DARK DESIRE (snowed in with the billionaire #2) (billionaire erotic romance) (5 page)

“Of course, sir,” Stephanie said.

She tried to keep a professional demeanor at
the table, but it was near impossible with Nathaniel touching her
hand and his eyes staring at her, knowing that he thought about
what kind of panties she wore right then.

Nathaniel took care of half the problem,
letting Stephanie’s hand go. He leaned back and looked out the
window. His face look concerned, again.

“HanAn was nothing but a project at first. A
way for me to stand up on my own and make money. That’s really all
it was. I stopped while the world continued. I waited. I watched. I
planned. I acted. That’s really all there is to it, isn’t it,
Steph?”

She nodded. She knew those comments
pertained to herself too. Again, she thought about Nathaniel
watching her from afar. Watching her movements, teetering on
stalking, which should have made her nervous, but she had to honest
with herself. With a man as sexy as Nathaniel Anders, she welcomed
it. She welcomed him. She needed him.

“So the company grew and grew. I worked
more, I made a lot, and it grew. But now we’re at a point where
there is just so much happening at once. Never ending work. Not
that I mind. I noticed that you originally went to school for
hospitality, is that correct?”

The change of subject and direction in
conversation threw Stephanie off. She stammered for a second before
answering.

“Yes. My first semester, before I changed
majors.”

“But you minored in it, didn’t you?”

“Yes. I thought something about hospitality
would be fun. Meeting new people all the time, taking care of their
needs…”

Stephanie stopped when she saw the look in
Nathaniel’s eyes. He looked angry and his left hand wrapped around
his coffee cup, white knuckled. For a second, Stephanie thought he
was going to break the cup.

“The only needs you worry about are mine,”
Nathaniel said in a whispering growl.

“Of course,” Stephanie said, hoping to calm
the mood.

“So you’ve had a desire to care for people
for a long time… and yet you change majors and want to become an
executive.”

“Yes.”

“And you land on the doorstep to HanAn.”

“I was sent there,” Stephanie said. “For a
temp job.”

“You were chosen over ten other people,”
Nathaniel said. “I oversee all hiring, all temp hiring, all
recruiting, and all firing. Just know that.”

The information made Stephanie swallow hard.
She couldn’t believe it but she was turned on. Nathaniel had
started all this months and months ago. Reviewing applications.
Choosing Stephanie.

“But we came here this weekend to discuss
some serious issues with HanAn,” Nathaniel said. “I’m more
concerned now with your ability to think and act. Do you understand
complementary products and services?”

Stephanie nodded. “A product or service that
relates to another, even if it’s not profitable…”

“Good enough for me. Here’s a situation.
There’s a product that I don’t like. It has potential but it has no
passion. I’m a man of passion, Steph, which I’m sure you’re aware
of. So this non-passion product goes along with another one. This
product, let’s say I don’t mind it. But it doesn’t make money. What
to do? What to do?”

Stephanie knew this was her chance. Her
interview. Her opportunity to show that she could make a business
decision, even when gazing into Nathaniel’s beautiful eyes.

“Is there a buyer?”

“For the products?”

Stephanie nodded.

“What if I say yes?”

“Then I say sell them. If you receive a
return on your investment, why not? Cash and cash flow is the most
important thing, right? Take the return and move it to something
you’re more passionate about.”

“Now, what if I said there wasn’t a buyer?”
Nathaniel asked.

Stephanie was to the point, and confident.
“Find one.”

“Find a buyer…”

“Yes.”

“And the people tied to the product?”

“The people?”

“Well, people who take care of that product.
The ones who make it, sell it, account for it… there’s an entire
system behind every product and service.”

Stephanie stopped talking. She blinked a few
times, realizing she may have spoke too soon. Nathaniel, however,
was just getting started. He pushed himself from the table and
stood up. He walked to the window, his hands behind his back.

“So we get rid of the products then. Move
forward, on to something better.”

“Not at the expense of people though,”
Stephanie said, her voice retreating back to its innocent old
sound.

“What does that matter?” Nathaniel asked.
“You made the decision. Sell. Find a buyer if we don’t have
one.”

