by Jan Bowles
He figured the sexy act had made her overheat, because she briefly stopped dancing and removed her golden mask. Tyler watched her dab away the perspiration with a towel. He was right, her face was as beautiful as her body. She then lowered the mask again and continued her routine.
Maybe she sensed his presence, because for a brief moment the most vivid blue eyes he’d ever seen stared back at him. He felt as though a connection had been made. Tyler smiled and raised his glass to her. He then took a final slug of the amber warmer and placed the empty glass on the nearest table before making his way from the club. As he pushed his way through the pulsing energy of a hundred happy people, he removed his mask. The fucking thing was making him hot, too, or was it the beautiful, seductive woman dancing on the stage that really had the blood rushing through his veins?
He turned one final time and watched the sexy lady still in command of her audience. Yeah, Club Submission was a great place, and he was glad he’d come.
Chapter Two
Rebecca Miles pushed through the revolving door of the Corinthian Hotel and looked around. She’d walked past the impressive building many times, but this was the first occasion she’d ventured inside, and she wasn’t disappointed. Cool marble floors, tinkling fountains, and ornate granite pillars graced the reception area, bringing a calming tranquility to an otherwise bustling environment. At least fifty other people shared the cathedral-sized space with her, the remnants of their incessant chatter rising high into the air.
A good-looking young guy in his early twenties, wearing a red hotel uniform complete with gold buttons and a smattering of military-style braiding, stepped forward. “May I help you, ma’am?”
Rebecca stopped midstride and smoothed the hair from her face. “I’m having lunch in the Lincoln Room.”
The young man smiled. “The Lincoln Room, ma’am. Take the elevator to the twenty-second floor, and then follow the signs. You can’t miss it.” He gestured with an open palm. “The elevators are right across the way there.”
“Thank you, you’ve been most helpful.”
“You’re very welcome, ma’am, and the views are excellent from the Lincoln Room.”
Once inside the chrome and glass elevator, Rebecca checked out her reflection in the mirror. “Damn.” She leaned forward and adjusted her glasses and then quickly finger combed her hair back into place. Why the hell does my hair have to have a life of its own at a time like this? She wrinkled her nose “Hmm.” Work time was work time and playtime was playtime. She took her career very seriously and never mixed business with pleasure. In her experience, male colleagues took a woman far more seriously and treated her with more respect when they didn’t see her as an object of sexual desire. In her job at Omega Computing, she headed a small team of twelve men and three women. She demanded their respect, and got it, too.
When the elevator doors swished open, delivering her safely to the twenty-second floor, she stepped into the lobby and followed the signs for the Lincoln Room.
Rebecca put a hand to her mouth and stifled a yawn. She really shouldn’t have gone out last night. Her feet were killing her and her eyes were still watering from wearing contacts. It was unlike her to be so unprofessional, especially as she was well aware she had an important appointment the following morning. At least no one would recognize her. She made a point of keeping her public and private lives very separate.
When she was ten, she’d become seriously ill and realized that life wasn’t a rehearsal. There was no use waiting for the perfect moment, because that perfect moment would probably never come. As a child she’d lived a cosseted existence in Rio de Janeiro. Her father, the American ambassador in Brazil, had made sure she had everything she needed, including an expensive private education. She’d wanted for nothing, except the thing she craved most—the love of her parents. Even now as a thirty-three-year-old woman she still didn’t understand her mother’s role in life, other than being the ever-attentive hostess to the important people who frequented their glamorous parties.
The Lincoln Room came into view, and she pushed open the elegant glass doors with a flourish. The portly maitre d’, wearing an immaculate black suit and bow tie, greeted her with a deferential nod of his head. “Good afternoon, ma’am.”
“I’m a guest of Mr. Stone, my surname is Miles.”
The maitre d’ theatrically scanned the reservations ledger on his desk. He seemed a little effeminate to her, and she guessed he might be gay. Not her type of man at all. “Ah yes, here we are. Mr. Stone is expecting you. If you’d care to follow me, ma’am.”
