Page 13 of Compelled Obedience

I couldn’t believe he’d managed to capture more of me with his magnetic aura. “These kids are very important to you as if this is a personal vendetta.” He was offering a challenge, a smirk on his face as he lifted one of his dark, arching, and sexy eyebrows. “Is that what you grew up in?”

I’d known my anger and hatred against the system was a telling statement about my past, but for some reason it felt far too personal, intimate at this moment. “You don’t need to know a thing about me, Mr. Wilde. We’re talking about the children you supposedly support.” There was a toxic electricity coursing through us that threatened to shove my mind into a permanent fog. I could tell he sensed it too by the way his nostrils were flaring. God, he was far too sexy.

“Mmm… I suppose you’re right.” I could swear he’d just drawn a line in the sand.

“Why don’t you take time out of your busy day to come visit one of the schools?”

“Is that an invitation?”

Now his eyes were pointed, piercing mine in such a way I was breathless. My treacherous body continued to react to him in an egregious manner and there was no doubt my panties were damp by just standing this close to him. It was a terrible situation to be in, especially since I was certain he had a clear understanding of how aroused I’d become. Maybe I should just think of him as a man whore.

Not that the distinction made me feel any better.

“Yes, I am. I’m challenging you to visit Harry Carver High School. Take it as an open invitation from one of the teachers. Do you know what’s so sad about the situation? There are some really good kids who want nothing more than to learn, to excel in something. They long for someone to take interest in them, to nurture their spirit. That’s what I try to do with music. I give them a reason to go on, a hopeful moment in a life that will only get harder for them. Some of the kids excel. They thrive. They are incredible. You’d be surprised how amazing they are.”

I was rambling on. Of course, the rich man didn’t care. Why should he? The children brought light to my darkness, but I could barely keep some of them in school long enough to make a difference. Or maybe I was fooling myself.

“That sounds wonderful.” His husky voice sent a thrill through me, tingling every cell until I was forced to suck in my breath.

While the compliment was nice, he certainly hadn’t committed to going.

When a smile started to curl on the corners of his lips, my nipples tightened. I couldn’t believe I was aroused by the man, but I couldn’t help myself.

“Now, if that’s too much for you, I can understand. We certainly don’t have any valet parking for your Porsche or maybe you drive a Maserati. Yes, you appear like the kind of man who would drive an Italian sports car.”

He pushed off from the wall, closing the distance. Now, standing only a few inches away, I was instantly lightheaded from the intoxicating scent of his aftershave. The woodsy fragrance was laced with hints of citrus and a dash of the ocean with exotic spices. He was much taller than I realized, at least six foot four, which meant even in my heels, he dwarfed me. His presence reminded me of predator, a man who was used to getting everything he wanted with a snap of his fingers.

Well, goody for him. I wasn’t the kind of woman who could tolerate a dominating man. I’d had enough abuse to last me a lifetime.

When he lowered his head, I wasn’t entirely certain what he was going to do. In my warped mind, I was certain he planned on kissing me. That was totally unacceptable.

Even if he had the most delectable lips.

“You know nothing about me yet you’re certain I couldn’t understand.”

“Well, could you?” I dared ask, my voice little more than a whisper and I hated myself because of it. I was drunk on his aftershave, no longer able to breathe normally. When I tilted my head just a couple centimeters, our lips brushed together, and I stiffened.

“You might be surprised, my little kitten.”

His little kitten? Who was he kidding?

When I dragged my tongue across my lips involuntarily, he wrapped his arm around my waist, dragging me against his heated body. I was momentarily lightheaded, pressing my fists against him as a guarded reaction even though the scent of my desire floated between us. I was mortified but refused to show him he’d bothered me in the best of ways. He didn’t deserve it.

“It’s obvious how much you love the children you teach. I’m eager to see you in action. You have yourself a deal, Miss…”

“Bettington. Kerri Bettington.”

I’d just sealed my fate. Soon, I would be out of my parttime gig and I expected that he’d call the principal of the school and have me tossed out before he was required to make good on the deal he’d just made.

When he captured my mouth, I found myself rising to my tiptoes, leaning into him. My God, the taste of him was an explosive combination, spearmint and bourbon. I was shoved into an instant fog as he thrust his tongue past my lips, exploring my mouth. Every part of me wanted to shove him away, but I was lost in a passionate moment that hadn’t happened in as long as I could remember.

Grant was all male, his cock hard as a rock, the thickness throbbing against my stomach. I was completely aroused and thoroughly disgusted he could dare kiss another woman when his girlfriend or fiancée was waiting for him in another room. Yet I was so drawn to him, the connection we shared so intense that I couldn’t react fast enough, allowing the brilliant and beautiful kiss to continue. He was more dominating than I realized, his hold becoming possessive. I remained lightheaded, a part of me wanting to fight him and another longing to writhe underneath his muscular body.

When he finally pulled away, a part of me remained completely aroused, my nipples taut and aching. But the tiny bit of the rational woman who’d fought to maintain her self-respect took over.

How fucking dare he take advantage of me.

I jerked away, cracking my hand against his cheek, my eyes immediately drawn to the light stubble covering his chiseled jaw.

---