eyond Desire Collection

by JS Scott, M Malone, Marie Hall, et al

  “I need to think about it,” she said.

  “I understand.” Ethan glanced at his watch. “I’ll give you a minute.”

  “A minute?”

  He raised his eyebrows. “Not really a difficult decision, is it? Just a yes or a no.”

  A one-page employment contract and a pen appeared next to her plate of fruit. The document was in surprisingly plain English and matched everything Ethan had said—minus the sex part of course—plus a fairly standard non-disclosure clause. At the bottom of the sheet was Ethan’s signature, dated today. It only needed hers to become valid.

  He rose and came over to her seat. One large hand rested on the back of her chair and another on the table, the same “you aren’t going anywhere until you give me the answer I want, lady” move he’d used the night before. The blood in her veins warmed and surged. If he pulled back just a little and bent his head, he could kiss her mouth. That seemed like a delicious option, and she angled her head just so, letting her lips part slightly in invitation.

  He didn’t even flicker an eyelash. No, he wouldn’t kiss her no matter how blatant the signal…not unless she gave him what he wanted.

  Did she want to completely sever their connection?

  Manageable or not, he wasn’t going to be a permanent fixture in her life. He’d be a temporary arrangement—a fling. After her doctor’s orders had rendered virtually all of life’s other pleasures off-limits, surely she could indulge a little. Barron would have no idea where she was. No one in her family—not even Justin—knew about Natalie, and given Kerri’s education and work background, they would assume she’d pursue opportunities in banking.

  Most importantly, she wouldn’t be in Virginia long enough for Barron to find her. TLD couldn’t be that complicated, certainly not compared to the kind of international conglomerates she was used to dealing with. It wouldn’t take more than a few weeks to go through their books. And in the meantime, Ethan would most likely prove to be just like every other man she’d dated: interesting at first but increasingly boring as the affair went on. Why would he be any different?

  Yes, why would he? Except for the fact that he’s the only man who can make your pulse race with just a look?

  “Time’s up,” he said. He hadn’t even glanced at his watch.

  His eyes were locked on hers. In the morning, they seemed darker—more gray than silver-blue—and more introspective.

  Whenever she went with her feelings, she started to long for things she couldn’t have and acted foolishly to reach for them. Whenever her brain got involved, she ran.

  Right now, she didn’t want to run. Not yet.

  “All right,” she murmured.

  ***

  Elation flooded Ethan’s body. Women with as many options as Kerri tended to be both particular and difficult to snare.

  But she was going to be worth it, both professionally and personally.

  She didn’t seem to notice, but men admired her. He’d seen the way they’d checked her out at the airport. That was one of the reasons why he’d decided to take her to the penthouse instead of out to a restaurant. He’d wanted her all to himself. Thank god for cooking classes—and grandma.

  All right. But it would be a mistake to let his feelings show on his face. Not just yet.

  “Sign,” he said.

  She scrawled her name and dated it in silence. He smiled, folded the contract and stuck it into his pocket.

  Feelings were one thing, but there was no reason to deny himself.

  He dipped his head and covered her rosy mouth with his. The soft scent of her shampoo teased him, even with the towel around her head, and he pulled it off, letting her wet hair down.

  He loved her face freshly scrubbed, without the mask of makeup. The morning sun filtered through the gauzy curtains, adding an otherworldly glow to her soft skin, her cheeks delicately flushed. Her fingers dug into his forearm, leaving small half-moon marks on him.

  He wrapped her wet, clean hair around his hand and deepened the kiss, pressing further inside, not allowing her brain to kick in. Her tongue brushed against his, then rubbed more aggressively. Then she sucked his tongue as though she was going down on him, and his cock hardened until it pressed against his trousers achingly.

  Before he lost his mind and took her right there on the floor, he pulled away, his breathing rough and fast. “Get dressed and pack. I’ll help you move in.”

  “I can do that later,” she said, her gaze on his mouth.

