by Andre, Bella
He nodded. “I look for companies that are solid but in trouble. I buy them out, fix them up, and make more money. If I decide it’s not profitable, I just take the business apart and sell it off.”
“Like Richard Gere in Pretty Woman.”
Amusement gleamed in his eyes. “Yes, just like the movie.”
“In such a competitive market, you’ve made quite a name for yourself.”
“I’ve managed.”
“You’ve more than managed. But you didn’t tell me how you got your nickname.”
The shadows chased him, but he refused to give in. He kept his voice cold when he finally spoke. “Does it matter?”
She blinked. “No. I just thought we’d get to know one another. Since we’ll be working together, of course.”
“Of course.” A muscle worked in his jaw. He hated looking back, but if he wanted to gain her trust he needed to share certain information. “When I first started L&G Brokerage, I needed to score some particular deals in order to keep afloat. Steele Investments was an up and coming company earning a lot of press. I decided if I was able to acquire them, I could easily double my company’s profits.”
“Wasn’t that a family owned company?”
“Yes. I researched all the members of the family. I learned their strengths and weaknesses, in their professional and private lives. It took me months, but I finally found the weak link.”
“What?”
“The younger brother was a gambler. Oh, they kept him tightly under wraps, but he started gambling with some of their investors’ money. His family couldn’t do too much since he owned a large chunk of stock, and of course, jail was out of the question. So I hired a friend of mine to pose as an investor and meet with him personally.”
“You tempted him with money, didn’t you?”
He spoke without emotion. “I gave him a million dollars to invest.”
She gasped. “You had that much capital available?”
A slight smile touched his lips as he took a sip of brandy. “That was everything I had. I took a risk, and it paid off.”
“He took the money?”
Logan nodded. “Yes. His family found out too late. I offered them a deal. If they sold me the company, he’d stay out of jail. They signed the papers that week.”
She gripped the stem of her glass tighter. “Did the press ever find out?”
Logan shook his head. “They didn’t find out about the gambling. But after I signed the deal, the brother talked to a reporter and told him I practically threatened them to sign over the company. Said I was a cold-blooded monster who wouldn’t rest until I got what I wanted. The article stated no company was safe from me.”
“The ‘man of steel,’” she whispered.
He looked up. “With a heart to match.” His mouth set in a firm line. “I don’t look back and I don’t have regrets. But I always try to protect the people close to me. Even at the expense of myself.”
Chandler stared at the man before her. Logan Grant held secrets buried deep inside; secrets revealed only in brief flashes in his gun-metal eyes. The man lied. He held many regrets—but he wasn’t about to explain, and he wasn’t going to look back.
Her breath caught in her throat as an unexpected wave of protectiveness flooded her. Why did she have this sudden need to put her arms around him and offer comfort? Why wasn’t she horrified at his story, shocked at the way he’d manipulated another human being?
She didn’t know. She’d met many hungry executives before, and counted her own father among them, but there was a unique difference about the man beside her. She believed Logan when he said he’d be fiercely devoted to the people he loved.
“I believe you,” she said softly. “I don’t hold every businessman in a negative light, and I try not to make judgments on what I hear or read. People deserve a chance.”
“Does everyone deserve a chance? Or just the people you can keep at a safe distance?”
Her spine straightened. “I don’t keep myself at a distance. I always try to give something of myself to people.”
“Even men?”
She bristled at his comment. “Everyone. Men and women. I don’t draw distinctions between the two. If you’re talking about a romantic relationship, I’m bound to disappoint you. I never get involved with my students or my business partners.”
One brow shot up. “Doesn’t leave a lot of territory open now, does it?”
She rose from the sofa. How did this man get her so defensive on the subject of her love life? Or lack of it. Time to distance herself and get him out the door. “Quantity is not my concern. Quality is what makes a relationship work, and I can guarantee I won’t find that with a man making a six-figure salary who’s too busy to come home at night. I need more.”
He didn’t move. Just studied her in a brooding type silence. Intensity radiated around him, lashed out, and strangled her. She struggled to take a deep breath, suddenly afraid of him, of the powerful emotions that crackled in the room like a burst of summer lightning. She eased her way toward the door, suddenly afraid of this dangerous man who seemed to feel something she couldn’t understand.
And she was alone with him.
“I think it’s time for you to go.”
Slowly, Logan stood and placed the snifter on the table. He crossed the room in two strides and stopped before her. “Are you afraid of me?”
“No.”
A smile touched his lips. “Good. I don’t want you to be afraid. I prefer other reactions from you. Ones better suited to play.”
“I think you’d better—“
“Your apartment suits you.” He ignored her half protest and glanced around as if seeing it for the first time. “It reminds me of a woman filled with life—one who uses every moment to experience pleasure.”
His hot gaze burned. She stared, transfixed by his words and his voice and the leashed intensity that emanated from his body. “But at the same time there’s a part of you that remains selfishly in control. Contained in a small, dark space. That part is cold and clinical, and vows to never melt into the other.”
