Page 23 of His Christmas Wife

“But I’m not telling you anything you don’t know.”

“Or anything you haven’t said before.” He stepped off the treadmill’s belt and dried perspiration from the back of his neck as he paced the confines of the room, ignoring the spectacular view of the Mississippi River.

Aviana could have waited a few more hours before dialing his number—at least long enough for him to have had coffee, or better, a Bloody Mary.

She sighed. “I continue to hope that you might reform your ways.”

At this stage of his life, he doubted it was even possible. “Is the only purpose of this unwanted interruption to highlight my numerous flaws?”

“There’s not enough time for that.”

He imagined her dismissively waving her hand.

“I’m offering you a friendly warning.”

He doubted thefriendlypart.

“I don’t like it when innocents are destroyed in your wake.”

Her accusation infuriated him, and his temper strained against the tight leash he kept it on. “You’re underestimating her.”

“Not at all. I see her strength, but I know what she’s been through.”

The intentional barb found its mark. He knew nothing about who his assistant was. And until now, maybe it hadn’t mattered.

“I’m also aware she has a heart.”

Heart? What did that have to do with anything? “I assure you Ms. Robbins was a consenting adult.” The club’s security cameras would prove his point.

“To the scene, yes. Otherwise I would have bounced your ass out of there. But as to everything else?”

“What the fuck do you know about my life or relationship to…” The provocative submissive? His assistant? He finally settled on, “Ms. Robbins?”

“I know who she is to you.” When she went on, the reprimand in her sharp tone rang crystal clear. “There’s an unequal power dynamic between you, and I see you manipulating her, using your authority to your advantage.”

Fuck off.On one hand, Frost respected that she looked out for all the club’s participants. On the other he resented her meddling in his life. “Anything else, Milady?”

“Lines exist for a reason. They shouldn’t be blurred.”

He planned to eradicate them entirely.

Last night, Kaylee had seemed like the answer to his Christmas Eve dilemma, and this morning he was even more convinced.

Or maybe hewasselfish.

Now that he’d sampled the delicious sweetness of her juices on his tongue, he wouldn’t stop until he tasted her again.

“When she leaves your employment, which she is certainly smart enough to do, tell her to look me up.”

A poker of hot fire stabbed his gut. “Are you trying to poach my employees, Aviana?”

“Not at all.” She paused for maximum drama before laughing and continuing, “She’ll leave of her own volition.”

“Hands off.”

“That sounds a little possessive, Frost.”

This time he said it aloud. “Fuck off.”

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