Surrender (8 page)

With a bounce in her step that had been missing for months, Ari practically waltzed down the hallway at the hospital. She was now officially employed as a personal assistant to the vice president at Sunstream Electronics. She was getting a great salary, allowing her the financial freedom to pay her mother’s medical bills. She could feel her life turning around. She may even manage to make it back to school to finish her degree.

A
smile parted her lips as she turned a corner and hit a solid body with enough force that she bounced off and went flying to the floor, landing hard on her butt, sending a sharp pain up her spine.

“I’m so sorry,” she gasped as she tried to stand, finding the pain in her back making it a difficult maneuver.

“Are you okay?”

Ari’s body froze as her eyes traveled up the exquisitely encased legs of none other than Rafe Palazzo. What was he doing at her mother’s hospital? Had he followed her there?
When she reached his eyes, his concerned expression made her forget all about her bruised tailbone.

“What are you doing here?” she gasped.

“I could ask you the same,” he answered as he bent down and ran his hands over her legs. “Can you stand?”

Not if you keep running your hands across me,
she nearly said before stopping herself. “I’m fine.”

“Are you sure? You fell
pretty hard. It may be wise to get an x-ray,” he insisted, causing her temper to override the shock of seeing him.

“I said that I’m fine. Just back off so I can have some room to stand,” she practically snarled.
His lips quirked in a slight smirk as he stood and held out a hand. She thought about ignoring it, but her tailbone was really smarting, so with reluctance, she placed her hand in his and let him lift her.

“Mr. Palazzo, is everything all right,
sir?” a man in a suit asked as he came skidding up to the two of them.

Ari wanted to turn to the little weasel and say,
Gee thanks, I’m just fine,
but managed to hold her tongue. Rafe wasn’t the one who’d hit a solid wall of chest and plummeted to the floor. It was nice to see the staff so concerned about her. She supposed that’s just how it was when a person was in Rafe Palazzo’s presence – everyone else turned invisible within his wide-reaching shadow.

“I’m not the one who just got knocked to the ground. Maybe you should ask Ms. Harlow how she’s doing,” Rafe replied coldly.

Ari found herself thawing slightly toward this man of steel. At least he was human enough to acknowledge her being injured. As she stood awkwardly by, glancing at him from the corner of her eye, she had to admit he was a fine specimen to look upon. She wished he wasn’t quite so good-looking. She didn’t want her gaze pulled to him.

“Of course,
sir. How are you feeling, Ms. Harlow? We should take you back and make sure nothing was broken in the fall,” the man said as he turned to her with fake sympathy written all over his face. She had to fight the urge to roll her eyes at him.

“I’m just fine, but thank you anyway. It was my fault. I wasn’t watching where I was going. If you’ll both excuse me,” she said as she turned to leave.

“I don’t think so, Arianna. Whether you like it or not, we’re getting that x-ray done. You're limping, and I know that couldn’t have felt good on your tailbone,” Rafe said as he turned to the small man next to him and demanded a wheelchair.

Before Ari knew what was happening, she was being plopped down and wheeled through the corridors. She didn’t appreciate the choice taken away from her like that. She was sure it was nothing more than a
large bruise that would be quite colorful on her butt in the following days.

“Mr. Palazzo, the ceremony is about to start. I can take care of this matter for you.”

Ari craned her neck to look behind her in surprise at Rafe, who was pushing the wheelchair. Her glance then took in the other guy who seemed to be doing a lot of sweating.

“The ceremony will have to go on without me,” Rafe said as if the subject was closed.

“But… you’re the guest of honor. We can’t have a grand opening ceremony without the donor being present,” the little man said in horror.

“Then I guess you’ll just have to wait. I’m seeing to Ms. Harlow. Leave us,” Rafe commanded as he entered a door, shutting it with finality in the man’s face. Ari almost felt sorry for the guy, even if he was just a weasel.

“What did you donate?” Ari asked, her curiosity piqued.

“It’s not a big deal,” he replied in a clipped tone.

“If it’s not a big deal then why don’t you want to say what it is,” she countered, sick of backing down to this overbearing man.

“Do you ever just
accept someone telling you
no
?” he asked in exasperation, his arms spread wide in question.

“You’re the one who practically kidnapped me. I’m just trying to make polite conversation.” Ari wanted only to get away from him. He was back to being the man of steel, all traces of worry wiped clear from his
face.

“I assure you, Ms. Harlow that if I kidnapped
you, it wouldn’t be for an x-ray.” He stopped and bent down in front of her so their eyes were locked together.

Ari could practically feel his body heat enveloping her, and she hated to admit it, but she wasn’t unaffected. She wouldn’t mind closing the gap between them and finding out if his lips tasted as good as they looked.

