Boss: Complete Box Set: A Mob BDSM Romance Read Online Free Page B

that he’s affecting me. I hope.
    “Yes, that’s right.”
    I’m not prepared as he comes toward me. Do I step back? Hold my ground? Damn it! He’s face-to-face with me before I get my nerves together. My brain screams to step away, pleasepleaseplease , but my body … my body betrays me by craving the warm melding of his skin against mine. My lips tingle again, flaming the lust unfolding through every inch of me.
    I have to look up to hold the smoky denim of his gaze. I don’t like feeling small and vulnerable again. But at the same time, he could easily cradle me in his strength, keep me safe and protected.
    Oh my God, what is wrong with me?
    Shaking it off, I shuffle one step back, but it’s not enough to breathe. So I take another, then one more. I hate my weakness, but I can’t seem to stop myself. His hand shoots out and snags my wrist. I freeze in my tracks, every nerve on fire where his grip holds me firm.
    “Wait.”
    I don’t give him time to continue, nor do I brush his hand away. “I assure you that for every reason you don’t want disclosure, I have one plus more. As far as I’m concerned, today is the first day we ever met. Don’t you agree, Mr. Masters?”
    He remains frustratingly silent.
    I continue. “That night so many years ago? Well, it can hurt me, too. Greatly. I don’t know what you were doing, and as far as I’m concerned, the night never happened.”
    Silence.
    Ugh. What is with him?
    “Look, I’m good at my job. I have what it takes to work here. I’ve proven that already and it’s only been a week. Besides, I can’t imagine our paths will have to cross often. I’ll be sure to stay out of your way if …”
    His eyes narrow. “You don’t get to negotiate with me.”
    “Fine!” I huff. “Then negotiate with me .”
    A glimmer of a smile touches his lips and I’m satisfied that I’ve taken him by surprise. I’m used to hiding my natural outspokenness, but I don’t have to anymore. I don’t have to be afraid. Besides, I’m still far too turned on to feel much of anything else.
    His hand glides away from my wrist. The fire remains. “I don’t have to, Ms. Lundgren. My staff does as I say. If I allow leeway, it’s always on my terms.”
    Unless you’re Donetta, I think. Even if her fight for me hadn’t been successful. Even if he had backed down and allowed me to stay, it would have been on his terms, making him the clear winner. Men like him always win. They stack the decks to make sure of it.
    He dropped the word, ‘terms,’ like the bait it is. He wants to lead me around like a little mouse with cheese. Like Georgios did when I was constantly trying to work off my debt with him. Just when I thought I was making progress, he always had just one more delivery.
    The power in having a choice is amazing. I can just walk away, but I’m curious, so I won’t. Not yet. Just knowing that I can fills me with confidence.
    “I’m listening.”
    “Of course you are.”
    Yep, he has a serious case of assholitis going on.
    It doesn’t make my hyper-awareness of his body go away. His clean scent wraps around me. It’s laced with rich, masculine notes that create a delicious haze in my brain. I’m seriously confused by my continued reaction to him.
    He doesn’t hold my life in his hands anymore, just my livelihood. Comparatively, this should be a walk in the park for me.
    “Look, I just want to keep my job.”
    “Fine.”
    What, what? My mouth opens but I don’t know what to say. He’s surprised me speechless. It was too easy. Where’s the catch? With a deep breath, he turns toward his desk and slides into the chair behind it. Spreading his knees wide, his fingers steeple as he looks at me with cool eyes.
    “Dinner tonight. A car will arrive for you at nine. Casual.”
    There it is. His terms. The catch. My nostrils flare as I hold back angst at being toyed with. If dinner is the worst thing he’s offering up in negotiation for my job, I can hardly refuse. Still,