Rule Breaker

by Sienna Snow

  That man was going to send me over the edge.

  At least the erection he was sporting gave me some satisfaction that I wasn’t the only one affected. Lucky for me I had gained some release.

  I leaned over my sink and splashed cold water over my face. I wiped my face and fixed my makeup, then checked my reflection and groaned. My cheeks were still flushed. Oh well, time to get back in the lab.

  Next time he started anything in public, I’d stop it before it went too far. No there won’t be a next time. After the training session, I’d let him know that any more breaking of my rules would mean the end of our affair.

  I squared my shoulders, giving myself one last look. As I walked to the door, the knob turned, and Max strolled in.

  Shit, there goes my boss-lady stance.

  The submissive me wanted to kneel down and wait for his command, but I had to remember that outside of the bedroom I was in charge. He stalked toward me and fisted one hand in my hair, yanking it out of its bun. His other hand crept around my waist, dragging me to him so fast I lost my footing.

  “I told you, I don’t like your hair up,” he gritted out and kissed me.

  No, he devoured me. My body melted as heat simmered in my belly and between my thighs.

  “We’re at work,” I murmured against his lips. “We’re supposed to keep this behind closed doors.” But I deepened the kiss, drawing him closer to me.

  His tongue felt soft and wet as it slid past my lips, demanding and exploring. I couldn’t resist the feel of him. God, he smelled good and tasted even better. His mouth moved to the side of my neck.

  “We’re behind closed doors. Two, in fact. I locked your office, too, don’t worry.”

  I pulled back. “Assuming much?”

  He quirked an eyebrow. He spun me around and pinned me against the bathroom door, then gripped both my wrists above my head with one hand. His other went to the strings of my linen pants, and they pooled at my feet a few seconds later.

  “I don’t assume. I know. You won’t need these.” He grabbed my underwear and tore them off me.

  I gasped. “Those were expensive.”

  He released my arms. “I’ll buy you more.” He lifted me and I wrapped my legs around his waist as I locked my hips against his. He caught my lips again.

  A low moan escaped my mouth, giving his tongue an opportunity to take advantage of the opening. I leveraged one hand around his neck as the other worked its way down to Max’s belt buckle.

  “Let me,” Max said as he moved my hands out of the way and quickly opened his pants. His cock sprang free, poised at the entrance of my pussy. “God, I feel how wet you are. This is going to be hard and fast. But make sure you’re quiet, since I’m pretty sure the boss frowns on this sort of activity.” Then he thrust forward, burying himself to the hilt.

  We both groaned. He stretched me with his thick shaft, filling me with the sweetest hunger. I closed my eyes, savoring the feeling.

  “Hold tight,” he muttered.

  I gripped his shoulders and my mouth opened in a soundless scream as he pounded into me. All I could hear was the echo of flesh meeting flesh. His hands gripped my thighs so tight I knew I’d have bruises.

  The knowledge that my team worked while I orgasmed in front of them and now were sitting only a few walls away sent another stream of arousal through me. Would they suspect what was happening?

  “What’re you thinking, Ari? You’re wetter than you were a second ago.”

  I tilted my head back. “That a room full of people are waiting for us, and they have no clue what you’re doing to me.”

  “Oh, my naughty Arya. Maybe one day you’ll let me play with you at the club, and then you’ll see how erotic it can be to have others watch.”

  Max adjusted our angle so my pussy squeezed his cock tighter, making him moan low in his throat. “That’s it. Ride me hard.”

  I leaned my head against the door, arching up. Max bit my nipple through my shirt, causing me to gasp as a jolt of energy surged through my body.

  Oh God, here it comes.

  My grip on Max’s shoulders tightened, and my pussy contracted out of control. I bit my tongue to hold back my cry as wave after wave of my release washed over me. “Baby, yes. Squeeze me,” Max growled. He threw his head back and I pulled him toward me, covering his mouth with mine to muffle his loud shout of release. His body pumped into my still spasming core.

