by K. S. Martin
Her Boss the Alpha
By
K.S. Martin
Her Boss the Alpha©2013 by K. S. Martin All rights reserved.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Epilogue
Chapter 1
She’s working at her desk in the wood surround cubicle. Papers are scattered everywhere and even though it looked like chaos it was a totally organized disaster. Her head is down and she’s tapping keys frantically as she enters figures on a spreadsheet from the paperwork. He can watch her progress on his monitor, his reflecting the desktop that she sees. She’s a work horse and he’s pleased that he recommended her hiring. Recommended is not really a fair word, he owns the company so he gets what he wants. He wants her, his mate. Wearing an extreme black suit and a starched white cotton blouse with her hair up in an uncomfortable looking knot, she stood ramrod straight at the receptionist’s desk when he’d walked by that day. She’d noticed him with a nod but that was all. He couldn’t help the feeling that shot through him at the sight and scent of her. All he wanted right then was to lay her down on the sea blue carpet and muss her up. It was the same every day since. The urge was strong to storm over to her desk, bend her over on all of the paperwork, and take her. To lay her out like a buffet before him and gorge himself on her, explore her, claim her. He fought it with everything in him but his eyes flashed dangerously. This woman, Lauren Edwards, according to her personnel file she was twenty four, had a double degree in accounting slash finance and this was her first job. She didn’t seem to be a typical twenty four year old woman. Most women of that description were on their way to a bar or party at this time of day on a Friday but not Lauren. She was still tapping frantically on the keyboard, she was relentless and his top producer. She seemed inapproachable in the same inapproachable black suit and fussy knot in her hair today. He wanted to muss her up and it was increasingly difficult to refrain from it. He saw her go to lunch with the other workers once in awhile but most days it was a salad, an apple and a bottle of water at her desk. She was disciplined and he liked that, discipline. He wondered if she would like physical discipline. He wondered how she would feel draped over his lap while he spanked her. He bit the inside of his cheek to quell the desire blooming for the fourth time today. It was bordering on ridiculous. He was unsure of how much longer this could go on before she realized that he was stalking her. He sized up his prey. He would have her, there was no doubt. Weekends were the worst, he drove by her apartment, but she never came out so that he could accidentally run into her somewhere. Once in awhile though she would sit in the window and read. He’d park and watch while he shifted in his seat. He should just tell her, take her home, and claim her but she was human. Humans were weak, frightened and always a threat to his kind. They could never find out, never know of his existence. This mating would require much care, precise planning, and she must earn his complete trust. His family had stayed out of packs for a hundred years to avoid discovery. To avert threats and danger, his grandfather had spent his life ensuring their anonymity from humans and other wolves. It was lonely but freedom was worth it. No human had ever mated to a wolf in his family and until now, it wasn’t an issue. True she would be the first if he could ever trust his safety with a human. She would be the first but only because he couldn’t change biology or fate. If he could, he would never have chosen her, not because she wasn’t beautiful or enticing but because humans were not trustworthy. Too many wolves had not only suffered but had been killed because of them. Lauren looked over her shoulder at him. Jake stilled concentrating only on her. But so beautiful. Come to me. He thought. Please.
“What is that guy’s problem?” She muttered to herself. “Why is he always staring, leering even at me?”
