Beneath the Surface by M.A. Stacie Read Free Book Online

laughed, the sound hitting his groin hard. His balls tightened, the jeans he wore becoming far too constricting.
    “You have two options as far as I can tell. Me or a cab. Your choice, though I’m not waiting forever. I can get a ride with Trace.”
    Choice? It sure didn’t feel like one to him. Either he suffered with the stench and the dirt of a cab, or he suffered with the desire pulsing through him. “You’re both treating me like a child,” he grumbled. “I’ve got no damn choice. Sam? Give her my car keys. They’re in my bag.”
    He watched Sam retrieve his keys and pass them to Dale.
    “Scratch it in any way, no matter how small, and you’re fired,” he warned Dale.
    Again, she laughed and helped him to his feet. Still unsteady, he was thankful when Sam wrapped an arm around his waist. He let the old man aid him out into the club.
    Very few people looked over at them, as another fight was in full swing. Kyran breathed a sigh of relief, feeling stupid enough without an audience watching him leave.
    The barman waved, yelling out across the crowd. Dale waved back, making hand gestures that she’d call him. Kyran swallowed down a wave of jealousy, an intense emotion he very rarely experienced. It was disconcerting.
    Stumbling when Sam let him go, Kyran found his balance and said, “I’ll speak to you tomorrow.”
    Dale reached for him, but Kyran shot her a warning look and tossed his gym bag over his shoulder to carry it out of the bar.
    “Remember what I said. My car is left—”
    “Yeah, yeah.” She pressed the key to unlock his car. “No scratches, blah, blah. I understand, Mr. Reese .”
    She winked at him as she opened the driver’s side and got in. He stalled opening the passenger door. What the hell? Her blatant disrespect was unnerving. How was he supposed to react to that?
    A huge grin spread wide across Kyran’s face.
    Lucky for him, Dale was already seated in his car, unaware of his response.

    ***************

    The drive to Kyran’s apartment was quiet. The muted directions to his place were the sole breaks in the silence. Dale buried her nerves, trying to show him his power and money didn’t intimidate her. She’d resolved moments after meeting him that she’d give him as good as she got. She wouldn’t allow him to bully her into submission, no matter how attractive he was.
    And, God, he was attractive. He oozed sex, dripped desire, and let rip a whole lot of lust whenever he was near. He’d smiled at her a couple of times, but on each occasion, her knees had almost given out.
    She didn’t know what it was about him that appealed to her because if she analyzed his attributes, there were more cons than pros. Whatever pros he had, Dale hadn’t seen many yet. Nevertheless, whenever he drew close, her body instantly responded.

    Dale knew she was playing with fire. Kyran may not be her direct boss, but he was the head of the company—her boss, regardless. She needed the job, but that didn’t stop her uncontrollable attraction to him.
    Dale was at war with her mind and body.
    “Just leave the bag there. I’ll be okay now,” Kyran said, tossing the apartment keys into a bowl by the front door. “Thanks.”
    He mumbled the last bit; Dale found it hard to hold back a smile.
    Clearly, the man disliked being thankful. The urge to tease him grew with the desperate need to ruffle his feathers. But he’d had a rough night and doing it would make her feel guilty.
    “I’ll make you a coffee, and then I’ll leave, Mr. Reese.”
    “Can we cut the ‘Mr. Reese’ shit?”
    “Sure.” She shrugged and followed him into the living area. It was huge, with floor-to-ceiling windows on the right side of the room offering a wonderful view of the city. The decor was monochromatic, giving the room an air of coldness. She knew she was gawking but didn’t care.
    “Close your mouth. It’s not attractive.”
    About to snap at his arrogance, Dale twisted to face him. A smile lit his face. He was