  We remained locked together for another few minutes, letting our hearts calm. Then Max’s phone dinged. He buried his head in my hair and inhaled. He reluctantly released my hips, and I slid down onto unsteady legs.

  I leaned against the door, my mind dazed and unfocused.

  Wow, I was fucked mindless in my office bathroom.

  “I guess we better get moving,” Max said, still trying to steady his breath. “Making love against a door is a lot more difficult than it looks.”

  Making love. No, don’t say that.

  He must have read my thoughts because he lifted his head. “Stop analyzing everything. We both know that none of this would have happened if love wasn’t involved.”

  I remained silent.

  Max nudged his forehead against mine and stepped back. “You’re exasperating, do you know that?” He ran his hand through his hair and dressed.

  I stayed against the door watching him. He was offering me everything I’d ever wanted on a silver platter, so why was I so scared to trust it?

  Because letting him in means exposing all your secrets and opening yourself up to another possible heartbreak and admitting his breaking up with you was for the best.

  My heart ached at the thought. I’d never have accomplished anything to the scale I had today. I would have given up everything to fit into his world.

  Max finished dressing, moved to the mirror, and used my brush to straighten his hair. He was now the clean-cut, confident businessman instead of my sexy, mussed lover.

  He walked over to me and grasped the doorknob. “Take a shower and freshen up. If we walk in together with your lips swollen and the after-sex glow all over your face, everyone will know what we did.”

  I nodded and let him pass. The lock clicked as Max left my office.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Good morning, priya. Did you have a good weekend?” I asked Milla as I entered the executive conference room of MDC.

  “Decent, considering my best friend ditched me to work in her lab and then play subby to Max’s Dom.”

  I flinched and scanned the room to see if anyone had overheard her. “Shut up, Mil. Don’t talk about that here.”

  “Oh, calm down. No one can hear me. They’re all preoccupied with preparations for Adrian St. James. He plans to pitch a project he wants implemented.”

  I sat next to Milla. “Now I’m intrigued. I can’t wait to finally meet him. He’s pretty hot.” What an understatement. Not only did he possess unbelievable good looks, he was also an English earl with a reputation for being a genuinely good guy. Over the last ten years, he’d visited Milla many times, but I always seemed to miss him. Either I was working on a project with a deadline or I was in Cali with Aunt El.

  “He’s my cousin. Stop thinking about him like that.”

  “Whatever. Every girl dreams about marrying a royal.”

  “I hope you aren’t still waiting for some prince charming. You’re too high maintenance now with your billions. You won’t even give the man who wants to marry you a chance to sweep you off your feet.”

  “Keep it down, dammit!” I kicked Milla’s chair, rolling her to the side and jostling her coffee.

  “Whatever. Some of us aren’t that lucky.” Milla rubbed her temples.

  Uh-oh, she only does that when she stressed. I took a good look at her and noted the dark circles under her eyes. “What’s wrong, mera behna?” I put my hand over hers.

  She teared up. “Your sister here is a love-struck moron. We’re both two peas in the same pod.”

  Shit, this was serious. Milla
rarely cried. What happened with her Dom?

  At that very moment, Lex walked in. He smiled at me and ignored Milla. Great, she was fighting with him, too. Now I’d spend all day playing referee.

  Lex sat down, passed me a few folders, and continued to ignore Milla. “Read these.”

  I opened the first folder. “What is it?”

  “Just read them. Mil’s already been briefed.”

  Okay, I am in the middle of Grumpyville.

  I read the first page and the log times of unauthorized access to Arcane. My breath hitched. “Lex, this is bad.”

  “That isn’t even half as bad as what’s in the next folder. Do me a favor, don’t freak out in front of Max or any of his team.” Lex scanned his phone and began texting.

  I looked through the second folder and nearly threw up. Someone had broken into three of my labs. Thank God it wasn’t the one holding Arcane. One of the walls in the room had been spray-painted with the words DIE OR GIVE US THE SECRET.

