Jonah laughed. "You aren't going to believe this."
"What?"
"My stuff is in a box in the corner of Roberts' lab. I figured no one would be able to find it in there."
Anna's surprised smile held teasing accusation. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Why didn't you tell me?" Jonah shot back.
Anna bit her lip. "It wasn't because I don't trust you. I actually felt a little foolish after all the extra security measures Damon put in place."
"I can't blame you since I did the same thing. I don't know what's going on, but I'm beginning to think someone inside might be involved. Otherwise, I don't see how the additional security didn't stop the problem."
Anna gasped. "Are you serious? That didn't even occur to me."
Jonah grimaced. "I don’t like to think about the possibility, but nothing else is making sense."
Anna nervously fiddled with the buttons on her lab coat. "If what you say is true, I don't know how we can protect our research."
"Marcus and I discussed the possibility of outside security consultants. I'm going to proceed with those plans."
"What would that entail?"
"There's a group we've used for other things. I just need to make a phone call. However, it's important that you don't say anything to anyone — even Carrie. Unfortunately, everyone is a possible suspect and we don't want anyone tipped off inadvertently."
Anna nodded. "I understand."
Jonah reached for Anna and gathered her into his arms. "Don't worry. We're going to get to the bottom of this."
~ * ~ * ~
Anna flopped down on the couch utterly exhausted. "What a day. Please tell me tomorrow will be better."
Jonah stacked his files on the coffee table. "It will be."
Anna smiled. "I'm glad you think so."
"I know so."
Anna laughed. "How do you know?"
"Because you'll be there," Jonah said with utter seriousness.
Anna closed her eyes and leaned back into the cushions. "Jonah, that's so sweet. I knew there was a closet romantic hidden inside you."
"I guess you bring it out in me," Jonah confessed.
Anna opened her eyes. Jonah had an expression on his face she hadn't seen before. "Jonah?"
"It hasn't been that long, but I know. I just do." His voice conveyed his certainty.
"You know what?" Anna flexed her feet, stretching her tired muscles.
"It's you. You're the right woman." Jonah caught her foot and slipped off her shoe. He massaged his thumbs into the arch.
Anna groaned. "That feels wonderful." His statement finally penetrated her tired mind and she asked, "The right woman for what? I'm not following you, Jonah." Anna's brow creased in confusion.
"The right woman for me." The statement hung in the air.
Anna's shock paralyzed her momentarily and she didn't answer. What did he mean?
Jonah continued, "It isn't just that you're beautiful without being vain, which you are. It isn't just that you're sexy as hell, smart, and interesting all rolled into one. You feel right."
Anna put her hand to her chest as her breath stopped.
"I want to be with you. All the time. It never crosses my mind to avoid you. I'm happy in your company. I can't imagine that changing."
"You avoided your other girlfriends?" She'd known he sometimes ignored them, but it never occurred to her it was more than that.
Jonah grin turned sheepish. "Well, sometimes. It wasn't that I didn't like them, I did. I apparently didn't like them in the right way. I didn't even know it until you. You fit. You fit my life. You fit me."
"Jonah, I …"
He stopped her. "You don't have to say anything. It's okay. I just wanted to let you know. I've wanted to tell you."
Anna smiled serenely. "Jonah, I love you. I've loved you for a long time."
"You have?"
"Oh yes."
Jonah looked surprised, bewildered, and befuddled all at once. "Why didn't you say something?"
"What would I have said? You usually were dating someone. I was too afraid to take the risk."
"Maybe I just needed to get to a place where I could recognize the right woman for me. That woman is you, Anna. I love you. I mean it."
"Oh, Jonah." She stood and threw herself into his embrace.
He pulled her close. "Anna, let's get married."
Anna struggled out of his arms. "What?"
"I'm serious. I wasn't planning to bring it up so soon, but that's what I want. That's where I see this going. If I love you and you love me, what reason is there to wait?"
Anna closed her eyes. She'd imagined this moment — the moment when Jonah confessed his love and begged her to marry him, but she'd been off the mark on how she would feel. She'd known she'd be happy — ecstatic even. She hadn't known that she'd feel his love and acceptance down to her bones. She hadn't suspected that the sensation of joy filling every pore, every cell of her being would be almost more happiness than she could bear.
His hand cupped her face. "Anna?"
"Yes. Oh, Jonah, yes." Anna kissed his palm and he pulled her into his arms. No more words were necessary. Their bodies communicated all the love between them.
Epilogue
Tabitha and Anna stood on the curb loaded down with shopping bags. They'd been spending time together since the engagement announcement. Tabitha, having just planned a wedding, was game to help with another.
Anna turned, her eyes focusing on the building across the street as a couple exited. "Oh look, there's Damon."
"Damon?"
"He's the head of security at work," Anna explained.
Tabitha nodded as her eyes followed Anna's gaze. When Tabitha saw the couple, she froze in shock.
Anna continued speaking, unaware of Tabitha's reaction. "I wonder if she's his girlfriend?"
