Page 31 of Undercover Billionaire

She cleared her throat. Drake had waited patiently for a response, so now she quickly spoke, her voice emerging breathless, "Good morning."

Her lover smiled.Her lover. It sounded so foreign and yet so right. Forcing words through a tight throat, she spoke more authoritatively, "Did you sleep well?"

“I did.” His gaze was fathomless. "Next to the most beautiful woman in the world."

Kaitlyn flushed. Sensitive cells came to attention as he shifted, brushing against her in their lover’s embrace. "And you?"

"Very well, thank you,” she murmured. “I was having a very nice dream."

"Me too." He tightened his hold, and once again her body heated like firecrackers. How did he affect her with a simple movement? She had to get away from the powerful man and his intoxicating effect.

"Kaitlyn." His voice was like a lover's caress. She closed her eyes, retreating back to the night and the wonderous sensations it wrought. A part of her longed for a glorious encore, however Cynthia would soon arrive. She must prepare for her cousin, while somehow resisting her employee.

Yet as he traced a line down her neck, Goose bumps rose on tender skin, stealing wise intentions. Her body had already begun its treacherous betrayal and would not long withstand his sensual administrations. A moment’s hesitation would mean hours more in his bed. “We should get up.”

His smile was knowing as he released her from his embrace. "I'm getting to you, aren't I?"

Yes."No."

"Are you sure about that?"

No."Yes."

Kaitlyn slipped out of bed, strode to her closet and grabbed a pale pink silk robe. She cinched it about her waist, yet slowed as she tuned back to her lover. She had to say something lest he believe everything had changed.Even if it had."What happened last night was amazing, but–"

"Stop." He rose out of bed. Sometime during the night he had donned his jeans, and now they rode low as he approached her, in the shadow of 6'2 of solid tanned muscle. He was an apex predator, all controlled power and stealthy movements. He gripped her hands in a light touch, holding her captive. "You cannot pretend last night didn’t signify something. We must discuss it."

"There’s nothing to talk about." She edged back, stopped by tether of his power. They had to return to a professional relationship before she lost all control. "We're physically compatible, but that doesn’t mean our relationship has to change."

"Physically compatible?” he challenged. "This thing between us is far more than physical. I know it, and so do you. We can't just ignore it."

She notched up her chin. "We can and we will. I’ve already told you the type of man I'm interested in–"

"No matter how much you claim to want a puppy, it isn’t true. There’s something special between us." Drake’s eyes darkened. "It will be explored.”

Heat ignited her blood, but this time not from arousal. “How dare you! I will make my own decisions. We'll continue our professional relationship, and that's all."

"No." The words were calm, matter-of-fact, a simple statement of truth from a man accustomed to getting his way. “We don’t have to continue intimacies, if that makes you uncomfortable, but I will not let you pretend this didn’t happen.”

Did he just suggest they stop intimacies? Of all the wretched, terrible, horrid ideas–Focus!"Did you just say no?" She glared. "You work for me. That means you have to listen to what I say."

"Then I quit."

Her mouth dried. "You can't quit." After all their hard work, he couldn’t give up now. If he left, Cynthis would discover she’d made it all up. "You can’t do that," she sputtered.

He shrugged. "Sure, I can."

"Are you blackmailing me?” she demanded. “Date me or I’ll quit? I’ll tell the agency. You’ll lose your job."

He didn’t appear the least bit concerned. “That's all right. I think it’s time for a career change anyways."

"A career change?" Was he joking? Bluffing? Manipulating her to get his way? If so, it was working far too well–

A thunderous knocking shook the apartment and splintered her thoughts. She blinked as hazy memories resurfaced. "Banging… that’s what woke me today."

"Me too." Drake frowned. Hammering pounded again, but unlike the soft noise of her dreams, this was far louder, more intrusive and definitely quite real. And it was coming from the front door.

"Who could that be–" She stopped, gasped. There was only person who would arrive at the crack of dawn without a moment’s notice. Only one whose every move was to disrupt and dismay. Only one who could pick the perfect time to force her surrender to Drake’s blackmail.

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