He took her glass, set it beside his, then moved closer. The back of his hand caressed her face. “You hold yourself back, Chandler, waiting for someone who will never come; a fantasy figure who seems safer than a man of flesh and blood, a man who will probably make mistakes and possibly hurt you. But the man you deny yourself could bring you great pleasure. You’re just too afraid to reach out and take him.”
He pulled her towards him with slow, deliberate movements. His warm breath penetrated her hair as his arms pressed her body into his. “Don’t run from me.” His voice commanded, whispered, in her ear. Then his mouth came down on hers.
Caught in the fog enveloping her mind, Chandler held herself perfectly still in his embrace. Her senses were overwhelmed by his spicy scent as it mingled with his cologne. The heat of his kiss and the coiled power of his hard body ignited a raw sensual energy that threatened to engulf her.
Oh, God, what had she done? By denying any involvement with executives, she’d waved a bright red flag in front of him and challenged his ego. He was a competitor at heart, and wanted to win her body’s reaction. As his lips moved over hers, Chandler decided to let him kiss her. She’d keep calm and cool, and he’d realize his mistake. She’d accept his apology and they’d continue their business arrangement and avoid future pitfalls.
Satisfied with her plan, she kept her body still, her lips chaste in a refusal of response bound to humble him. Immediately, his hold loosened and the pressure of his mouth eased. Thank goodness. Any moment now and he’d release her. Any moment.
The delicious slide of his lips over hers was feather soft. Suddenly, she was free to step back, but the teasing caress drugged her blood and fueled fire in her belly. Now that she was back in control, she relaxed her muscles, knowing she could end it. Slowly, he sipped at her mouth as if she were a precious drink of water in the desert sun, learning her taste and texture. Nibblin
g at her lower lip, his tongue teased for entry, and continued a maddening game of arousal and retreat.
Desperate for the taste of him, she pressed her body a bit closer, waiting for him to take the lead again. Instead, the strong hands that had first dragged her to his embrace now glided over her shoulders and down her arms in a gentle caress. His fingers smoothed her flesh through the sheer black silk and made her wonder what his touch would feel like on her bare skin. Her mind clamored for her to push him away, but her body longed to feel the promise behind his teasing kiss. The blood pumped through her veins with each deliberate movement of his hands and mouth.
Logan’s mouth brushed hers, then withdrew. He pulled his hands through her thick hair, rubbing each strand between his fingers in slow, easy movements. He lightly touched the tips of her breasts, which immediately hardened under her lace bodysuit. A moan escaped her lips.
“Open your mouth for me, ” he whispered. And then he was inside. His tongue pushed through the seam of her lips, glided over the smoothness of her teeth, and plunged into the slick recess of her mouth to engage in a passionate battle. He drank in her taste with a hunger she could no longer fight. Her arms slid up and around his shoulders and pulled him closer.
He crushed her breasts against his chest and insinuated one thigh between her legs, pushing her slightly off balance. Deftly, he undid the buttons of her silk blouse down to her waist and slipped it off her shoulders. The material fell away and cool air kissed her flesh, making her shiver. He dragged his mouth from hers. “Do you know how much I want you?” A shudder wracked through her. His fingers stroked her breasts with an expertise that brought a groan to her lips. Her nipple rose into his palm as his thumb made teasing circles. “I knew it would be like this between us.”
Logan eased the stretchy black bodysuit over her shoulders and exposed her naked breasts. He plucked her tight nipples, murmuring in satisfaction as she arched upward and silently begged for more. His fingers sunk into the hair at her nape and tugged her head back to drop over his arm. “God, you're beautiful."
Chandler felt like a pagan goddess about to be sacrificed. Her hair hung down her bare back, her breasts tilted upward, waiting for his mouth. Her body greedily demanded the pleasure this powerful man could give her, needing to be rid of the constraints her mind imposed over her many years of discipline. When was the last time she’d let a man pleasure her? Why did listening to her body make her finally feel free?
His warm breath teased her nipple as he lowered himself over her and opened his mouth fully over her breast. Throaty moans escaped her lips as he bestowed pleasure, bringing her to a fevered pitch of longing, knowing there was more. She became sensitized to the scrape of his teeth, the stroking of his tongue, the touch of his lips. A throbbing ache settled between her thighs. Overwhelmed by the sensation of being totally possessed, she sank into a place where only pleasure ruled. All her seething emotions and erotic desires, long hidden, suddenly burst free.
When Logan swept her up into his arms and carried her to the sofa, there was no thought in her mind to protest. He pressed her deep into the cushions, fully removed her blouse, and further pushed her bodysuit down to her waist. His leg lay heavily over hers, causing the slits in her skirt to fall open to mid-thigh.
“Touch me.”
His softly spoken demand made her tremble as she tugged the buttons open on his shirt and parted the material. She slid her fingers over his hard stomach, tracing the swirling pattern of dark hair that covered his torso. He groaned when her nail brushed his flat nipple, causing her to pull back, unsure. When he remained perfectly still, her fingers retraced her path with wonder. His chest rose as he dragged in air. The crisp hairs tickled her palms as she followed the dark line past his stomach to pause at the edge of his belt buckle.
His evident arousal made her ache to reveal more of him, so she let her hands coast downward to explore.