“Maybe he thinks you’re cute.” Zoe chuckled sarcastically as she stopped at Lauren’s desk. “I’m on my way down, are you ready to leave? You don’t want to stay here with him alone do you? And you’re making the rest of us look bad.” Lauren nodded and gathered her things while the computer powered off, she glanced at him once more and her core clenched. Why did he have this effect on her? His stare made her uneasy and anxious but also aroused. “Don’t pay him any attention Laurie. If he isn’t satisfied with your output, you’ll know it.” Lauren smiled at Zoe. Some women had it all. Zoe was tall, lithe, toned, tan, and blonde. Every man’s wet dream. Lauren felt intimidated by her every time they crossed paths. Lauren was her polar opposite, short, pasty, and brunette. She was a hard worker though and her mother said that would win out over looks. Somehow, she doubted it. Zoe started the same day that Lauren did, they had the same degrees, but Zoe earned a promotion with more pay within weeks. The only thing that made sense was her looks because Lauren put in more hours than anyone in the office. Lauren produced more work and she never got anything sent back for error corrections. Zoe had corrections all of the time, in fact she joked about how many she had. It could be because Zoe was a total slut who slept with everyone. Lauren blew her bangs off of her forehead with a long sigh. “I’m going to Ryan’s. Do you want to come with? Some of the boys are going to be there and I heard that Michael thinks you are too cute!” Zoe cooed. Lauren highly doubted that Michael thought she was ‘too cute.’ More than likely Michael thought that she was the only female in the office that he hadn’t nailed yet, including Zoe. Besides, Zoe was too damn perky to put up with for that long.
“No thanks. I have some errands to run so…maybe next time.” Lauren pasted a smile on and watched the floors count down. “What is the guy’s name in the glass office with the staring problem?” She asked Zoe changing the subject.
“That’s Mr. Bryant.” Lauren’s eyes widened. “Yeah, that Mr. Bryant. He’s a real tyrant from what I’ve heard, no nonsense, and all that. You’d better watch yourself Laurie. If he’s staring at you, you must have done something wrong. Maybe you should look for a job, you know? Before he can fire you, you should really consider the offer with Devlin, what have you got to lose? You’ve only been here a year it’s not like your vested.” Lauren shrugged.
“I thought he would be much older.” Zoe shook her head as she pulled her cell out and texted someone. Lauren thought that maybe she should go somewhere else because she felt him watching her all of the time. Whenever she looked, there he was with those piercing blue laser beam eyes. He wasn’t one of these young beautiful CEO’s that every woman is trying to get into bed. Well, maybe they were, but Laurie didn’t spend her day watching him so who knew. Mr. Bryant was youngish, perhaps thirty, Lauren surmised. He had blue black short hair, a longish nose, and sharp cheekbones. He looked to be more predatory than pretty most days with his permanent five o’clock shadow. He was an attractive man but he seemed hard in some way, in a way that never knew softness. Those eyes were like laser beams cutting her to pieces all of the time. Lauren didn’t like his staring at her and now that she knew who he was, it was even worse. How had that tidbit of information gotten past her anyway? She really needed to look up from her work once in awhile. She admonished herself. The elevator doors opened on the garage level and Zoe trotted out with her phone to ear chirping to someone already at the bar. Her too high heels clacked noisily on the cement floor. Lauren rolled her head from shoulder to shoulder and trudged out into the darkened garage to find her car. She walked slowly. She was always bone tired when she left work, probably because she worked long hours. It would pay off someday. Her red compact, Little Red that was her constant companion since high school was waiting. It may not be pretty with its primer gray fender but it was reliable. Lauren put her lun
ch bag and purse in the back seat then noticed the flat tire.
“Damn it.” She hissed. “At least it’s Friday because this may take all night. Damn Red, really? I’m beat here.” Lauren said to the car as she opened the trunk and got the spare tire and the jack out. She placed them on the concrete floor next to the flat tire. Once she found the tire iron, she set about loosening the lug nuts. They were tight and she had trouble budging them but worked hard at it. Lauren took her suit jacket off and threw it into the back seat, her high heels followed. Hair was escaping the tight knot she always wore and she was sweaty. She hated being sweaty. The tire iron slipped. The back of her hand smacked against part of the fender cutting and bruising her knuckles. Tears leaked from her eyes at the sharp sting of pain and she cried out. Lauren held her hurt hand with the other and doubled over. At this point, she did not care that she was probably bleeding all over her skirt and blouse. Pain and her heartbeat throbbed through her knuckles.
“Are you okay?” The deep male voice inquired.
“Perfect.” She snapped. “I always sit on the garage floor while I bleed to death.” She didn’t look up but heard him walk away. “Charming and such a gentleman.” Lauren muttered and flexed her aching hand then went back to work on the tire. A rivulet of blood ran down the back of her hand. She heard the footsteps returning and knew that he was behind her. Crap. Did he hear her?
