Only on him would authority look so hot.
"Nice to meet you," I tell the assistant as I swagger on by.
She ignores me. "Do you need me to stay, sir?"
No thanks, I'm not into threesomes.
"No."
So he gives others the monosyllabic answers, too. Good to know.
"Okay, good night?" the secretary says, a hint of desperation in her voice.
Without a word, he shuts the door. It shouldn't satisfy me, but it does. And now I'm alone with Jackson King.
"You're late," King growls.
He's taken off his suit jacket and tie. His collar stands open. His broad shoulders fill the dress shirt.
"Am I in trouble?"
He doesn't answer, only rolls up his sleeves.
Holy hotness, Batman.
"If you miss me, I'm only two floors down."
King grunts in answer and stalks behind a large, solid oak desk with a leather captain's chair. A retreat, but he's back in a seat of power. Two smaller chairs sit in front of the desk. I drop my bag in one but don't sit down. I'm not a naughty student visiting the principal's office.
Now, that's a fantasy.
King's office is impressive. Two entire walls of floor-to-ceiling windows showcase a breathtaking view of the Catalina foothills, which glow pink and purple in the setting sun.
"Your secretary sure is protective of you. Are you fucking her?" Oops, maybe a little too blunt. But if he's a man-ho, leching on all his employees, I want to know.
"Excuse me?" That stern voice warns me to settle down. Too bad it only makes me more excited.
I shrug. "She seems jealous."
"So you conclude I've taken her to bed?"
My face floods with heat. Once again, the first words out of my mouth are totally inappropriate. What is it about him that brings out inner thoughts? Around him, I can't hide.
He tilts his head to the side. "I don't think she's the one who's jealous. What did you think we were going to be doing up here, Kylie?"
I shiver when he says my name.
"Did you think we're going to sleep together?"
"No." My lie isn't very convincing. I should know. I was trained to lie. "Not at all."
His gaze drops to my breasts, and he raises his eyebrows, as if making a point. His eyes are light-blue again-almost silver. Mémé's change like that. Sometimes they look chocolate-brown, like mine, other times they are golden.
I look down. My freakin' nipples are standing out so far they show through my bra and T-shirt.
Damn.
I cross my arms over my chest to hide them. "Look, we're both adults. You invited me up here. Show me what you're going to show me, and I'll tell you what I think."
"You think you're ready?"
I saunter to his desk and plant my hands on it, leaning in. "King, I've been ready for you my entire life."
For a moment, King regards me. He pivots, squaring off to face me. He seems bigger, bulkier. His eyes burn into mine, ice blue with a black band around them.
A musky scent washes over me, spicy and masculine. My pulse picks up as I hear a low rumbling sound. It's coming from King.
I straighten. "You okay? You seem-"
"This isn't going to work."
"What?" I choke out, like he's punched me in the gut.
He closes his eyes, opens them, getting himself under control with visible effort. Whether it's temper or attraction, I can't be sure. I feel numb as he walks back to the door, presumably to see me out.
"Look, I'm sorry." I touch his arm. Electricity surges through my fingertips. King sucks in a breath. "I'll behave. I really want to see your code."
He steps back out of reach. "No. This was a mistake."
"Give me another chance," I plead. "I can act professionally, I swear."
He turns and hits me with the full force of his gaze. His eyes drift over my mouth, my breasts, down the length of my bare legs. Tingles spread through me. "Maybe. But I can't."
I shiver again. My senses go on alert, danger twining with excitement. There's a predator in the room, and he's got his sights set on me.
"You need to leave, Kylie."
Ouch. Not even his sexy voice can soften the rejection. I back toward the door, swallowing. The air in the office is electric, making the hairs on my nape stand up.
Something has happened between us. Something I don't quite understand.
"I'm sorry." I search for more to say. "I didn't mean to-"
"I'm not someone you should be alone with."
"What? I don't understand."
"This isn't a good idea." Head bowed, massive body outlined in red from the setting sun, Jackson King looks like a hero in a comic book, a being from another world.
"King," I say, and take a step forward.
His head snaps up, and he pins me with those blazing blues. "Get out."
My back hits the door, and I twist the knob, unwilling to look away from the big bad King. Muscles tight and eyes wary, he looks every bit as dangerous as he does sexy. But I'm not afraid. I want to seduce him.
I'm crazy. I don't know anything about seduction. These feelings are crazy. I try again, one last time. "I still want to test your code. You could email me. Or something."
"No," he says. "I can't." His lips twist into a miserable smile. "Leave. Now." His voice softens. "While you still have a chance."
What does he mean? I don't stay to find out. I close the door too hard, and it slams.
"And stay out," I mutter, my cheeks burning.
At least his secretary's not here to witness my humiliation.
As I walk away, a tortured sound rips from King's office. An inhuman sound. Almost like a howl.