and radiating higher up.

I looked up and found a pair familiar hazel eyes focused on my lap before they met my gaze. Shyam’s expression was ravenous, like he was ready to sink his teeth into my skin to satisfy his hunger. I followed his line of view to see what had held his attention. The hem of my dress had shifted higher in my quest to find my cord. My thighs were exposed, showcasing the straps from the garter belt attached to the lace tops of my stockings. I swore I heard him growl. The sound had been low and inaudible to the others at the table, but potent enough to emit vibrations that hummed through my most private parts. My body instantly responded to his call. My pussy tingled in excitement, like it was just waiting to hear the beast before me summon it.

“What do you think, boss?” Javed’s rough voice broke through the lust-filled haze surrounding us. Shyam quickly composed himself. His wall of armor went up, leaving no hint of the savage animal from seconds ago exposed. I squeezed my thighs together to ease my want, then adjusted the hem of my dress to cover my underwear and grabbed the power cord out of my bag before hastily sitting up.

“Do you need that plugged in?” Jai asked.

“Huh?” I was still shaken up from the moment I had shared with the wild man next to me. My cheeks felt flushed and my palms were sweaty.

He nodded to the cord in my hands. I looked down. “Oh. Yes, please.”

I handed it over to Jai, who connected it to the extension cord and then to my laptop. I chanced a peek over at Shyam from the side and saw his face fixed into a smug expression at how flustered I was.

I needed to keep myself together. I am the one in control.He thought he could call all the shots between us, but I was taking back my power. Why else would I be wearing this sexy-ass lingerie, if not to bring him to his knees?

I managed my best poker face and sat up taller in my chair. Shyam continued the meeting as if nothing unusual had happened.

For the next two hours, we refined the details of our approach to the search. I would be using the photos of Vik, Tarun’s brother, to find hits on any of the new photos Shyam’s men captured around India. It was the only way we could locate him—by linking him to Vik’s facial features.

My butt was numb from sitting with perfect posture for so long. After Shyam concluded the meeting, I packed up my laptop and cord into my bag, then excused myself to use the restroom. I needed stretch my legs and pee. The men stood up out of courtesy and continued talking amongst themselves as I walked away.

After I was finished in the bathroom, I returned to find a vacated dining room. I looked around for signs of someone in any of the other rooms, assuming the men had relocated, but came up empty.

I moved to the staircase and made my way up. Something compelled me to wander up the steps. Images of the last time I was here took over my head.

The echo of my heels clicking on the steps broke the silence around me. I found myself in front of Shyam’s room. The door was closed.Should I knock first?My knuckles gently rapped on the wood. No answer. I waited a beat before I knocked again. Still no answer.

I cautiously pushed the door open. The room appeared to be empty, so I wandered further inside. It looked and smelled just like it had the last time I was here, when—

Shyam emerged from the closet, startling me and relieving me all at the same time. He had changed from his dress clothes to just a pair of sweatpants. The muscles on his arms and torso were tight with tension and I could see the cords protruding under his skin, like he had just been working out. He stalked closer to me, approaching slowly like an animal preparing to move in for the kill. I was his prey, frozen in my spot. His eyes were wild with dominance.

“Where did everyone go?” I managed to ask.

“I sent them away,” he said as he reached me. I had barely been in the bathroom for five minutes, so it was surprising everyone had left already.

“Oh. I guess I should go, too.” I said. I was about to turn on my heel to leave when he stopped me.

“Why leave so soon? Didn’t you come here to tempt me? Isn’t that why you came here tonight with your pretty pussy wrapped in lace, like a present waiting for me to unwrap?” The fire in his eyes burned my skin and I suddenly felt claustrophobic in my clothes. If he kept staring at me like that, I would have to rip them off to avoid suffocation. No—I couldn’t give in. I had to strengthen my resolve.

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