Satin Lies
Page 22
The bald statement stabbed at Kate, pricked tears at her eyes. She had promised herself she would do whatever was necessary to secure money from Mack. But this? She had never thought he would question her, practically accuse her of whoring around. Again.
“But you seem intent on burdening me with the responsibility. Therefore…” He straightened and waved at her chair. His eyes narrowed and Kate forced her slow, reluctant feet to take her back across the deep carpet “…I have to protect my reputation.” His bitter voice turned her insides. “How much?”
Kate sank into the soft cushions. Weary, she pushed down her pride. He had to know the truth. “I’m in debt, Mack,” she said, her voice breaking. “Serious stuff. Up to my neck. In a few days, I won’t have a flat. With that gone, I’ll have nothing.”
Her eyes closed against his cursing. “All right. You want my money? Then it’s an exchange.”
“Exchange?”
“I support you during your pregnancy. After that, the baby’s mine.”
The lies were no protection. Not anymore…
Past Lies
© 2007 Kim Rees
Anna Shrewsbury is trapped.
The whims of her sister control her life. She wants to be free…and she thought her brother-in-law had helped her find freedom with his last act. But instead, she seems to be the butt of one of his infamous jokes.
She now has a half share in a company she doesn’t want, while her childhood home and her promised sanctuary is bequeathed to a man who hates her. And then there’s the deal. She has to live a week with him. A whole week with Zachary Quinn.
For six years, a shield of lies has protected Anna. But in beginning a new life, she must break away from those lies. Be prepared to face Zach’s fury. And his passion…
Warning, this title contains the following: more sexual tension than you can shake a stick at…
Enjoy the following excerpt for Past Lies:
His gaze slid over her and his mouth compressed. “You’ll have to do.”
The familiar jolt of anger gripped her. “Do?”
“I will see you again in a week,” Carl said. The older man stood and moved out from behind his desk. Anna found him holding her hand. The concern softening his face made her bite at her lip. “Good luck,” he murmured. “I wish Gregory hadn’t put you in this position.”
Anna did too. But then she did what she did best; she put on the mask, made herself smile. “I could hardly deny Gregory his last laugh.”
“No. Indeed.” He shook Zach’s hand, short, hard. “Until next week.”
Zach opened the door, let her precede him.
His voice was no more than a whisper. “He’s worried about you.”
Anna tried to ignore the brush of his breath over her ear, her temple. Tried and failed. She walked faster.
Zach matched her pace easily. “And he has a right to be.”
“I’m not listening to your threats, Zach.”
Her finger stabbed at the lift button and she stared up at the floor indicator. Get back to her room, throw stuff in a case. Get out before she had to face Sofia. Her sister was out at lunch and that lasted hours. Anna cringed away from what Sofia would say.
“Not threats. A promise.”
“Zach…”
The lift pinged.
She rushed forward.
Anna watched the doors close, catching her distorted reflection in the mirrored steel. And Zach, leaning again the metal rail. Calm. Relaxed. But his gaze drilled her. She had to look away and inwardly groaned. The skirt really was minute.
With a judder, the lift started to descend.
“You will behave yourself this week, Anna.”
Her eyes clashed with his in the mirrored doors. “I’m not twelve.”
“No.”
His stare slid all too slowly down her body. Awareness prickled over her skin and she fought down the rush in her blood. Anger. It was anger. How dare he look—
“I’ve watched you wage war with this body.”
The murmur of his words licked over her skin. The power that simply his voice could command was embarrassing. No, it wasn’t anger, but something much more destructive. Anna shut her eyes, desperate to deny it, and caught his scent, breathed him in. Deep. Her heart skittered.
The brush of his suit as he moved around her, the soft rhythm of his breathing, flickered fire over her skin, skin sensitive to his slightest stir. Totally, achingly aware of him.
This was why she was never alone with Zach.
He wove his charm, caught her, spun her mind with needs and stupid wants.
He leaned in close. “Conquering idiotic, weak-willed men.”
Yes. He teased her. Enjoyed it. She could hear the satisfied smile in his voice.
His finger traced the outer edge of her lip and she gasped. Her eyes shot open, met Zach’s darkened gaze. Her mouth was dry. And she ached to taste him.
“But not this week, Anna. This week, you’re mine. Do you understand?”
His.
Blood pounded.
But then sense pulled her back.
She would never be his toy. Something to be played with and put back on the shelf when he was bored. After last time, did he think she was completely stupid? “I don’t belong to you.” She stepped back, found her spine up against the cold steel of the rail. “This is Gregory’s last joke.” A sharp smile twisted her mouth. “And you have more to lose. My sister will own a huge chunk of your precious company.”
Something changed in his face. It settled into hard, pitiless lines, his jaw tight.
“Don’t threaten me, Anna.” Her heart missed a beat at the sudden cold spike to his voice. “You will see out this week. You will behave as I pay my women to behave.”
Heat bled into her face and her insides shrivelled.
“I am not your woman.”
One of the silent, perfect women photographed on his arm. Dutiful. Empty. Yes. His admission was a slip. However much he denied it, money always formed the basis of his dealings with women.
“No. You’re not.” His attention shifted to her mouth. “Not yet.”
Damn the man. She willed her voice to be strong. “Not ever, Zach.”
“So your game plan has changed?”
He gripped the rail, blocking her with his body. He was too close. Anna focused on the knot of his tie, letting her gaze sink into the deep, dark red silk…because if she didn’t… If she looked up—
No. She let out a controlled breath. “Sorry. You’re confusing me with someone who finds you attractive.”
The low rumble of his laughter surrounded her. Despite her best efforts, the edges of her mouth quirked up.
“Women have thrown themselves at me since I reached puberty, Anna. You…” his thumb lifted her chin, making her look at him, “…have proven to be no exception.”
He was beautiful. Anna could never deny that. Something about him called to her, a dizzying rush of need making her forget almost everything else. But she had resisted and she would continue to resist.
Zach was cold, cruel, heartless.
She knew his ex-wife, Isabelle. Their divorce hadn’t burned through the tabloids. Zach’s lawyers must have seen to that. But Isabelle had dropped hints, too many to ignore. Then there was Anna’s own, more personal experience.
“No.” Anna ducked under his arm, escaped to another corner of the wide lift. She straightened her jacket. Stopped herself from tugging at her skirt. “This isn’t the deal, Zach.” She willed her heart into an even rhythm. “Before…in Carl’s office.” She felt herself flush and cursed silently. “I was stupid. It was stupid.”
He stared at the floor indicator before focusing on her. “You know I can never trust you.” His voice was matter-of-fact and something about that stung Anna. “Never will, again.”
“Fine.”
“But you will not humiliate me—”
“Your precious ego,” Anna muttered. “Heaven forbid a woman should even look at anyone else—”
&
nbsp; Zach punched the emergency stop.
The lift juddered.
“You did more than look, Anna.”
“I—”
Fury burned through him. She could see it in the tightness of his jaw, the balled fists. And his eyes, sparking silver fire. His ice façade had fallen away…and for a brief, brief moment, she saw his passion, his power.
The drone of the emergency alarm warning faded.
Everything faded.
There was only the thrum of her blood.
Anna wanted him.
Now.
Satin Lies
Tricia Jones
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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
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Satin Lies
Copyright © 2008 by Tricia Jones
ISBN: 1-60504-044-4
Edited by Heidi Moore
Cover by Dawn Seewer
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
First Samhain Publishing, Ltd. electronic publication: June 2008
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