Diablo Blanco Club: Unfair Advantage (8 page)

Bryce merely looked at her. “One appropriate for the situation and the rule broken. When it happens.”

“When? Are you expecting me to intentionally break one of your rules?”

“Lawrence, you’ve been pushing boundaries and skirting the rules since the day we met.” Rising, he moved closer and tugged her to her feet.

The heat of his body almost distracted her from hearing the rest of his statement.

“Not only do I expect you to break one rule, I anticipate you breaking all five of my rules, simply because they’re
my
rules.” In a move too smooth and quick for her to counteract, Bryce secured both her wrists behind her back in one hand while the other cupped her cheek, holding her gaze with his. “Do we have a deal now?”

Heat flared in his eyes when she dampened her lips with the tip of her tongue. “I…” She cleared her throat and began again. “I let you show me what’s expected of your sub for the next week, follow the five rules, with your promise there won’t be any intercourse, and at the end of the week I decide whether or not I’ll take on the role during our marriage.”

“In a nutshell.”

Mattie tilted her head without breaking eye contact. “Okay, it’s a deal. I agree.” She let a wry smile curve over her lips. “So, do we shake on it? Bec—”

The wicked smile crossing his lips barely registered before Bryce shook his head. “Oh, no, Lawrence. This type of agreement requires something a little more personal.”

The feel of his lips sliding over hers stilled the breath in her lungs.

In all the times she’d contemplated what his kiss would feel like, she had assumed it would be similar to his take-charge approach to business.

And she was wrong.

Instead, Bryce’s kiss was a soft caress. Coaxing a response by easing over her lips, pressing and rubbing against the sensitive tissues before she felt his mouth open just slightly to allow the tip of his tongue to trace the seam sealing her lips.

The heat of his body, the patient teasing of his mouth on hers, had her head spinning. Without thinking about it, she arched closer to him, her breasts desperate for the feel of his firm, broad chest. The grip of his hand around her wrists didn’t deter her motions in the slightest. The difference in their heights forced her on her tiptoes when he began to draw away.

The hand at her cheek slipped aside to drift down to her hip before he released her hands and set her firmly away from him. His grin at her throaty groan of protest had Mattie flushing and forcing herself to slow her breathing. The soaked silk between her thighs could be ignored, just as the obvious protrusion of her hardened nipples could. If Bryce wanted to tease her with kisses, she’d let him. There was no telling, based on what she’d gleaned from rumors and overheard over the years, to what lengths he was going to go to test her suitability.

Meeting his gaze with what she hoped was a serene expression, despite the heat flooding her body, she waited.

“A safe word,” he prompted, his arms folding over his chest.

She didn’t stop to think, only blurted out the first word that came to mind. “Pirate.”

Laughter erupted from the doorway to her left, drawing her gaze and making Mattie curse beneath her breath until she recognized the sexy figure lounging against the frame. “Michael.” She grinned, pushing past Bryce as she moved to give the other man a quick hug. “I’m so glad you made it back. When did you get into town?”

“I got in last night. Did you miss me?” Mike teased, returning her hug and urging her back toward Bryce, his left arm draped around her shoulders.

“Please.” Mattie groaned and shook her head. “You had us freaking out when we saw the report about the journalist held by terrorists.” Leaning back, she smacked his shoulder and glared up at him. “Don’t do things like that anymore. Next time leave a number or tell your brother and dad where you are.”

“Ow,” he teased, rubbing at his shoulder. “I’ve already gotten the lecture, thank you.”

“Well, this time pay attention.” She huffed but gave him another hug. “I’m getting tired of watching your dad worry and your brother grumble and growl about your gallivanting all over the world to take pictures.”

“Hmmm.” He shifted his gaze between her and his brother before raising his eyebrows in curiosity. “Do tell, darlin’.”

The intentional deepening of his Southern drawl had Mattie chuckling. It still surprised her that the same dropping of the ending of a word and drawing out of the vowel sound from Mike didn’t cause the breath-stealing, panty-creaming effect that Bryce’s use did. Then again, she wasn’t in love with Mike, whereas Bryce…

She turned her attention back to the man she’d been bartering with. The heat surged up her chest and into her neck and cheeks at the wry amusement tilting his lips and darkening Bryce’s green eyes. Realizing she’d nearly broken the first rule, Mattie shifted out from beneath Mike’s hold and casually stepped away from him and closer to Bryce.