“That was an example…” Then it hit
Stephanie.
Was it an example?

Nathaniel looked over his shoulder and half
smiled. “Life is business, isn’t it? Tough decisions day in and day
out. One moment of pleasure followed by a moment of discomfort.
That’s my life, Steph, the life I live right now. But then I
experience the wild innocence of yourself… come here, stand with
me.”

Stephanie slowly stood up. Her nerves were
shaking, unsure what to focus on first. The lust for Nathaniel was
alive and well, the ability to have light in the lodge only adding
to it because that meant she could stare at his features without
remorse, unlike last night where the fire and candlelight only gave
so much. Now her mind and body contended with the possibility that
Nathaniel had just allowed her to make a decision for his
company.

“You want to be an executive,” Nathaniel
said, “but yet you’re a woman of submission. Taking care of needs,
my needs only.”

Stephanie stood next to Nathaniel. He then
moved around, behind Stephanie, his hands touched her hips.

“Put your hands to the wall,” he said.

Stephanie listened. She felt like a
criminal, prepped for a frisking.

Nathaniel slid his hands around to the front
of Stephanie, to the button of her jeans.

“So the decisions we make,” Nathaniel said,
“are sometimes hard. It’s not always meant to be easy. I’m sure you
understand that. In an executive power position, there are no
friends.”

With the flick of his fingers, the button on
Stephanie’s jeans came undone. Nathaniel unzipped the zipper on her
jeans and his hands moved up to her hips again, now allowing his
fingers to slide into her jeans.

“And you made your first executive
decision,” Nathaniel said.

“No,” Stephanie whispered. “I didn’t say… we
were just…”

“Let’s see what kind of panties you’re
wearing today for me.”

Nathaniel pushed Stephanie’s jeans down
enough to expose her panties. She had skipped a thong this morning
at the sake of her cold body. Her panties were black and tight,
hugging along her backside with a lacy pattern. Nathaniel let one
of his fingers trace on the pattern and he groaned.

“Even when you try to choose something
innocent, it drives me mad. Oh, Steph, what am I going to do with
you?”

“Whatever you want,” Stephanie replied.

“That’s right. Caring for my needs. What
you’re meant to do. Not to make executive decisions. Cost people
their jobs.”

Nathaniel slipped his finger down and
between Stephanie’s legs, feeling her heat and softness over her
panties.

“Now I have to rid a department of my
company, because you made the decision.”

“No, no, I didn’t…”

“But you did,” Nathaniel said. His finger
moved away and his body pressed against her now. His hands were
tight around her stomach, his right hand coming up towards her
breast. “And it was the right decision, no matter how much it hurts
you. That’s why we’re here, Steph, to make this decision. I didn’t
need anyone else though, did I? Just you.”

“I’m a temp,” Stephanie said. “A temp…”

“Former temp,” Nathaniel said. His tongue
licked her earlobe, sending her body into a frenzy.

Stephanie heard the words –
former
temp
– and wanted to smile. Was she a full time employee now
for HanAn?

“Former…”

“Sorry,” Nathaniel whispered, “but you just
fired yourself.” He kissed Stephanie’s neck, so casual.

“What…”

“You’re working in the department I’m
selling off. Thanks to your decision making.”

Stephanie felt her hands curling on the
walls. She didn’t believe it. She refused to believe it.

“How does it feel to make that kind of
decision?” Nathaniel asked. He laughed for a second, and Stephanie
knew he was laughing at her.

“You can’t go by my words,” Stephanie said.
“I’m a temp… a
former
temp…”

“But I can,” Nathaniel said. “I can do what
I want.”

His grip tightened on Stephanie and she
cried out. She wanted to resist her wild urges for Nathaniel. She
closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her body reminded her of
Nathaniel’s strong arms around her. His hard body against her.
Everything
against her.

“You don’t like it,” Nathaniel said. “So
you’re not meant to be an executive. Your dream is crushed.”