"I know that woman," Tabitha murmured.
"You do?"
"That woman is Marcus's former fiancée."
~ * ~ * ~
The End
~ * ~ * ~
Want to know what happens next?
His Passion, Her Temptation
Book 4 in the Dominating BDSM Billionaires Series
Releases July 2013.
Granger Pharma executive Monica Granger is hiding her relationship from her family. She has to. Her lover is the son of her father's biggest business rival. Ben Coron is more than Monica can resist; he's everything she's ever wanted - including dominant in bed.
But when Coron Health makes a play for Granger Pharma, Monica's relationship--and her life--blow wide open. She loses her job, and her family rejects her. Someone's stealing Granger's vital trade secrets, and worse, Monica's brother is dodging attempts on his life.
Their passion is too strong to keep Monica and Ben apart for long. They must thwart the takeover and heal the rift between their families. If they don't, they'll never trust one another enough to pursue the dominance and submission they both need.
~ * ~ * ~
If you enjoyed this story, please leave a review to help guide other readers in their eBook selections.
About the Author
Malia Mallory lives in Hawaii with her husband and daughter. She's been working with words since alphabet blocks rolled into her crib, not only writing her own work but copy editing and proofreading the work of others. She has loved to read about relationships since she first sneaked off with her mother's Harlequin.
Malia Mallory is the best-selling author of The ABCs of Erotica series, which covers the erotic spectrum from BDSM to ménage and everything in between. More releases in the series are on the way. She has also released the Mia's Cop Craving series and Santa's Backdoor Baby. Malia’s books have hit the bestseller lists in multiple countries. Her books are available in electronic format at major eBook retailers.
For a free copy of B is for Beach from The ABCs of Erotica, head to her website and sign up for her newsletter.
Connect with Malia Mallory
/> Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MaliaMallory
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Blog: http://abcsoferotica.wordpress.com/
Web Page: http://www.maliamallory.com
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Complete List of Titles
The ABCs of Erotica Series
A is for Anal
B is for Beach
C is for Cock Ring
Volume 1: A - C
D is for Domination
G is for Gigolo
R is for Revenge
Short Stories
Mia's Cop Craving
Mia's Cop Craving 2 — Double Teamed
Santa's Backdoor Baby
Novellas
His Need, Her Desire
Novels
His Desire, Her Surrender
Her Wish, His Command
His Passion, Her Temptation
Anthologies
Big Book of Smut 1
Big Book of Smut 2
Plump & Sexy
Steamy Stories Vol. 1
Steamy Stories Vol. 2
Steamy Stories Vol. 3
Steamy Stories Vol. 4
Steamy Stories Vol. 5
What Readers Are Saying
5 Stars. "It was intimate and the characters were both realistic and likeable...oh, and of course the sex was hot!" D.C. McMillen - Author, regarding A is for Anal from The ABCs of Erotica
"It's pure pleasure on my Kindle." Chastity - Goodreads Reviewer, regarding Mia's Cop Craving
"Malia Mallory is an author that writes hot, sexy erotica." Lisa - Online Reviewer
"For bite-sized erotic stories, you can't get much better than Malia Mallory's ABCs of Erotica. Highly recommended." Willfully Inappropriate
"Mallory is a really good erotica writer . . . the language is spot on, little naughty, little risky." Niina - For the Love of Reading
"Well-written and hot, I was right there with the characters. So much so that I felt like a voyeur." Naughty Reader's Boudoir, regarding Mia's Cop Craving
"It was very sensual and sexy and left me breathless." Julianne - Two Lips Reviews, regarding Mia's Cop Craving 2
~ * ~ * ~
The Exhibitionist
By USA Today bestselling author
STARLA COLE
Learn more about photographer and writer Starla at
http://starlacole.blogspot.com
Or on Facebook
This book is a special standalone section of the Syria’s Seduction series, put together just for this Fifty by Fifty Bundle. In addition to The Exhibitionist, it also includes a large section of The Goddess of Bondage.
SUMMARY: When Syria is offered the opportunity to be a wealthy man’s escort and exhibitionist, but she must choose between him and her tumultuous on and off again relationship with her Santa stripper, Tyson.
Visit Starla’s blog to learn more about Syria and her adventures in boudoir photography, including Naughty Santa and Pirate Hooker.
(c) 2014 by Starla Cole
1: The Bondage Exhibition
The wind whipped between the crumbling facades of the abandoned buildings of the Warehouse District as Syria and her friend Mia followed the long block from where they’d been instructed to park their car.
Syria shivered, not sure if it was entirely from the cold. She was nervous as hell. When her Japanese bondage instructor had invited her and Mia to participate in a shibari exhibition, she hadn’t realized they’d be treated like help rather than talent.
All they had been told was to park well away from the building where the exhibition would be held and to enter by the back door.
They really had no idea what they’d gotten into.
“I don’t see why we had to park so far away. It’s not like we’re robbing the place.” Mia hugged herself as she slogged through wet leaves.