“Was there something you needed, Mike?” Bryce asked.

“Yeah.” Draping his arms along the back of one of the wing chairs, he nodded. “I wanted to know if you were familiar with the warehouse over on Bridgerton.”

Mattie stayed quiet. Excitement stirred at the thought that Mike might actually be thinking of settling down in San Diablo. Permanently. His career had taken him all over the world, and although Bryce was proud of his younger brother’s accomplishments, she knew he was also uneasy at some of the places Mike ended up. After the last scare they’d gone through two weeks earlier, she was beginning to be afraid for his safety. If he was looking at property in town, she reasoned, he was probably thinking of setting up a studio of some sort, which would mean less time on the road and in war-torn countries.

“Yes, in fact, the owner is a Club member. Would you like me to set up an introduction?”

Mike shook his head. “No, I was just wondering if you thought the area justified the price.”

That had Bryce chuckling. “No, but Charles has a tendency to overinflate everything.”

The grin on the younger man’s face acknowledged the advice. “I’ll keep that in mind when I get my agent to look over the offer.”

“Do you need…?” Bryce began.

His brother waved him off. “No, I can handle it. Thanks for the help.” Glancing toward Mattie as she perched on the arm of the sofa again, Mike added. “Sorry to interrupt.”

“Oh, you wer—” Mattie started, but Bryce overrode her comment.

“We’ll talk later.”

“Of that I’m sure.” Mike again chuckled as he smiled at Mattie before leaving the room.

“You didn’t have to—” she protested.

“Come here, Lawrence.”

There it was again, Mattie noted, even as she immediately followed his directions and moved to stand in front of him.

“You chose ‘pirate’ as our safe word.”

“Yes.”

“Then ‘pirate’ it is.”

Chapter Five

Leaning over Dana’s desk, Mattie didn’t pay attention to the door opening behind her until the receptionist’s expression warned her that the visitor was one neither of them welcomed. Standing up and turning to face the man smiling at her, Mattie fought the urge to move away from Victor. After the one date she’d had with him, she knew not to trust him to be a gentleman.

“Good afternoon, Miss Lawrence.” His greeting was polite enough, but the way his cool blue eyes slid over her silk blouse and skirt made it seem anything but appropriate.

If it hadn’t been for the heat that had filled Bryce’s eyes when she walked into his office this morning, she’d have ditched the stockings and heels for her more comfortable flats. But look at her was all Bryce had done. After tossing and turning most of Saturday and Sunday night following their discussion, Mattie had assumed he would have made some kind of move or gesture to begin testing her. Instead he did nothing. Nada, zip, zero. Nearly forty hours since she’d agreed to let Bryce instruct her, and he’d left her alone.

Now she had to endure Victor’s scrutiny. “Was there something you needed, Mr. Prommer?” He was a slime, but he was still an employee of the company. With Bryce out of the office and Richard in San Diego dealing with a client, she was the most logical choice for him to bring any concerns to.

“I needed to speak to you.” His gaze moved from her to Dana, then back. “Alone.”

Mattie forced a smile to her lips. Just what she didn’t need. Motioning toward her office, she met Dana’s gaze over his shoulder. When the younger woman held up her hand with three fingers spread, Mattie gave her a quick nod. Three minutes would be more than enough time for her to have to deal with the melodrama Victor had dreamed up this time.

At her door, she hesitated when he held it open for her but entered anyway. The sound of the latch clicking had her turning to face the lawyer. “I really don’t think we need to close the door, Mr. Prommer—”

The smarmy grin spreading over his lips should have been warning enough, but Mattie’s thoughts were still distracted by Bryce’s inattention and the discussion she and Dana had been having regarding the last details of the dinner party for Ian King.

“Now, Mattilda, didn’t I say you could call me Victor?” He moved closer, his hand sliding along her left shoulder to her elbow.

Pulling away, Mattie shook her head. “And I believe I told you I wasn’t interested, Mr. Prommer.”

“We really didn’t get a chance to talk very much, Mattilda,” Victor continued, seeming to ignore her very obvious disinterest. “You left so quickly.”

