Page 10 of Desperate Temptations

Jessa put her hands on her hips, her stubborn chin jutted out, anger overriding any common sense she had as she growled at a man who could snap her like a twig.

“Who the hell do you think you are? You don’t tell me what to do.”

His smile grew, making anger override her fear and any common sense she might have had. She walked briskly around her desk, livid. She poked him in the chest with her finger.

“What’s so funny, dammit?” Her frown deepened when he laughed.

He laughed louder when she stamped her foot.

When she snarled, he grabbed her hand, pressed it to his chest, and coughed back another laugh, making her grit her teeth.

“I’m sorry, Jessa. But we really do need to talk tonight. It’s important.”

She pulled her hand away and crossed her arms, with her brows still creased.

“What if I already have plans?”

“Like staking out the warehouse?” he growled.

She raised her chin.

“No, like a date.” She knew immediately she’d said the wrong thing. She stepped back and bumped into her desk when his eyes darkened dangerously. His body stiffened and became even more substantial and menacing before her eyes, and it sent a shiver of apprehension down her spine.

“Do you?” he demanded fiercely, his tone deep and harsh.

Jessa swallowed when he took a threatening step toward her, crowding her against the desk. She was unnerved by the sudden change that came over him, but she still didn’t fear him. Much.

She leaned back a little, preventing her breasts from rubbing against the warmth of his chest.

“No, I was just kidding,” she yelped, trying to calm him using her hands on his muscular chest and to hold him back at the same time.

He bent forward, placing his hands on the desk on either side of her hips, making her breath catch in her throat as she used her arms to support herself.

“Don’t ever,” his lips against her ear, in a controlled, gruff whisper. A shiver of heat raced down her spine because of his warm breath and intoxicating scent. She swallowed down her needy moan when he continued. “And I mean ever, tease me like that again.”

He backed up so he could see her eyes better, and she could see how serious he was.

“Do you understand me, Jessa?” As he watched her intently, she nodded mutely. He paused for a moment and moved back a step. “Good. Now get your purse. We're going to head out. Your place or mine?”

She moved slowly, her body weak, her legs shaking. Awareness slowly took over the fear she’d had just a moment ago. Who the hell did he think he was? It was none of his business who she dated. She didn’t belong to him. It didn’t matter how he made her feel.

Oddly, he didn’t terrify her anymore. In fact, the more time she spent with him, the less fear she felt. He’d made her really nervous, but worse, he’d made her feel emotions again, feel alive. She hadn’t felt like this since before the accident, and never this strongly. Worse, he made her feel like a woman—something she never thought she’d feel again. She was unable to come up with the energy to fight him that night.

“My place,” she murmured.

Jessa grabbed her purse and briefcase, and they headed out the door. They stopped short when she caught sight of several people outside her door. They all stood by Leona’s desk. Everyone stopped talking and stared with different levels of curiosity, fright, and apprehension.

She didn’t look back when Cain stepped up behind her and placed his hand possessively on her hip, which sent a shiver of awareness down her spine.

“What’s going on?” she asked, bewildered.

She trembled again when he bent down to whisper in her ear, “I think they thought I was molesting you.”

Jessa threw a frown over her shoulder.

“That’s not funny,” she whispered furiously. She looked back at her colleagues. “What’s going on, Leona?”

Leona frowned at the man over Jessa’s shoulder like Satan himself was standing there. She pursed her lips and crossed her arms over her chest.

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