  My hands shook as I put the folder on the table. The security measured I’d put in place were no longer enough. It was time to call in tighter security and alert the general.

  Lex warned me when we first made the deal for the software that we’d become targets, but I thought he was paranoid. My need to prove I could handle any crazy development plan got us into this mess. “Fuck, Lex, what were they searching for?”

  “We both know the answer to that,” he stated drily, and he continued reading something on his phone. “From this point on, you and Milla will have around-the-clock security. I’m not taking any chances with either of you. I’ve called in Thomas’s security company to handle it personally. He’s not going to let anything happen to either of you.”

  “Okay, Dad.” He was right, but I wasn’t going to let him steamroll me.

  “Finding you in a pool of blood once was more than enough for this lifetime.”

  My breath hitched. I struggled every day trying to block out the memories of the attack, but I kept forgetting others were involved. Lex and Milla were the ones who’d found me, and I was sure they fought with the nightmares, too.

  “I’m sorry, Lex. I don’t mean to be a brat.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I know you have a lot on your mind with your new Dom and all.”

  “Lex!” I glanced at the others around the conference table. “What is with you two?”

  “Shhh. They’ll be here soon. Remember what I said about keeping this to ourselves. By the way, nice picture of your lover boy and his new main squeeze.” Lex handed me his phone.

  What?

  A picture of Max with a gorgeous model, in an intimate almost kiss, was on the front page of a tabloid magazine. The headline read: THE PERPETUAL BACHELOR HAS FINALLY BEEN TAMED.

  All the blood rushed from my head. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

  I will not cry. I will not cry.

  “Lex, couldn’t you have waited until later to show her?” snapped Milla.

  I frowned at Milla. “You knew?”

  “Arya, it’s a fabricated story. I didn’t see the point of bringing it up.”

  I knew she was right. But why did it hurt so much?

  Because I’m in love with him, and the thought of him touching anyone else makes me want to stab someone.

  I shook the murderous notion from my head when the door of the conference room opened.

  Max, Jacob, and Adrian St. James strolled in. They each took a spot on the opposite side of the table and waited as Max’s assistant passed out clipped papers.

  Max welcomed each person at the table and then gazed at me. “Ms. Rey.” He inclined his head.

  “Mr. Dane.”

  “Let me introduce you to a good friend of mine. Adrian St. James, the Marquis of Hawthorn.”

  Adrian walked over to our side of the table, shook everyone’s hand, and then stopped in front of Mil and me.

  Damn, he was one good-looking man. He resembled a living Ken doll, but with a rugged edge.

  “It’s such a pleasure to finally meet you, Ms. Rey.” He lifted my hand to his lips.

  For a second, I thought Max growled.

  “Please call me Arya. We’re not much into formalities here.”

  “Then call me Ian.”

  “Ian, I hope we’ll have the opportunity to work together in the future.”

  “That’s what I’m counting on.” He held my gaze and my hand for a few seconds longer before he turned to Milla, greeting her with a hug and a quick chat about their family, then he shook Lex’s hand warmly.

  Wow, he’s potent. The room heated, and unconsciously I shifted my attention toward Max, who clenched his jaw as the vein on the side of his head throbbed.

  Oh, he’s jealous. Good, now both of us feel the same way. I was aware how childish I was being, but I couldn’t have cared less.

  “I hate to interrupt the welcome party, but I think we should get down to business,” said Jacob.

  “I suppose he’s correct.” Ian returned to his seat between Max and Jacob.

  Jacob sat with his arms crossed and a disingenuous smile plastered on his face.

  “Please open to page one,” Max instructed. “We called this meeting because Ian has a proposition you might find both challenging and enjoyable. Ian, why don’t you elaborate?”

  “My proposal is for the development of integration software for all of the St. James hotels. The implementation will have two benefits. First is to transport modern conveniences to properties in remote locations. Second is to use your Women’s Initiative Foundation to bring technology not only to the hotels but also to the communities surrounding the lodges. This way the public benefits as well as the clients of St. James.”