Nathaniel broke his hold from Stephanie and
stepped back. By the time she turned around, his hands were in his
pockets. His face looked undeterred, uncaring. Yes, it was still
deadly and sexy, but Stephanie started to feel anger boiling in the
pit of her stomach.

“You look upset,” Nathaniel said, “and warm.
Is it too warm in here? Want me to turn off the generator?”

Stephanie’s eyes widened. “The
generator?”

“Sure,” Nathaniel said. “The lodge has a
generator. In case power is lost. We’d end up freezing to death
without it.”

“You’ve known that the entire time? And yet
last night…”

“Last night was my desire, my need.” He
stepped towards Stephanie and touched her face. “I wanted you that
way. Two people, lost in the darkness, finding their own heat. I
wanted to see how Steph would react… and what Stephanie would
do.”

As her body shook, Stephanie forced a smile.
“You want to see what Stephanie – and Steph – is going to do
now?”

“You’re meant to care for needs,” Nathaniel
said. “That’s all that matters to me.”

“I’m leaving,” Stephanie declared. “I’m
leaving.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’ll walk down to town. It’s only a mile or
two, right?”

Nathaniel nodded his chin behind Stephanie.
She looked over her shoulder and just as Nathaniel had predicted,
the storm was back. The gentle snowfall was back to its whipping
state, the winds gradually growing again.

“I don’t care,” Stephanie said. “I’m making
a decision, my decision.”

She backed away from Nathaniel’s hand and
walked from the dining room through the living area straight to the
front door. She realized then her hat and gloves were in the pocket
of her hooded sweatshirt.

Perfect.

She’d leave and walk far enough to scare
Nathaniel. She was done playing his games, now it was his turn to
squirm, beg, and need her.

As she put the hat and gloves on, a hand
came forward and unlocked the door and opened it. The cold air
rushed in, swirling around Stephanie as she looked at
Nathaniel.

“Be safe,” he said. “The storm is wild.”

“At least it’s honest,” Stephanie said. “At
least I know what I’m walking into.”

She stepped outside and the door slammed
behind her. It made her jump and she looked at the white world
before her and shivered.

What the hell am I doing?

She looked straight ahead, finding the first
set of trees, just beyond what once was a driveway for people to
drop off luggage before parking in the back lot. All she had to do
was walk to the trees, go in a few steps, turn, and wait.

She walked down the steps and moved as fast
as she could, considering the wind and snow. Everything attacked
her face, her cheeks stinging and lips feeling like ice cubes. She
checked behind her to find her footprints instantly swept away by
the wind. The walk felt like hours even though it was just a few
minutes. She reached the tree line and stepped into it, taking just
what she wanted in a few steps.

When she turned, she barely made out the
lodge, but she hoped that if Nathaniel looked out the windows, he
wouldn’t see her. She knew she’d end up back inside sooner than
later, even if it meant going on her own will. Even then, at least
this would prove a point to the sexy billionaire. He asked her a
question about his company and he planned on enacting on it? Had
Nathaniel really invited people to Wolf Top Lodge to just fire
them? To put Stephanie in the hot seat to make such a decision?

Stephanie sighed and growled.

A tough gust of wind hit her from the right.
She closed her eyes and tucked her face to her shoulder. The gust
curled and as though it had fingers, she felt her hat torn from her
head. She spun and watched the dark blue knitted cap sailing for a
seconds and then hitting the snow. She quickly ran and retrieved
the hat just as another gust grabbed at her back, trying to push
her forward.

Stephanie huddled for a few seconds and put
her hat back on. She stood and another punch from the wind made her
sidestep a few times but she found comfort when she put her arms
around a tree. The wind calmed a little and Stephanie caught her
bearings. She looked left and saw trees. To the right, trees.
Behind her… in front of her…

Trees.

Snow.

Wind…

Stephanie swallowed and took a breath. She
stepped forward and tried to find the tree she had been standing at
when her hat blew off. She tried to find her footprints. She tried
to find the tree line. The lodge. Anything.

All she saw was white.

A wall of white surrounding her no matter
what direction she turned. Her vision was five feet if she was
lucky. Each step she took could have been a step towards the lodge…
or it could have been a step deeper into the trees.