Tugging her elbow from his grip, she stepped away from him again, but the man continued to follow. “I have absolutely no intention of discussing personal issues. Now, did you have something you wanted to talk about regarding the Conlin merger?”

This time when she moved away, Victor followed until the edge of her desk pressed into the back of her thighs. His grin spread, and both hands reached out to grip her arms. “Why would I discuss an important deal like that with you, Mattilda? Come on, you know you’ve been waiting for me to ask you out again.”

Unable to twist free of his grip, Mattie halted his approach by pressing her hands against his chest and leaning back. “Are you insane?”

“If you weren’t so determined to play hard to get we wouldn’t have to go through this.” He smiled at her. “Besides, who else would you slip on come-fuck-me shoes for, but me?”

Mattie blinked in surprise, speechless.

“I know it’s your way to get me to pay attention to you,” Victor purred, one hand reaching up to stroke her cheek. “So, here I am, paying attention.”

“If you haven’t any business to discuss…”

“You want me.” His superior tone matched his look. “You’ve been begging for me to ask you out again.”

Snorting in disgust, Mattie assured him, “You have got to be joking. Didn’t my leaving you high and dry at the restaurant give you a clue? Or are you that hard up for attention?”

The blue of his eyes grew chillier, and the smile turned bitter. “You just need a little convincing, Mattilda.”

“I don’t need anything from you, Victor. Now get your hands off me.” She used her firmest tone and held his gaze.

“What? Are you saving yourself for the boss? You’re too blue-collar for him, Mattilda. Haven’t you figured that out yet? Hell, you’re not even his type.” Victor sneered just before he yanked her off balance. “But I like a little struggle in my women, so let’s see how much fight you’ve got.”

His lips slammed against hers, the wet slide of them making her shudder and work harder to get out of his hold. When one of his hands slid over to grope her breast before slipping down her side and squeezing her ass, Mattie finally gained enough leverage to free herself from his hold and move away. She didn’t bother trying to slap his face; she didn’t want to get that close again. The nasty gleam in his eyes made her take another few steps toward the door just as it opened.

“Your four-thirty appointment—” Dana’s hazel eyes grew wide, Mattie assumed at her disheveled appearance.

Taking the opportunity to move even farther away from Victor, she eased past Dana into the reception area. “Mr. Prommer was just leaving.”

As he moved out of her office and toward the door leading into the hall, Victor smiled at her. “We’ll talk later.”

“Not if you know what’s good for you,” Mattie snapped, but the self-satisfied grin and casual wave he sent her as he sauntered out the door reinforced her suspicion that he wasn’t taking her warnings seriously.

“Are you okay?” Dana asked, concern in her gaze as she walked with Mattie toward the reception desk.

“That man is a menace,” Mattie growled. Taking a tissue from the box on Dana’s desk and wiping at the smeared lipstick and dampness his kiss had left behind, she watched through the broad glass doors as Victor swaggered down the hall.

“You should be careful around him,” Dana warned, handing her another tissue.

Mattie looked at her, noting the concern in her gaze. “Is there something I should know?”

Dana hesitated. “I’m not sure how true it is, but Frannie in records mentioned the way he tended to corner some of the interns working in the legal department.”

“Has anyone filed a complaint?”

“One of the women tried, but as soon as she mentioned going to personnel, she ended up transferred to the Charleston office.”

As Mattie plucked another tissue from the container, she thought over who might have been behind the transfer, while grimacing at the distasteful moisture Victor’s kiss had left behind. “I just don’t get it.” Mattie wiped again at her mouth. “Why do they act like such cavemen?”

* * *

The man strutting down the hall toward him had Bryce’s hackles rising. There wasn’t anything overtly annoying about Victor Prommer, but his instincts had warned him to be wary of the younger man. Admittedly his brilliance in the legal department had some board members singing his praises, but it was the whispers that had gotten back to him, through the office and the Club, that had Bryce contemplating shortening the man’s employment with Halsey’s.

“Mr. Halsey.” Victor nodded, a sly grin lifting his lips.

Something in his blue eyes and the cocky swagger had Bryce paying close attention to his appearance. The smear of lipstick near the corner of his mouth, combined with the direction the lawyer was coming from, had Bryce reaching out to halt the other man. “Were you looking for me?”