Out of Bounds (3 page)

“You smell delicious, Sabra.” He squeezed her hip tighter, enough to send a bolt of sexual hunger through her pelvis. “I wouldn’t have figured you for the garter belt type, but I approve.”

But with the pictures finished, the questions began. Tarak moved in front of the table to discuss the finer points of his new creations. The press was merciless, but he cut through their questions with razor-sharp confidence. The man radiated sureness.

And it was sexy as hell.

But it was lust. Red hot, but lust all the same. Acting on it, without any other attraction, would knock her down several notches on the respectability ladder. It would also shred her self-discipline.

Like she had any chance of snaring Tarak Nektosha’s attention, even for one night of crazy sexcapades. She had to ignore the little comment he’d made in her ear. A man like him was used to flirting outrageously. His net worth alone would have had the women lining up even if he were fat and had a small cock.

She studied him, taking a moment to inspect him. He had broad shoulders that tapered down to a trim waist. There was no hint of spare tire and his hips were lean. His business slacks were slightly baggy, but when he moved, the soft wool gave her a tantalizing view of his trim ass. The front of his pants had several pleats and she decided that was a damn good thing.

She did not need to know what sort of package he had.

Really didn’t need to know…

She backed out of the limelight, feeling oddly like a coward, but remaining so close to Tarak smacked of clinging to his coattails too much. There was only one reason a man like him kept a woman in the spotlight with him. Anastasia was a prime example of it too. She was an honest-to-goodness sex kitten, and Tarak certainly looked as if he enjoyed stroking her when he was in the mood to play with one of his pets.

He had a touch that could make a woman purr all right.

The party was in full swing. Those who couldn’t shoulder their way into the circle around Tarak moved toward her. Her brain flipped on, rescuing her from the rush of arousal. Numbers and delivery dates were blissfully free of stimulus. Confidence in her knowledge of the company product was its own form of intoxication. There was a thrill that went along with being able to keep up and prove she had merits beyond looking good for the cameras.

Several hours later, she had a small pile of business cards from some of the richest men in the world. It was tempting to indulge herself in another glass of wine, but she decided to be content with her feeling of achievement. Her personal career calendar was a few years ahead thanks to Mother Nature. Okay, maybe she was still heading to her cubicle on Monday morning, but the stack of business cards would make sure she had something more to do than routine number crunching.

“Have some more wine, Ms. Donovan. You’ve earned it.”

The rooftop gardens had a nasty little trick up their sleeve; the lush vegetation allowed Tarak to appear from behind a fern without any warning.

The arousal she’d thought she’d banished flared up, proving she had no control over it. She could feel heat teasing her cheeks, making her forever grateful for the flickering candlelight. He offered her a glass of ice wine, one dark eyebrow rising when she looked at his hand as if it were a snake.

“Oh, yes. Thank you.”

She meant to take the glass quickly, but he didn’t release it immediately. For a moment, their fingers touched. He relinquished the glass, but not before stroking the back of her hand.

Her nipples tightened. She was pretty sure she’d never been so turned on in her entire life. It was an unquestionable fact that she’d never considered jumping a guy so soon after meeting him.

Not that there was going to be any jumping her boss.

“Thank you for being here, Sabra. Success is highest when we take advantage of passion for our product while it’s fresh.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” It was the professional thing to say. But the words felt awkward because her mind wanted to apply a different meaning.

“Do you? I admit I’m curious to see what other topics we agree on. You respond to me so naturally, it’s almost possible to believe you are doing so unintentionally. I’d like to explore that topic.” His dark gaze slid down her torso to where her nipples were still beaded. A tiny, satisfied gleam flickered in his eyes before he looked back at her face. “Give me an hour to wrap up.”

Her jaw dropped. Tarak didn’t see it because he was already striding off to speak to an Asian man flanked by two incredibly competent-looking bodyguards.

Like
hell
they’d see…

Mixing career and lust was a one-way trip to the pavement—or to becoming someone like Anastasia. Besides, the guy’s arrogance was off the scale.

