Page 8 of Hard Wired

“Come on, Sylvie, you know I was kidding. Sort of. You’re not usually this serious.”

“She isn’t?” a deep voice asked.

Sylvie’s body responded instantaneously, nipples beading and stomach swirling. Crane had snuck up right behind her.

“Why are you so serious today, Sylvie?”

Why did her name have to sound so good in his mouth? Like he enjoyed rolling it around his tongue.

“Because I have a lot to do when I get back to the office. I don’t usually waste my time doing installs.”

And she didn’t usually get so mouthy with their customers, either. She knew she was probably getting close to the line here. But would Max be that mad at her? He didn’t like Crane either. Not really.

“I’m wasting your time? Then why are you here?”

“Because Max told me to.”

“You always do what he says?” Each time he spoke, Crane moved closer. He’d shifted to leaning against the wall beside the panel, where she had no choice but to look at him.

“I tried to talk him out of it.”

“Because I’m a mobster and a murderer?”

“You guessed it.”

He took a step forward. His nostrils flared. Was he angry? Or was he smelling her?

Now that she thought of it, the man smelled pretty enticing himself. Not like soap or aftershave or detergent. Not the things Sylvie’s co-workers, or her exes, ever smelled like.

She couldn’t describe Dominic’s scent in any terms other than sex. The guy smelled like sweat and salt and arousal.

And it was driving her absolutely insane.

“You’re in my space,” she said.

He didn’t move. Just stared down her. Priyanka was eying the two of them with her teeth digging into her lower lip. Sylvie couldn’t tell if her assistant was nervous or really enjoying this.

“Are you afraid of me, Sylvie?” His voice was a seductive murmur. “Do you need to call your bodyguard back inside to protect you from me?”

“I can handle you just fine myself.” She poked a finger into his chest, finding firm muscle underneath. But he didn’t move. And she didn’t lower her hand. Instead, her palm pressed flat against his pec. His heart beat rapidly beneath her touch. She couldn’t pull her gaze away from his. A small noise snuck out of her, almost a whimper.

Crane’s head lowered, his exhales tickling her skin. His eyes bored into hers, utterly hypnotizing. Like one of those snakes that mesmerizes its pray.

And oh, did she want to be eaten.

Sylvie’s foot lifted, and she went another inch toward him. Like he had some magnetic pull on her. The smell of him, his heartbeat, the hot pulse of arousal swirling through her veins. It was overpowering.

He smiled. “How exactly do you intend to handle me?”

If Priyanka hadn’t been standing there, Sylvie didn’t know what she would’ve done to him. Or let him do to her. That was the part that scared her.

She wanted his mouth. Anywhere—she didn’t care. Those long fingers teasing her, running all over her. His arms wrapping around her, squeezing her tight.

Crane’s tongue darted out to slide across the edge of his upper lip.

Sylvie whimpered again, but this sound was much closer to a moan.

Then just as suddenly, Crane retreated. His smirk was back, as if he’d seen exactly what had passed through her mind and was laughing at her.

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