Surrender to Temptation by Lauren Jameson Read Free Book Online Page B

was hugely intimidated. But facing off with this paper-doll princess was, I was quite certain, shades better than what would befall me if I dared to disobey the order that I somehow knew had come directly from the man whom I hadn’t seen in a week.
    I didn’t know him well, but I knew that he didn’t take kindly to being challenged.
    â€œOh, you’re so cute.” The woman smiled again, but there wasn’t any humor in her voice. “But really, you can leave it with me.”
    I clung to the package as if it were a life preserver, feeling as though I was being tested. I opened my mouth, to say what I wasn’t sure, but the words were forever swallowed down when the voice that echoed in my dreams crashed over me like a warm wave.
    â€œThank you, Philippa, but I did indeed give Miss Reid orders to deliver that package straight into my hands.” Philippa turned the sweetness in her smile up in wattage, all aimed at the beautiful man who had opened the heavy wooden doors of his office, but she had been swept from my mind with one look at Zachariah.
    â€œMiss Reid.” He was waiting, his eyes blue as the innermost flickering of a fire. I moved toward him hesitantly, and when he placed his hand at the small of my back to usher me the rest of the way into his office, adrenaline surged through my veins and made my legs tremble.
    I froze just inside the door, which he swung shut behind us. I had a sweeping impression of a room that was huge, with a desk and chair, two sofas, and various small tables scattered around. The walls were sheer, huge panes of glass. That was all the detail that I noted, however.
    All of my senses were trained on the man who was still behind me, not touching me but invading my space nonetheless.
    â€œYou have obeyed this order to the letter, Miss Reid. I am impressed.” I felt warmth suffuse my neck—his breath—and then it was gone, leaving behind a flush that swept over my skin.
    â€œI’m good at following orders.” This was the truth. All of my life, I had done as I was told.
    â€œI don’t believe that is entirely truthful, Miss Reid. In fact, you are in big trouble.” I wanted to lean back, to touch him, just to feel the contact, but his voice was ominous, and I knew that he wouldn’t allow it.
    â€œWhat . . . what have I done?” I tried to stand still, straight, and fisted my hands so tightly that my nails bit into my skin. Excitement and anticipation made me tremble. I felt him come closer, come up behind me. His breath hit my ear as he spoke, and it sent a delicious shiver down my spine.
    â€œI told you to stay away from me. You did not. And now look where we are.” With an intimate nudge, he insinuated his knee between my own, urging me forward.
    â€œWalk to my desk, Miss Reid, and then open the parcel.” The timbre of his voice dropped, and it scraped over the words huskily.
    He sounded aroused. I hesitated, wondering, and his voice nudged at me.
    â€œGo.”
    Again I did as I was told, walking to the desk in a straight line, wobbling a bit in my heels. My fingers took a quick impression of the smooth, hard surface before they moved to the flaps of folded paper on the box.
    What on earth was in this box?
    Why did I care?
    I tried to remove the paper neatly, but I was shaking with nerves, and it ripped. The box was brown, too, simple and made of thin cardboard.
    I cast a quick, hesitant look back over my shoulder. I was startled to find that Zach had come up behind me, following just close enough to keep my nerves on edge.
    â€œOpen it.” I didn’t hesitate—by now my muscles were tight with curiosity and anticipation. The cardboard crumpled a bit as I pulled back the lid hastily, and I heard a low chuckle.
    â€œOh.” Whatever I might have dreamt of finding in this box, I didn’t think it was . . . well, whatever this was. It looked almost like something a person