  He swore at the surge of desire he felt in response to her blatantly wanton look. No matter how much she tempted him, he couldn’t relax until she was securely ensconced in the penthouse. She was a wily one. He wouldn’t put it past her to change her mind if he didn’t push now. It’d be much harder for her to back out after having moved in. “I wouldn’t want you to carry all your stuff alone.”

  “I can have it delivered,” she said.

  “I don’t care.”

  “But what about the BMW?”

  “I’ll make arrangements.”

  She nodded and rose, then disappeared into the bedroom.

  He exhaled, long and shuddery. A step closer to his goal. He knew exactly what she was thinking. She’d bolt the second she felt vulnerable or threatened. That was why she kept sneaking out, or refusing to talk about anything private about herself, including her family. They’d spent two nights together, and he still knew nothing about her.

  He had no intention of letting her find another man she’d rather be with. It wasn’t going to be a simple temporary situation that ended whenever she wanted. No, it’d be far more than she expected.

  Chapter Six

  Kerri frowned as Ethan pulled into the familiar complex and led her to his penthouse. Two of her suitcases were in the trunk, with the rest scheduled to be brought up later by the concierge. “Why are we here? What’s going on?”

  “This is your new place.”

  “What?” She stopped short in front of the door. “Wait a minute. You said I got to live in a corporate penthouse owned by The Lloyds Development.”

  “Good memory.”

  “So why are we at your penthouse?”

  “It’s not mine. It’s owned by TLD. Global Strategies leased it so I could use it while I’m in northern Virginia. I was in London until a few months ago, and when I was brought back to the States, we all thought I’d be here temporarily, so there was no reason to get anything more permanent.”

  “I can’t stay here,” she said.

  “Don’t be silly. Of course you can.”

  “But you live here.”

  “Yes, there is that. But the contract didn’t specify you get the entire corporate condo to yourself. I’m pretty certain I never gave that impression either.”

  She narrowed her eyes. Rat bastard…although she did appreciate a man who was on the ball enough to outmaneuver her. “I’ll get an apartment.”

  “What’s the matter, Kerri?” His voice was calm, too damn reasonable. “It’s a big penthouse. There’s no reason not to share. We’re both adults.”

  She fumed, but he had a point. Why should she balk at the arrangements? The fact that it wasn’t his place, just a temporary shelter—albeit a ridiculously swanky one—did kind of change things. Not to mention, she didn’t want to spend the money on rent if she didn’t have to. It was her family that was loaded, not her, and she liked to save every penny she could. Having her own financial resources was the only way to be free of Barron’s clutches. His power and control over everyone in the family came from the fact that he was in charge of the Sterling purse strings. She wasn’t going to play that game.

  “You’re right,” she said finally. “We’re both adults.”

  “Precisely.” He opened the door and gestured inside. “After you.”

  It was one thing to visit Ethan’s—no, scratch that—the corporate penthouse, thinking she would be there one night for dinner, but something else to step inside, knowing she lived there now.

  He
gave her a detailed tour of the place, which was easily five times the size of the small apartment she’d had in Hong Kong. The master bedroom suite seemed larger in daylight, the now-familiar giant bed sitting against the teak-colored wall. Her face flushed at the memory of what she’d done with Ethan the night before, and her breasts tingled. They walked into the adjoining bathroom, which housed a Jacuzzi tub big enough for two. A decent-size TV was embedded into the wall, so you could watch shows or movies while soaking. Ethan pointed out the modern double sink with invisible drain and said, “The right one’s yours.”

  Awfully presumptuous of him, but she refrained from commenting. She wanted to tour the entire place before deciding where she would sleep.

  Between the master bedroom and a smaller bedroom suite, the fully furnished study didn’t appear to be much in use. There were some books on the shelves, but Kerri realized that most of them were about golf. “Do you like golf?”

  “Lord, no. I tolerate it for business. The interior decorator knew Jacob liked the game, so she picked those books.”