Logan muttered a curse, captured her wrists and pinned them above her head in one swift motion. His other hand slid up her calf, and stroked the sensitive skin behind her knee before he ventured higher and encountered the edge of her stocking. He let his fingers slide on the bare expanse of skin at the top of her thigh. Slowly he unsnapped her bodysuit between her legs and played with the line of her panties, letting one finger slip under the elastic, then moving away.
His mouth took hers in a hungry kiss, and Chandler fought for breath. When he finally raised his head, his gaze locked on hers. With deliberate motions, he settled his palm over the apex of her thighs. A rush of damp heat burned through the fragile black lace.
Slowly, he pressed.
Chandler arched upward and cried his name. Instantly his mouth was back on hers, kissing her without restraint as he continued the rotating, stroking motions of his palm. He drank in the tiny gasps that broke from her lips.
“Tonight I’m going to teach you how good we are together. Give yourself to me, baby, and I swear you won’t regret it. I’ll take care of everything.”
His husky words had the effect of dumping a bucket of icy water over her. She froze, her mind frantically going over the implication of his last statement.
He would take care of everything.
With dawning horror, she realized how close she’d come to making another terrible mistake. Logan Grant wanted to take her to bed to prove a point. He’d deliberately planned to seduce her, using his coldblooded logic to justify his actions. Her seduction gained him more control, which would be an advantage in their business dealings. His ego also benefitted by conquering her objections to corporate executives. Once he accomplished his goal, he’d tire of her, and then terminate their contract.
One night of passion could cost her the career she worked for all of her life. Nothing was worth that.
Not even the pleasure she found in his arms.
She pushed at his chest and tried to drag in a breath. “Please stop,” she tore out.
He lifted his head. “Don’t be afraid of me.” His hot gaze swept over her half naked body. She imagined her swollen, achy breasts, her nipples still wet from his mouth, and the scrap of lace that betrayed her wet arousal. “Just let your body take you where we both want to go.”
Ice trickled down her spine. Stupid, so stupid. What a standard line from the sexy billionaire who could seduce a woman in three seconds flat. “Let me up.”
He rose from the sofa, and she pulled her bodysuit up with clumsy hands. She had to handle this right or it could affect the rest of their business relationship. Instead of cowering, Chandler gathered her courage, stuck up her chin, and faced him head on. “I apologize.”
A dark frown creased his brow. “Excuse me?”
She stumbled in a rush over the words. “I think this is just a communication problem. I mistakenly made remarks leading you to believe I’d never be attracted to an executive. You subconsciously tried to prove me wrong, and you did. I admit defeat."
He tilted his head and regarded her with sudden interest. Her shoulders sagged with relief; she had his attention. Surely, once she presented the complications of getting involved with her, his normal, logical thoughts would take over. He’d agree to put the entire episode behind him. She needed to show him some concrete reasons to avoid an affair.
“Now, I think our best solution is to admit we had a brief attraction which originated from your desire to prove a point, and my surprise at your sudden actions. We both got a little carried away but we stopped our mistake in time. I think we can put this behind us and continue with our working relationship. Keeping distractions to a minimum is crucial for this project to work. Don’t you agree?”
She took his silence as agreement; he seemed to be listening intently. “We’d have some difficulty keeping our personal lives separate from business, which could affect the result of the program. Second, the reaction of your employees could be detrimental. They could decide you weren’t serious about the workshop and only implemented it to satisfy your current lover.” Her tongue stumbled over
her last word before forging on.
“So, I think it’s in our best interests to stick to our original agreement.” She laughed nervously when he remained silent. “We would have been a disaster, anyway. We’re much too different, and I’d never be able to handle a casual affair. Not that you have casual affairs all the time, but you’re probably much better at them than I am,” she stammered, trying hard not to blush at his pointed stare. “Well, I think we’ve settled the problem. I’m glad we talked, and again I apologize if I led you on in any way.”
Chandler began to walk him politely to the door when she suddenly realized Logan Grant was furious.
Over six feet of coiled muscle towered over her. Icy gray eyes held her spellbound. Waves of raw, primitive energy radiated from his body in a swirling mixture of anger, frustration, and desire. Her breath caught in her chest. Her body swayed. Her nipples rose to meet him. Liquid heat pooled and throbbed between her thighs. She wished she felt fear. She wanted to be afraid. But her body dared him to take her.
Horrified by her own response, she took a step backward.
He closed the distance between them. She refused to bow her head, and knew he’d glimpsed every naked emotion she attempted to hide. Confusion. Defiance. Desire.
He reached out and roughly caught her chin with his hand. His thumb caressed her swollen lips and gently parted the tender flesh as he watched her struggle to contain her body’s reaction. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction, as if he knew what she was feeling and thinking; as if he knew the game would be played by his rules and she was helpless to stop him.
“Goodnight, Chandler.” He abruptly released his hold and walked out the door.
Chapter 3
Chandler stood and stared at the closed door. She struggled against a burst of panic threatening to overwhelm her. Logan Grant would not give up until she was in his bed. She’d made a mistake the moment she responded to his first kiss. He’d sensed a weakness and was going in for the kill.