He led the way across the large, well-lit room. One wall consisted of a bank of glass, giving stunning views over downtown Boston. Secluded alcoves and leafy tropical plants separated the tables, allowing a modicum of privacy. As she followed the maitre d’ past the assembled diners, she noticed that each table had been carefully laid. Spotless, crisp white linen complemented the finest silver cutlery and lead crystal glass, giving an air of opulence that she’d often witnessed during her privileged childhood in Rio. When the maitre d’ stopped at an occupied table, Rebecca realized she’d finally be meeting the legendary boss of Cerberus Technology for the first time.
He was immaculately dressed in a perfectly fitting black suit, and she was surprised by the sheer presence the man radiated. He stood and held out his hand. “Rebecca, we meet at last.”
She realized that calling this man impressive would be an understatement. Tyler Stone was tall, far taller than his photograph on the company website had led her to believe. He had to be at least six three. As she looked up into pale-brown eyes the color of malt whiskey, she had the distinct feeling they’d met before but dismissed the idea immediately. She’d done her research. Tyler Stone was thirty-nine years old, single, and living in Houston, Texas. He was a self-made man who’d built a multibillion-dollar global company from nothing. She shook his hand. His skin was warm and his grip firm. “Good to meet you, too, Mr. Stone.”
His eyes crinkled mischievously at the corners when he smiled at her. She liked that in a man. “Take a seat, Rebecca. We can have a leisurely lunch and discuss a few things.” His voice, like warm molasses, spread seductively over her. The tone was deep and sensual with just a hint of sexy Texas drawl.
Rebecca slid into the chair pulled back from the table by the maitre d’. “Thank you.” He handed them both a menu and then dissolved away. Unsure how the meeting would go, she scanned the mouthwatering options elegantly displayed in gold lettering on premium white card. After making her decision she raised her gaze to Tyler Stone, studying him more closely.
The man certainly had an aura about him. He possessed a confidence that showed in every little thing he did, from the way he held himself to the way he casually looked at the menu, probably already knowing exactly what he was about to order. An impressive Breitling watch circled his wrist, partially covering the smattering of dark, masculine hair that disappeared into the sleeve of his crisp, white shirt. When he casually steepled his fingers together, she noticed a pair of gold initialed cufflinks. His shoulders were broad, and she liked the way powerful muscles filled out his suit. She felt sure he had his own gym and did plenty of workouts. His jaw was strong and well defined, while his nose bore the slightest hint of Roman influence. Intrigued by the man before her, Rebecca observed him more closely. Tyler Stone possessed a pair of rugged creases that traversed the sides of his mouth. She already knew they deepened considerably whenever he smiled. Short, dark brown hair feathered neatly around his face, making the color of his striking amber eyes stand out in stark contrast. They seemed somehow predatory, and at the moment they were focused intently on her.
Rebecca sucked in a long, deep breath, trying to level her emotions. Keeping her attention on the matter at hand was proving far more difficult in the presence of such an attractive man. However, she refused to let him know that his good looks and charisma had any effect on her. She was still emotionally bruised from the breakup of her previous relat
ionship. She and Mitch had been together for almost five years and for the most part had enjoyed the Master/sub relationship they shared. In her career, she was a strong-willed and opinionated woman, but in her private life, she was a natural sub who willingly surrendered all control to her trusted Dom. No, I refuse to even go there. The past is the past. Leave it there.
With almost superhuman determination, she dragged her mind back to the present. She needed to concentrate on the here and now. This meeting was important to her future.
“Did you fly in last night, Mr. Stone?”
“I arrived around six yesterday afternoon.” He placed the menu on the table and then looked directly at her, his uncompromising stare overpowering.
Control your emotions, Rebecca. He’s just a man. No different from any other. She knew she lied to herself. “Have you visited Boston before?”
“Uh-huh, I’m a Harvard man. I lived here for six years, but this is the first time I’ve been back in almost a decade. The place has changed a lot.”
