Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 149137 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149137 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
“I don’t spar with civilians,” Kayla explained quietly. She held the designer garrote in one hand, the rest of her body relaxed as though she took out two-hundred-pound men on a daily basis. “It’s dangerous for them. Should I let him go or was this all an elaborate ruse to take out the competition? Are you two up for the same role or something? You can think about it. He’s got maybe another thirty seconds before he loses consciousness, and another forty or so after that before he dies. Maybe a little longer. He’s in good shape.”
For Jared’s part, he managed a semi smile, as though being praised was something he liked even as he was fucking dying.
“Let him go.”
With a flick of her hand, Jared was free, sucking in air as fast as he could.
“I told you,” Shane said under his breath.
Kayla reached out a hand to help Jared up. The dumbass took it and practically hopped up.
“That was awesome,” Jared croaked. “Can you teach me that? Although I’ll have to start carrying a handbag for it to work. I think I can make it masculine.”
Her smile practically lit up the room and he wondered if that wasn’t the first real piece of Kayla Summers he’d seen the whole interview. She reached up and brushed back Jared’s hair. There was nothing sexual about the gesture. It was almost sisterly, as though she had a bunch of brothers and knew how to comfort them. “We can work something out, I’m sure.” She turned back to him, her smile dimming. “That is, if I have the job now that I’ve proven I’m not some secretary trying to sneak into Joshua Hunt’s bed.”
Oh, he liked this side of her very much. There was something running under her surface. Something dark and twisted that would fight like hell with that unbelievably sunny smile of hers. Something he would like to explore, but she’d lied to him.
Or she hadn’t, and that was even worse.
“I don’t think we’ll make a good match, Ms. Summers. Thank you for coming by.”
The room seemed to still as though everyone in it was shocked the words had come out of his mouth. As though not a one of them believed he would dismiss her because she was obviously perfect.
He didn’t trust perfect.
She settled her bag over her shoulder and held a hand out. “Thank you for taking the time, Sir.”
He didn’t want to touch her, didn’t want to know how silky her skin would be or how small her hand would feel in his. Social conventions were a bitch on a guy.
“Thank you for coming in.” He shook her hand as briefly as politeness allowed.
She turned and started walking out, her shoes making no sound on the floor this time. Like Shane and Declan. But the first time, she’d clicked and clacked her way in.
“Why did you make all that noise when you walked in?” He was curious.
She stopped, her brows rising over gorgeous dark eyes. “Excuse me?”
“When you walked in the first time, I heard every single step. But it’s obvious that’s not your nature. You made a choice to be loud when you can walk silently.”
“I don’t use my gifts against my friends. I consciously made noise so you would know I was coming. Yes, I could have been silent, and then I might have heard something I shouldn’t have or caught you in a moment that would have given me the upper hand, but I didn’t want to play that way.”
He nodded, her explanation making perfect sense to him.
She started to go again, but stopped. She didn’t look at him this time. “I said I wanted to play fair, but I lied to you, Sir. I lied about how I got into the lifestyle.”
Interesting that she would own up now. He thought briefly about telling her it didn’t matter, but he was curious. Or maybe he was simply a bit desperate to keep the conversation with her going. “Gentlemen, would you give us the room?”
Jared sent him a look, but Josh merely nodded, letting him know it was okay. He was sure he was in for a thorough grilling from his friend. He hoped the bodyguards would be cool with his decision, but hey, if they weren’t, they were replaceable, too. Everyone was.
No one stayed for long.
When they were alone, he turned back to her. “Why would you lie?”
“So I wouldn’t give you an advantage, but now I can see that was wrong of me. D/s is hard. It’s supposed to be. I’m not talking about the spanking or play. I’m talking about the emotional part. That part is difficult for me. I don’t like being vulnerable.”
He stood in front of her, well aware he was too close for social norms. “And yet you say you prefer to submit.”