  For the next two hours, we discussed the logistics and proposed time lines. Lex and Milla took the lead on the negotiations, since my hands were full with Arcane.

  As we adjourned, Ian stopped me. “Arya, can I have a word?”

  Max and Jacob peered up and both pairs of eyes bore into me.

  “Sure, what can I do for you?”

  “I would like to ask if you’re available for dinner tomorrow night. That is, if you aren’t seeing anyone.”

  Oh shit, how do I answer this?

  Saying yes would hurt Max. He didn’t deserve that, especially after how hard he tried to show me I mattered. Over the last month and a half, we started and ended nearly every day with a call or text to each other. Then a few weeks ago, he began giving me gifts. Sometimes he’d send me silly toys depicting techies in various stages of crazy, and other times he’d send me rare books on programming that weren’t useful but something I had mentioned as wanting for my collection.

  All of the sudden the image of the model flashed in my mind and my temper flared. He openly dated Caitlin and had shots of his latest supposed fling in the tabloids. Why should I stay home?

  Fuck this. I’m going out with him. “No, I’m not seeing anyone. I’d love to join you for dinner.”

  “Wonderful. Milla’s mentioned a few times how much you love sailing. Why don’t we have an early dinner and then join Lex for an evening sail? My vessel’s in port and we can see how you handle her.”

  “I appreciate the offer, but we’ll make it a date only if you can convince Lex to let me behind the wheel of his new, just delivered two weeks ago baby.”

  Ian turned to Lex, who shrugged. “I’ll give you a few minutes as captain. Remember it isn’t the America’s Cup. No racing.”

  “Spoilsport,” I joked.

  “So how about it, Arya?”

  I smiled into Ian’s amused green gaze. “Sure, it’s a date. After I kick your boat’s butt in Lex’s racing catamaran, we can have dinner and spend the evening on my new yacht. I’ve had it for about a month, and this way all of us can enjoy a relaxed evening sail on the Sound.”

  “I look forward to it, even if we’ll have company.” Ian clasped my hand, kissing it once again before leaving.

  I gathered my papers and prepared t
o rush to my office.

  A second before I walked out the door, Jacob spoke. “Arya, I have a question for you.”

  I stopped, glancing over my shoulder. “Okay.”

  “I’m curious. Why don’t you ever date? Is there something we don’t know about you? Is it that you prefer dips in the lady pond?”

  I hate this fucker.

  “Jacob, shut the fuck up. That isn’t appropriate,” Max bit out.

  “No Max, let me answer. Jacob, I’ve never swum in the lady pond, as you put it, but I do date. I just don’t need my ego pumped or personal life invaded.”

  “So, Arya, are you with someone right now?” Max asked, his stare almost threatening.

  “No, Max, I’m single, but I do have an active social life.”

  Max clutched his fists and contemplated me with both annoyance and hurt. Then his face grew angry. A line slowly cut across his forehead as he pushed his eyebrows down. “That’s good to know.” He got up and left, followed by Jacob.

  “Arya, that was a shitty thing to say to Max. I guess you’re taking cues from Milla now,” Lex whispered to me as he glared at the woman in question, then walked out the door.

  The conference room emptied except for Milla and me.

  “Did I screw this up?” I didn’t have to explain what I meant.

  “No, but did you say that to convince yourself or him?”

  “Myself, I guess.” I banged my head against the conference table.

  “Even if you don’t admit it to me, why can’t you acknowledge to yourself that you love him?”

  “Because I need something to hold on to when this ends.”

  Milla rose. “You’re such a dumbass. I guess we’ll see each other tomorrow on the yacht?”

  “Where are you off to?” I asked as I collected my papers.

  “I have to meet him tonight and work this out.”

  “We’re both complete and utter idiots.”

  “That’s the understatement of the year.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Are you trying to kill us, Rey?” Milla shouted over the roar of the wind coming in from the Nantucket Sound.