Everything He Desires (7 page)

He
grinned.
“
I
like
your
style.
”
The
smile
faded,
and
he
was
all
business
again.
“
Number
one.
Our
arrangement
will
last
for
a
year.
Number
two.
Your
salary
will
be
$100,000
per
year.
”

I
made
a
gurgling
sound
in
my
throat.
What?
Was
he
nuts?
I
didn't
have
enough
experience
for
that.

He
held
up
a
hand.
“
Hear
me
out.
Number
three.
Your
main
job
is
to
please
me.
That
one's
really
important.
It's
the
biggest
thing
in
keeping
your
job.
”

I
nodded,
my
palms
slick.
Three
feet
divided
us
in
the
backseat.
It
seemed
like
a
gulf.
I
wanted
to
touch
and
taste
him
as
he'd
done
to
me
the
night
before.

“
Number
four.
Whatever
I
tell
you
about
business...or
other
things,
”
his
gaze
slid
down
my
body,
and
I
shivered,
“
stays
private.
No
exceptions.
”

“
I
understand.
”

“
Good.
”
He
flashed
ultra-white
teeth
at
me
and
loosened
his
collar,
unbuttoning
the
top
button
and
yanking
at
his
tie.
The
motion
made
heat
prickle
her
spine.

“
I
think
I
can
do
that.
”

He
tipped
his
head.
“
There
are
a
couple
more
requirements
to
the
job.
”

“
Oh.
”
I
clasped
my
hands
in
my
lap,
hoping
he
wouldn't
see
them
trembling.

“
Number
five.
Your
job
will
be
wherever
I
am.
You're
never
to
leave
my
side,
not
for
the
whole
year.
If
I'm
in
a
city,
you're
there,
too.
Your
office
will
be
next
to
or
in
my
office,
and
you
will
work.
Hard.
For
me.
”
He
broke
the
words
up
like
lashes
from
a
whip.
“
That
sort
of
thing,
and
I
mean
that
very
seriously.
”

“
Okay.
”
That
was
a
little
odd.
Control
freak
much?

“
Good.
And
the
last
one.
We're
going
to
Venice.
We're
leaving
right
now.
”

“
As
in
Italy?
For
a
year?
”
I
sounded
dumb
even
to
myself,
but
I
couldn't
help
it.

“
Yes,
now.
”

“
I
need
to
do
so
many
things.
”

He
waved
a
hand,
dismissing
all
my
concerns.
“
It's
now
or
never.
Make
your
choice.
You
have
a
few
minutes
to
decide.
Other
women
would
love
this
position,
but
I
choose
you,
Lacey.
”

Indignation
flared
within
me.
Who
did
he
think
he
was?
At
the
same
time,
I
was
flattered.

“
Come
over
here.
”
He
crooked
a
finger
at
me,
and
my
body
went
tingly
all
over.

I
hesitated
for
only
a
minute.
I
was
going
with
him.
I
might
be
insane,
but
who
wouldn't
make
the
choice
I
was
going
to
in
my
situation?

I
slid
over
to
him,
just
inches
away.
His
scent
made
my
head
spin.
I
was
reminded
of
things
old
and
new
and
of
warm
places
on
dark
nights.

“
Take
your
shirt
off.
”

I
bit
my
lip.
“
I
can't
do
that.
”

“
I
need
a
bookkeeper,
someone
I
can
trust,
Lacey.
Is
that
you?
Will
you
give
yourself
to
me,
reveal
yourself
to
me?
”

“
I
don't
know
you.
”

“
I
understand
that,
but
surely
you
know
something
of
me
at
least
from
the
papers.
Faith
is
part
of
the
deal.
”

I
closed
my
eyes.
“
I
don't
know
what
to
do.
”

“
Yes.
You
do.
You've
already
decided.
”

He
pulled
me
to
him.
I
watched
him
signal
Mr.
Forrester
 
by
pushing
a
button.
The
limo
lurched
onto
the
road.

“
Can
he
see
us?
”
My
lips
were
at
his
throat
where
he
held
me
against
him.

“
So
what
if
he
can,
but
the
answer
is
no.
Whatever
I
want
to
happen,
I
make
happen,
Lacey.
You'll
find
that
out.
”

“
I
suppose
you
think
I'm
just
another
person
you
can
order
around.
”
My
voice
shook.

“
Hardly.
”
He
hugged
me
closer
to
him.
My
lips
brushed
his
throat,
and
a
buzz
at
the
contact
shot
through
me.
He
was
like
a
drug.

Rock
grabbed
a
fistful
of
my
hair,
and
I
looked
up
at
him.
He
crushed
my
mouth
to
his,
but
it
wasn't
at
all
painful.
His
lips
were
insistent.
He
nipped
at
my
mouth
and
parted
my
lips
with
his
teeth
and
tongue.