Syria peered down the street, looking for any signs of life. Neither of them had dressed properly for the cold, which had come on suddenly that afternoon. “We should have reconsidered our outfits,” she said.
Mia’s stiletto boots teetered on the uneven pavement. “Stupid, stupid. We don’t even know what they’re going to do to us.” Her teeth chattered, and Syria wondered if she was nervous too. Mia was the one getting tied up in front of strangers. Syria was just the moral support.
“You don’t have to do it, you know,” Syria said. “We can go back to the car and forget the whole thing. It’s not like we’ll run into the Madam at the grocery.”
The Madam was the bondage instructor Syria had hired. After one look at Mia’s extraordinary flexibility, the Madam insisted that she be in one of her exhibitions. These shows were rare and impossible to get access to.
They shivered as they tromped along the sidewalk. Syria wondered how warm the warehouse could possibly be, and if they would keep Mia naked for the bondage, as was customary. She was glad she was only a silent spectator.
And a sneaky one. The Madam had told her not to photograph anything, but Syria couldn’t bear it. She was a photographer! This was way too amazing of an opportunity to pass up, so she’d modified her bag to allow her lens to peek out.
She set the focus to manual and would have to hope things were in range. With the low light and a bit of distance between her and the bondage suspensions, she might get nothing, but she had to try. The camera was in silent mode, no beeps or clicks. She’d get away with it. No one would be paying any attention to her.
The wind whipped right up her short skirt and chilled her thighs. She wore proper panties today, no g-string, but under the cute leather jacket she only had on a sheer white halter, tied behind her neck and so thin as to be almost invisible. The top was Mia’s idea, in hopes that Syria would interest another of the bondage experts to tie her up too.
Syria wasn’t sure about that, but wearing something so bare out in public had sent such a hard-core thrill through her, she’d had to do it. Mia had snapped an image of her to send to her boyfriend Tyson up in Seattle, although he’d been working a gig and hadn’t responded yet.
Mia’s legs were bare too, but under her trench coat she wore spandex boy shorts and a tight fuzzy sweater. Unlike Syria, she’d put on a bra in case they would let her keep on underwear. Not that she was shy, obviously, having done a pirate sex show for years. But even her experience couldn’t keep her hands from shaking as she tied her belt back at Syria’s house. They were both out of their element.
The warehouse loomed in front of them, three stories and larger than any of the other small metal buildings that lined the street. No cars had passed during their walk and the street lights were dim. The whole atmosphere felt like a movie, two young girls entering to their doom. Syria’s belly quivered, imagining the doors opening wide and both of them getting swept into a room to be stripped, tortured, and kept prisoner.
“That looks like the door.” Mia pointed to a small back entry, painted red, the only bit of color in the dreary metal and concrete. They turned off the street and headed for it. As they approached, another tiny figure arrived from the opposite street, huddling in a blue pea coat. As they all arrived at the door, Syria saw she was Asian, her black hair twisted in a tight bun, her face painted white with red lips and heavily lined eyes, like a traditional Geisha.
“It’s our first time,” Mia said to her.
The girl shook her head and brought her finger to her lips.
“What, we can’t talk?” Mia asked.
The girl shook her head again, then whispered, “We are submissives. This is our door. Do not speak upon entering.”
“I’m just a spectator,” Syria said, but fell silent at the glare from the kohl-lined eyes, surprised at the strength coming from someone so tiny.
The presence of another girl, one who had clearly done this before and lived to tell about it, and even come back for more,
soothed Syria’s nerves. It would be like the video she’d seen, she guessed, lots of ropes and strung-up girls and men sitting around. Nothing to fear.
The heat that washed over them when the door opened was another relief. Mia glanced back at Syria and smiled. “This is going to rock!”
The other girl shook her head, rushing forward, probably to distance herself from the noncompliant submissive. Syria wished they had more thorough instructions.
They walked down a dimly lit corridor, metal doors at regular intervals all tightly shut. Syria pushed a little faster, trying to follow the tiny figure ahead of them. Madam had not given them any directions beyond entering the red door.
The hallway turned sharply and now they could make out a bright light at the end. A man stood there, resplendent in a three-piece suit, and he pointed the first girl to a door. Syria slowed down, as did Mia. The man watched them approach. He, too, was Asian, slight, with thick black hair and sly eyes. He missed nothing, Syria could tell, appraising the women much as she might when considering an angle to photograph. She tightened the bag against her body.
He turned to Mia. “You must be Madam’s new submissive.”
Mia nodded. The man pointed to another door in the corridor, but when Syria tried to follow, he caught her arm. “Submissives only. She will be prepped.”
Mia halted. “Oh no, she’s coming with me.”
“Madam will not be pleased.” The man’s brows furrowed together, his eyes dark.
“Madam can shove it up her back door.” Mia’s eyes flashed, her cheeks pink. She linked her arm through Syria’s. “We’re doing this as a favor.”
Shades of Submission: Fifty by Fifty #1: Billionaire Romance Boxed Set Page 20