She set the wine down and felt as if she’d achieved some sort of victory in doing so. The thing was, Tarak Nektosha didn’t need to liquor her up to intoxicate her. Her own raging hormones were doing that all on their own. It would be simple to be pissed at the presumptuous nature of her boss, but part of her was glad she’d had the encounter. Kevin was one hundred percent in her past. She found the little claim ticket in her pocket and went to retrieve her purse. Unlocking the screen on her cell phone, she intended to call him but found a text message instead.

Sabra

I was going to be pissed off about you leaving, but honestly, you saved me from having to tell you it wasn’t going to work out between us. Yeah, I’m a chickenshit for not telling you face to face, but I’ve been seeing Patty for about a month. I’m a dog. Sorry.

She dropped the phone back in her purse and headed for the elevator. There might not be ice wine at home, but there was privacy. Maybe she’d sort out her feelings or maybe she’d just dig out her vibrator.

She reached for the elevator call button but someone slid his hand over it. One of the dark-suited musclemen who had been trailing Tarak offered her a bland expression.

“Mr. Nektosha would like you to remain.”

He looked as though it was no surprise to be chasing females for his boss—or taking one away for that matter. Tarak Nektosha owned a billion-dollar company. Those around him jumped when he walked past. Hell, they jumped just to see if they were noticed, and she was no different. As far as business went. Her career was on the upswing and there was no way she was going to cheapen that success by letting anyone get the idea that she’d slept her way into it.

“I can allow you into the penthouse suite to wait for him. He is having some ice wine sent up for you.”

The muscleman was pointing her toward a separate set of elevators.

“No, thank you.”

She wasn’t interested in jumping on command. The bodyguard turned back to look at her. The expectation on his face rubbed her temper.

“But I’m sure Anastasia will be more receptive to that sort of invitation.”

Sabra punched the call button on the express elevator before she calmed down. Her temper kept her moving when the heat pooling in her pussy wanted her to stay and make a major fool out of herself.

She wouldn’t have to face her vibrator at work on Monday morning.

***

The little bottle of ice wine was sitting in a polished silver bucket when Tarak made it back to the penthouse. The cork was still in place and the set of glasses remained untouched.

He should be relieved that Sabra had rejected his invitation. Impulses like that had no place in his business affairs.

That wasn’t what was coursing through his veins.

He tugged on his tie, pulling the Italian silk away from his neck. It fluttered down to lie on the sofa as he opened the collar of his shirt and popped open his cuff links. His polished shoes ended up on the small area rug beneath the glass-topped table with the wine. He leaned on the edge of the sofa as he tugged his socks off and tossed them aside.

Better.

The wooden floor was cool beneath his feet and a short walk across the suite allowed him out onto the balcony. This time he faced the beach, tipping his head back to let the breeze wash over the sides of his face. He smelled the surf, but it wasn’t enough to banish the scent that had seen him breaking his rule about dating employees.

She’d smelled hot.

And anything but bland.

It had been tantalizing—it still was. His cock was stirring, hardening as he recalled brushing his hand over the strap of her garter belt.

Shit.

She was an employee.

He pulled his shirt completely off, growling slowly as his skin tingled.

He wanted to be naked and he wanted Sabra Donavan naked beneath him.

It wasn’t logical, didn’t fit into his self-imposed rules, but it was the truth. He turned and headed toward a shower. There wasn’t a trace of Anastasia left in the suite, not even a sprinkle of makeup on the marble vanity.

Good.

It was better when his world was operating within the boundaries of his rules. Sabra Donovan would return to those boundaries too.

Even if his hard cock confirmed he thought she was anything but bland.

***

Sunday morning wasn’t kind.

Sabra couldn’t even blame her sour mood on the ice wine. She’d had less than a glass and that fact only made her more pissy. She’d kicked at the bedding most of the night and her bed was a mess. Sexual frustration was a bitch, or at least it was turning her into one.

Her vibrator had been less than satisfying. A battery-powered toy was no substitute for the reality of the way Tarak had touched her.