“Let me see your hand.” He was squatting beside her. It was Mr. Bryant. Crap. Crap. Crap!
“I’m fine really. No need to trouble yourself.” She said without looking up at him.
“Let me see your hand.” He said again. This time it wasn’t as gentle as the first time he made the request. This time it was a command and one that she dare not ignore. His large strong looking hand was out waiting and she put her small achy delicate one in it. She glanced up at his face through her lashes. Lauren nibbled her lip while he tended to her with a first aid kit. He was very big up close, even bigger than he seemed while he spent his day staring at her in the office through his glass walls. “You’re Lauren right?” She nodded. He looked up. “Yes?”
“Yes sir.” Lauren said and swallowed. This man was not a pretty boy. He was large, dominating, and intense. Even more so, up close. He was a man, not a boy in a man suit. An imposing and dominating man that could crush her without giving it a second’s worth of thought.
“Where are your shoes Lauren?” She looked down at her bare feet in the nude pantyhose. Her bright pink toenails looked silly right now. She smirked at them.
“In the car sir. It was hard to squat and I didn’t want to scuff them.” He nodded and finished dressing her hand.
“Put them on. You could step on something in here that would be detrimental to your health.” He closed the first aid kit and set it aside. Within Moments, he had the lugs and tire off. Lauren watched not knowing what to say while she put her sensible black leather pumps back on. “Where are you off to Lauren?” He asked as he tightened the lug nuts.
“Um…home, sir.” Her hands knotted together at her waist, they always knotted when she was nervous.
“No plans on a Friday night? I think a bunch of people went to Ryan’s Pub why don’t you go there?” Lauren nibbled her lip.
“No, thank you sir. I don’t really fit in with them.” She clenched her jaw, the second stage of nervousness, her jaw clenched when she felt near to fight or flight.
“No?” She shook her head. “Not your crowd huh?” She shook her head again. “What’s for dinner then?” Her brows furrowed. She wished he would hurry up and fix the damn tire so she could leave. Why all of the damn questions? He was beyond nosey.
“I’m not sure yet. Probably a sandwich.” She tried to smile. He nodded.
“All done.” Lauren exhaled thankful that was over. “I expect payment.”
“Oh.” Lauren stared at him wide eyed and surprised. “Um, how much do I owe you?” She reached into the car for her purse and dug in to it to find her wallet while he put her flat tire and tools in her trunk.
“No Lauren. I do not want your money.” The corner of his mouth lifted. God that was sexy. She thought. “I was on my way to dinner and I don’t have a companion tonight. As payment, I would like you to join me for dinner.” Her brows furrowed again as she locked the car. How was she supposed to sit across a table from this super intimidating man with the laser beam eyes? “Come.” He took her hand and led her away from her car and over to his. When he had her belted safely in the passenger seat he walked around to the driver’s side and got into the expensive sedan. “I was on my way to Ramon’s, is that okay with you?” Lauren nibbled her lip. “Lauren?”
“Um, yes sir, that’s fine.” Oh what a mess this was. How did she end up in his car going to an expensive restaurant like Ramon’s? She was tired, sweaty, and now trapped by this gorgeous overbearing man. This was bound to be a disaster. She should’ve said no. Should have but he was not the kind of man that you said no to.
“Tell me Lauren, do you like working for Bryant IT? I’ve noticed that you seem to work a lot of long hours. Is the work too difficult?” He glanced over at her and at her bare knee. She uncrossed her legs and tugged at the hem of the skirt as they sped down the darkened highway. There wasn’t much traffic this time of evening, the soldiers of rush hour were already home.
“I like working for you sir. I want to make sure that my work is correct so sometimes it takes a long time. Some of my accounts are large and I don’t want to make a mistake.” Her hands knotted in her lap. How far was Ramon’s? It never seemed like it was this far when she was driving home.
“I’m glad that you are so attentive to your work. You know our image is very important. I wouldn’t want to bill incorrectly and upset a client.” He glanced at her again. Did his eyes just change color? No, she imagined that.