“I see.”
Rebecca felt slightly relieved when a waiter appeared at their table. “Sir, madam, would you care to order?”
Tyler briefly touched her hand. “Ladies first. What would you like, Rebecca?”
“The seared Atlantic salmon with lemon butter sauce looks tempting along with a side salad. I’ll go with that, please.”
“And what would sir care to have?” The waiter appeared to bow in exaggerated deference as he posed the question.
“I’ll have the rib eye steak, rare, salad, and fries.”
“Thank you, sir, madam.” The waiter removed the menus from the table. “Would you like wine with your meal?”
Tyler looked across at her but didn’t wait for an answer. “That would be good.”
“Very well, I’ll send the wine waiter across.”
“Rebecca, I suggest a good Chardonnay to go with your fish.” The way he spoke sounded like he wasn’t really giving her a choice. Before she could reply, the wine waiter appeared, and Tyler immediately spoke with authority. “I’ll have the 2010 Ribbon Springs Pinot Noir, and the lady would like the 2010 Rued Clone Chardonnay.”
Rebecca liked a man to be dominant when he was her Master and she was his sub, but she barely knew Tyler Stone, and already he seemed to be taking control of her decision making. She cleared her throat. “While the Chardonnay would be an excellent choice, I believe I’d prefer the 2006 Bellecourt Beaujolais. In my experience it tends to pair better with salmon dishes.” She couldn’t help smiling inwardly as Tyler held himself motionless for a second or two, clearly surprised by her forwardness.
Tyler nodded knowingly, and she figured he understood her a little better now. “Beaujolais it is then.” When the waiter moved away, he turned and looked at her, appearing to size her up. His pale-brown eyes held a hint of annoyance in their fiery depths as he scanned her face. She had the distinct feeling he was pissed that a mere woman would dare contradict him. Although she didn’t know much about him, she got the impression he was a pretty dominant guy.
“You have an excellent knowledge of wine.” He relaxed back in his chair and smoothed a hand across the tablecloth. She’d definitely ruffled his feathers.
Rebecca raised an eyebrow. “Would you expect anything less from an ambassador’s daughter? My father and mother would often entertain important guests at our home in Rio and naturally expected me to have a comprehensive knowledge of the finer things in life.”
“I understand you were an only child, Rebecca?”
“Yes.”
“It sounds like a lonely existence.”
She heard herself sigh. “At times it was.”
The wine waiter returned to their table and quietly and efficiently poured wine into two glasses.
Tyler Stone took a sip then nodded affirmatively, allowing the wine waiter to fade away. He seemed completely at ease in his surroundings, just as she’d imagined him to be. To her, confidence in a man acted as an aphrodisiac, and Tyler had it in spades. It had been six months since she’d been this close to an alpha male. Six months since she and Mitch had gone their separate ways.
“Rebecca, let’s get down to business. I’ve been trying to get you to work for Cerberus for well over a year now. You’ve flatly refused to join my team in Houston. Why the sudden change of heart?”
Rebecca nonchalantly sipped at the agreeable Beaujolais, enjoying the feel as the tang from the citrus grapes slowly spread across her palate.
“Surely it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind, Mr. Stone?”
“It is, but I’d like to know what makes you tick. You’d be leading a professional team and working in a challenging environment at Cerberus Technology.”
“I have my own team at Omega Computing.”
He drummed his fingers on the tablecloth. “You haven’t answered my question.”
She was thirty-three years old and needed to reassess her life. “I guess there’s nothing keeping me in Boston anymore. I had a long-term relationship that’s over now. It didn’t finish well.”
Chapter Three
Tyler hadn’t liked her changing the wine order. In his opinion she’d done it far too stridently. If he hadn’t thought she’d be a great asset to his company, he’d have put her firmly in her place, just as he would with any wayward sub. Unfortunately, she wasn’t his sub, or, he imagined, anyone else’s. However, Cerberus Technology needed the expertise that Rebecca Miles had to offer, so he remained silent—for now.