Damn! She sounded desperate…

She charged into her chores while her temper was blazing. At least the bathroom benefited from her outrage.

Still, it bothered her to realize just how torn she was. Had she walked out on a golden opportunity to be wild and carefree? Had she turned her back on a golden opportunity?

With
my
boss?

Yeah, that was always a bad place to go. But still, part of her wondered if she’d passed up her chance to take a sex demon by the balls and ride the lightning.

Ha! He’d have saddled me and made me prance like a pony for his amusement.

There was a really high chance of that being true, but it was also slightly enticing. His voice had just been so damned tempting. Even his arrogance had allure. Part of her just wanted to find out if he was as good as he thought he was.

I’ll have to have the guts to grab it, though.

She nibbled on her lip as she finished up her chores. Guts were one thing, but selling out on her ideals was another. Tarak was her boss. She’d gotten her job through her ability and wasn’t going to keep it because she screwed on command. Her career plan was in full swing and going smoothly. She was just going to have to find someone else to light her fire.

***

“Mr. Nektosha was pleased with your performance,” Deanna announced Monday afternoon.

Sabra fought the urge to cringe and give her office manager any clue to what else Tarak Nektosha had seemed to enjoy. “Thank you.”

“You will also be collecting commission on the sales you handled.”

“Really?” Now Sabra was beaming and didn’t care who witnessed it. Every penny she had was tied up in her new townhome. Being able to feed her starving savings account so soon after closing escrow was going to be a dream come true and a relief, because she wouldn’t have to live on Top Ramen.

“Yes,” her division boss confirmed. “I believe Mr. Nektosha is making a point to the senior staff about ignoring calls and still expecting bonuses.”

She’d agree with that. When money was involved, people tended to get the point a whole lot faster. But she kept her mouth shut because there was no reason to dance on their graves. Behavior like that would be remembered, likely at the most inopportune time for her. Not a single VP up on the sixteenth floor was there because they were nice guys. They knew how to defend their turf.

Deanna peered at her over the rim of her glasses. She was hugging her laptop, which meant she’d come straight down from the Monday staff meeting. Something was on her mind. Sabra could feel her trying to decide what to ask. Deanna imposed a strict, no-personal-information code on the entire department, but it looked as though she was the one debating whether or not to break the rules today.

She blew out a long breath and pushed her glasses up. “There’s a recap meeting about the launch at three. Top floor.”

“Ummm…”

“You are expected to attend.”

Deanna trotted off to her desk, but not before she shot the two accountants on the other side of the cubicle wall a hard look. Their chairs groaned as they leaned back over their keyboards. Sabra looked at the time and her mouth went dry. Fifteen minutes wasn’t long enough to prepare.

For
what?

The man was a business tycoon. He had his attention on the money, not on whoever had garnered some mild interest during a party. She stood up and went to check her lipstick. A man like Tarak didn’t sleep alone unless he wanted to. Anastasia might have been mad, but that wouldn’t have stopped the gold digger from jumping if she were called for.

Sabra went to collect her laptop. It was her first meeting on the top floor and she was going to make a good showing. Yep. Her career was on track.

But the elevator ride up felt too long. Her heart was racing and she drew in a few deep breaths to slow it down. She refused to be nervous. This was in her career plan, so it was a moment to be savored.

The door swished open and she moved forward. A large desk blocked the entrance to the dark frosted-glass entryway. A formidable-looking woman sat there. She could have been the mother of the bodyguard who had offered to let her into the penthouse suite. There was a familiar set to her lips and she looked as if she wouldn’t hesitate to physically protect her post if it became necessary.

“Sabra Donovan.”

“Yes, you are expected. First boardroom on the left.” She pressed a button and a faint buzz sounded at the glass doors.

Sabra opened the frosted door and passed through into the cyber brain of Nektosha. There was classified stuff here. Just to get a position on the lower floor, she’d had to submit to a background check. It had been so intense, she was pretty sure they knew about the library book she’d never returned in third grade.