  “Good. I mean…it’s too bad she didn’t consider your preferences.” Secretly she was relieved the place really didn’t belong to Ethan and didn’t reflect his tastes. It seemed to make it more neutral.

  “It didn’t matter that much. Jacob used the penthouse whenever he was in town to visit the family. TLD is headquartered in Houston, but none of the rest of the family live there.”

  Ethan also showed her the kitchen and where he kept the basics, including a state-of-the-art coffeemaker that made everything from regular coffee to a killer latte.

  “If you need anything, let me know.”

  “Okay.” She gestured at the spare bedroom suite. “Do I take that one?”

  “No. It’s for guests.”

  “Guests?”

  “Sometimes my family visits.”

  Kerri paused. She hadn’t thought about his family. Or, for that matter, guests of any kind. “Do they visit often?”

  “Not really.” He brushed a fingertip over her nose. “Don’t worry.”

  But she did. Meeting members of his family seemed a bit too…permanent. People didn’t introduce temporary flings to their family.

  “So I’m going to be sharing your bedroom,” Kerri said.

  “No, we are going to be sharing a bedroom.”

  “If you have guests so rarely, I don’t see why I shouldn’t use the empty room.”

  “Kerri, what kind of fling would it be if we aren’t sleeping in the same bed?”

  “The temporary kind.” She smiled the smile she always gave poorly performing analysts and associates who were about to be let go. “The contract doesn’t say I have to share a bedroom with you. Of course, you’re welcome to vacate the master bedroom suite for my use if you feel particularly gallant, but I’ll make do with the spare.”

  He gave her a speculative look. She’d seen the same expression on her clients’ faces when they were presented with a challenging but lucrative deal.

  “And don’t even think about sneaking into my room. I can do karate. Black belt. You never know what kind of damage I might inflict. Due to panic, of course.”

  “Of course,” he said, entirely too agreeable. “Just out of curiosity, why did you take up karate?”

  “Self-defense, why else? No guns allowed in Hong Kong.”

  “Yes, but a woman who looks like you? Why dirty your own hands? Snap your fingers and get the men around you to defend your honor.”

  “Thanks, but I grew up in an environment distinctly lacking in chivalry. I could’ve screamed like a banshee and no one would’ve bothered to glance my way.”

  The sharpness in Ethan’s eyes softened just a tiny fraction.

  Shit. She’d said too much. “So, my work?” She used her best no-nonsense tone that said the bedroom arrangements were resolved.

  “Come on.” He led her back into the study and handed her a thick folder. “Here’s all the information you’ll need to get started, including how to access the financial records and other data from TLD’s intranet.”

  She scanned the first page, then looked up. “You aren’t worried that I might steal your secrets?”

  An odd expression crossed his face. “No. I trust you.” He glanced at his watch. “I hate to leave, but there’s a meeting I really can’t miss.” He put a warm hand on her bare arm and the heat seemed to transfer instantly into her belly, curling there and making her shiver. His effect on her upset her equilibrium. Having him out of the penthouse to give her some time to regain her balance would be just the thing right now.

  “I’ll be fine,” she said. “Go on. Shoo.”

  ***

  The meeting took an hour, hashing out how Global Strategies was going to deal with new government regulations that would affect Damon Defense Engineering, one of its subsidiaries. Afterwards, Ethan went to his office, put his feet up on his U-shaped mahogany desk and stared out the window, switching gears. He wished he were with Kerri. He could think of better things to do with her than having her unpack suitcases and look at corporate data. There was nothing wrong with The Lloyds Development’s financials. The only pressing matter facing the company was locating its derelict CEO, which Pattington was already working on.

  Once Alex was back in town, Ethan could cut back and spend more time with Kerri. Make sure she wouldn’t have time to find some other man she’d rather be with.

  The possibility galled him.

  No other man would get Kerri. If no one had managed to snare her in all these years, it was their loss, not his. He played to win.

  A man less attuned to his instincts and desires might have resisted her allure, but Ethan didn’t believe in fighting himself. His gut never pointed him in the wrong direction, and he wanted her. Partly, he was honest enough to admit, because she’d eluded him before.