His introspection was thankfully cut short when a smiling waiter brought their meals to the table.
As Rebecca helped herself to condiments, he glanced across at her. She was dressed in an unappealing gray business suit, and he figured she’d gone out of her way to make herself unattractive to men, relying on her talent, rather than her looks. Something niggled him though, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. The drab, sexless image she portrayed didn’t seem quite right.
Think, man, think. What’s wrong with this picture?
Meeting her for the first time, he gained the distinct impression that she hid her real identity behind those ugly thick-rimmed glasses. Surely she didn’t pick them because she liked them? They were hideous. He refused to accept the evidence of his eyes, because somehow he found her strangely alluring, almost as though her plainness hid a rare incredible beauty beneath. He was well aware that didn’t make any sense, but that was how he felt. Rebecca was boringly plain yet achingly beautiful. How crazy was that? Not a trace of makeup adorned her unblemished face, and for some unknown reason he found her lack of try hard refreshing.
She was opinionated to the point of being aggressive. She was confident and self-assured to the point of arrogance. She epitomized everything he steered clear of in a woman. As a respected Dom, who demanded his subs be obedient at all times, he shouldn’t find her remotely attractive, yet strangely he did.
Her lips were full, and he watched a moist tongue swipe away remnants of the butter sauce that had oozed from her salmon.
Even the way she held her wineglass endowed her with an elegance that seemed at odds with her plain-Jane looks.
The nagging doubts continued to feed his imagination as he cut into his steak, allowing the blood to follow the knife. “As I’m sure you are aware, cyberterrorism is a major threat to our country’s security. Cerberus Technology is a world leader in the cutting-edge software needed for the twenty-first century.”
“Of course I am aware. That’s why I contacted you.” Not a single tremor betrayed her as she held her fork completely motionless, midway between plate and mouth.
Tyler wondered if she were always so unflappable. He would love to make this woman tremble uncontrollably. His cock hardened at the mere thought of it.
Rebecca covered another small piece of salmon with butter sauce before forking it to her lips. “I’m in the process of developing a revolutionary password protection system. It needs further work. Two years should see it ready for m
arketing.”
“So why do you need Cerberus? Why not continue to develop it with Omega Computing?”
“Money. Cerberus is funded by the federal government, because of its links to the US military. Omega Computing can’t compete with that type of funding.”
Tyler took a sip of wine and held her in his gaze, wondering why he found her oddly familiar. “I take it this will be an expensive project?”
“Expensive? That’s an understatement. It’s a biometrics system that can change dynamically every time it’s used, making it impervious to hacking.”
“You seem confident in your ability.”
“Mr. Stone, I’m good at my job. The best there is. That’s why you’ve flown all the way from Houston to see me.”
Oh, how he would love to tame her sassy ways. If any lady needed a man’s discipline, it was this one. “Let’s cut to the chase, Rebecca. How much do you—”
“A basic two million a year. Plus a percentage based on results. A prestigious company car would also be required. An Aston Martin or Bentley would be most agreeable. I would be willing to sign a two-year contract provided it came with an opt-out clause that guarantees me a full year’s pay should things not work out between myself and Cerberus Technology.” She paused for breath. “I would also insist on choosing my own team, just as I have at Omega Computing. My terms are nonnegotiable, Mr. Stone.”
As she spoke, he visualized her bare, reddened ass lying across his knee. Only she wasn’t saying, “My terms are nonnegotiable, Mr. Stone.” She was crying out, “I’m sorry, Master, I’ll never be so disrespectful again.”
But business was business. He held out his hand. “Welcome to Cerberus Technology, Rebecca. Now let’s enjoy lunch. I’ll order some more wine.”
A satisfied smile settled on her lips as she placed her knife and fork down. She then dabbed at her mouth with a white linen napkin before taking his hand. “You won’t regret this, Mr. Stone.”