“No sir.” Lauren tucked a stray hair behind her ear.
“You seem uncomfortable Lauren, are you okay?” He turned the laser beams on her again.
“Fine sir.” Her jaw clenched.
“Are you sure? I can take you back if you like. I thought that you would rather have a nice dinner instead of a sandwich. I know you must be hungry, you only had a salad and an apple for lunch.” Lauren gasped. “I saw you eating alone at your desk again. You really should join your coworkers and socialize at lunch. It’s not good to isolate yourself.” She shook her head. “You prefer to be alone? Or you don’t like their company?” Her hands knotted in her lap.
“Both sir. I didn’t consider the socializing requirement when I applied for the job. I didn’t know it was a prerequisite.” Why was he so damned nosey about what she did, what she had for lunch, and if she was making friends? He wasn’t her father.
“No need to be snippy Lauren, I was only suggesting that it may help you fit in. It may make work more fun if you had friends around you instead of coworkers.” He pulled into Ramon’s parking lot.
“Why do you care? And why do you stare at me all of the time? It’s nerve wracking.” Lauren folded her arms across her chest. Why was he picking on her anyway? They were not getting along and she was probably going to lose her job now anyway so she continued her rant. “And why did you promote Zoe? She screws up all of the time, her spreadsheets are full of mistakes, and she is sleeping her way through the staff. Or has she gotten to you too? I’ll bet that’s it, she’s already spread her legs for you and that’s how she got promoted.” The car was now parked in front of Ramon’s, he turned it off. Why wasn’t she born with a filter? Everyone else had a filter between their brain and their mouth, but no, not Lauren. Like so many other things that she’d been denied, height, shape, beauty, orgasms, and she didn’t get a filter either. “You can take me back to my car and I’ll clean out my desk.” Lauren exhaled sharply.
“Feel better?” He asked chuckling.
“What?” She looked up at him. Those blue lasers were intent on her. He leaned over and cupped her head in his hand. He pulled her closer and kissed her, hard. Laure
n melted. All the anxiety, stress, worry, and anger just melted away. His teeth nipped at her bottom lip and his tongue traced the seam of her mouth until she gave him access. His tongue moved masterfully over her tongue and teeth. He plundered and explored, inhaling her scent. Her heart was pounding, her tummy somersaulting and her core soaking. This man was setting every nerve and cell on fire. It raced through her and her body wanted, no craved more of him. He pulled the clip from her dark brown hair and let it fall around her shoulders.
“Just like I thought it would be. Beautiful.” He smiled at her. “I’ve wanted to do that since the day you came in for your interview. I stare at you because I like looking at you. I like to watch you work because you’re a demon with the keys. I didn’t promote Zoe but I will look into it and into her work. If she is as bad as you say, I will rescind the promotion. Now, they have some very nice food in here and I want you to enjoy yourself. Promise me that you will try to enjoy the meal and the company.” She still hadn’t gotten over his kiss. He’d kissed her and she’d gone all gooey. No man had ever made her gooey. She’d always figured it was just one more thing that she didn’t get.
“Yes sir.” She whispered. She waited while he got out and came around to open her door. Her mind was still buzzing from his touch.
“Call me Jake away from the office sweetheart.” He said helping her out of the car. “Say it.” She looked up at him through her lashes. “Say Jake.”
“Jake.” He watched her mouth move. As soon as the word was past her lips, he kissed her again. This time he dragged her body against him. One hand pressed into the small of her back the other was in her hair. Lauren’s hands were flat on his chest. Her fingers skimmed over the hard planes of muscle under his suit jacket. He was exquisite. His tongue sought entrance into her mouth again and she opened willingly. It was delicious, the way it moved over hers, the way it tangled and mastered hers. Oh, she wanted more of this man. This man with the penetrating eyes had taken control of her body and made her want. No man ever set her on fire like this, made her stomach quiver or her knees tremble. Her heart pounded and the breath she drew was not satisfying. Her core clenched and wept for him. Her fingers curled against his chest when his mouth left hers.