  Women came easily to him. He was usually the one who had to break things off, but Kerri required pursuit. If she truly hadn’t liked him he would’ve let her go. But he could tell she was fighting her own attraction, and his hunter’s instinct reveled in the chase. As well-educated, civilized and modern as he was, he couldn’t deny that aspect of his nature existed.

  And how about her sad eyes? They have nothing to do with your interest?

  Ethan quashed the thought. Kerri had looked a bit blue at the christening party all those years back, but maybe she’d been having a bad day or something. She no longer looked sad—nope, not at all—and Lisa was an old story. He wasn’t into Kerri because of some messed up need for redemption after what had happened with Lisa. It had torn him up and hurt his family greatly. He wasn’t crazy enough to go for a Lisa Number Two, no matter how hot she was.

  He wrote a quick email for his administrative assistant. The second he hit “send,” his cell phone buzzed. With a frown, he picked it up. “Alex, what’s up?”

  “Hey,” his best friend said, sounding tired. “I don’t think we’ll be back in town today.”

  Ethan swung his feet off the desk. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing too bad, but Natalie got food poisoning.”

  “Ah, that sucks. Is she okay?”

  “Yeah, she’s fine. Just in no condition to travel right now.”

  “I can imagine.” With her stomach roiling, the last thing she’d want was a trans-Atlantic flight. “Well, no worries. I can man the fort a little longer.”

  “Sorry. Oh, and we may get delayed a little bit beyond that. I just got off the phone with Rossi, and it looks like I need to take a look at operations in Rome and Paris before heading back.”

  “Okay.” Rossi had sent an email to everyone in upper management, impeccable and professional underneath the dramatic Italian flair, and Ethan had seen it already. “Natalie doesn’t mind the working honeymoon?”

  “It’s just for a little bit. I could deal with the matter from the States, but we’re already here.”

  Nothing beat being someplace in person to close things ASAP. “You’re lucky. Mo
st wives would’ve been pissed.”

  Alex chuckled. “I always get the best. Anyway, let Kerri know that we’ll be delayed, but even with the work issues, we should be back in Virginia in the next two, three weeks. I’ll get my secretary to arrange for something better than a hotel suite. Natalie’s worried because she thinks Kerri might be returning to Hong Kong before we get back. Of course, I guess we could just fly out to Hong Kong to see her if we have to.”

  “Ah, about that.” Ethan cleared his throat. “Tell Natalie to rest easy. Kerri isn’t leaving anytime soon.”

  There was a pause on the other end of the line. “Is that so?”

  “For a couple of months at least.”

  “Indeed,” Alex said in that “What have you done, my friend?” tone.

  “Kerri’s working for TLD.”

  “When did this happen?”

  “This morning.”

  A moment of silence. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

  “Don’t worry.”

  “You know she’s Natalie’s ‘bestest’ best friend, right? And Natalie can be a bit overprotective.”

  “Yup.”

  “Well, then. Good luck.”

  Alex hung up, and Ethan leaned back in his seat. He felt bad for Natalie, but at the same time, he was sort of glad that she wasn’t coming home as scheduled. Otherwise Kerri would’ve used her friend as a shield against him when things got too intense for her own comfort. For the sake of his friendship with Alex, he didn’t want to fight Natalie.

  Ethan tossed his laptop into his bag and left for the weekend. He had a woman waiting.

  ***

  Alex looked at his wife. “That was a terrible lie.”

  Natalie shrugged with a smile, her face glowing. “Oh, who cares, so long as they bought it.” She tossed herself on the gigantic bed, the silk robe he’d bought for her loose around her legs. “Besides, Rossi does need you.”

  “Why are you doing this?”

  “Because I think Ethan will be good for Kerri.”

  “Matchmaking?”

  She pressed her lips together. “No…nothing so drastic. Kerri’s not the marrying type. And I don’t think Ethan is either.”