“If you continue to look at me that way, I’ll have to find a private room and show you exactly what I’m talking about.” Arianna wasn’t sure if his words were a threat or a promise. She forgot to breathe as she looked deep into his midnight eyes, quickly getting lost.

With a growl of irritation or frustration – she didn’t know which – he walked from the room.

“Ms. Harlow. I’m so sorry about your fall. Let’s make sure everything is okay.”

Ari turned to find a perky young woman walking in the door that Rafe had exited through. As her gaze settled on the closed door, she told herself it was relief that he was gone. She wouldn’t have to see him again.

By the time the x-ray came back, showing that she had nothing more than a bruised tailbone, Ari was ready to go home and rest. She wasn't up for chatting with her mom as originally planned. The doctor told her she’d be uncomfortable sitting for about a week, but other than that, she’d be just fine.

Ari
had already expected that, but she supposed it was better to be sure. She couldn’t fault Mr. Palazzo or the staff for double checking. They didn’t want someone to get injured on their premises and then turn around and seek liability from the hospital, not that she’d ever do something like that. They didn’t know her, though.

She was grateful when the woman left and she had a minute alone to get dressed. She hoped Rafe was gone when she came back out. He was a difficult man to be around while maintaining a distance. She could see herself wanting to spend time with him – well, if he weren’t so dang kinky.

*****

Rafe waited outside the door for Ari to come out. He almost found it amusing that he was pacing the halls in a hospital, worrying about a woman. He honestly couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually waited on anyone.

One minute he felt like strangling Arianna Harlow, and then the next he wanted to find the nearest bed and see if all of the sexual tension was in his head or if they’d create steam together. He was still rationalizing his unusual desire for the woman on his lack of a love-life lately. Plus, the added benefit of a challenge was sure to increase his libido. He hadn’t planned on running into her, but it wasn’t an unpleasant coincidence.

He shouldn’t think of Ari as anything more than a conquest to be won. She’d turned him down, and now it was his job to make her want him so that he could return the favor – gain back his control.

He was very glad his sisters weren’t around. His family members were the only people on earth who could calm him, make him act like a decent human being. He didn’t want to be a decent human right now, he wanted to sink deep inside Ms. Harlow until she was screaming his name.

Just as he was getting ready to pace the long hallway again, the door to the examine room opened and Ari stepped out, surprise and apprehension in her eyes that he was still there. Good. He wanted her to be wary of him, concerned in his presence. He wanted a mistress filled with respect, not a girlfriend who adored him.

“Is everything okay?” he asked as he stopped a couple feet in front of her.

“I’m fine. There really was no need for you to wait for me.”

“Of course I was going to wait. It’s my fault you were injured. Are you sure everything is okay, or are you just telling me that you’re fine to get me to go away?”

“My tailbone is bruised. Other than that, I’m fine. I need to leave now,” she curtly told him as she turned away.

“I’ve been picturing you lying beneath me while I make you scream in pleasure. You know this will happen soon, right?”

His words stopped her in her tracks. She didn’t turn for several moments, causing excitement to begin stirring. Was she going to accept his offer? He wasn’t sure if he wanted her to or not. If she did, then his game would end
prematurely. He wasn’t ready for it to be over just yet.

Finally, she turned with a genuine smile on her face that nearly caused him to stagger back a step. She had a natural beauty about her that shined with
innocent pleasure. This was the first time he’d seen an expression of happiness on her face.

“No. I can very happily tell you that I was offered an incredible job yesterday with a wonderful company.” She took a step closer to him and poked him in the chest. He was so surprised by her surge of confidence
that he didn’t think to stop her.

“You can take your job offer of prostitution and shove it up your a–”

“That’s enough,” he interrupted as he grabbed her hand and caused her to take several retreating steps, to which he followed, speaking in a controlled voice barely above a whisper. “I may like the fire in you, Ari, but don’t take my curiosity of you as weakness. If, or
when
I truly want to possess you, it will happen. Leave no doubt about that. You can have your small victory, but be very careful with what you say to me. There’s nothing on this planet I like more than a challenge. Just remember that when you play with me – you will lose.”

With those words he turned and walked away, leaving her standing in the hallway with her mouth hanging open. He’d taken her small victory and squashed it.

“I have a meeting with the board of directors today, Mom. I’m excited. I think things are going to turn around for us,” Ari said with a big smile.

“That’s great, darling. I ate most of my breakfast today. I’m feeling much better. How was your night?”

“I got a job, a really great job as an assistant to the vice president of this prestigious electronics company. I may even get to do some traveling, but not for a while,” Ari answered excitedly. Her mother’s concerned expression confused her.

“I thought you were going to enroll back in school, Ari. You won’t be happy working as someone’s secretary. You’re far too talented and smart for that.”

“I promise you I’ll get back in school as soon as all of this is over.”

“Ari, most college students who drop out for one reason or another, find it impossible to get back to their studies. Life gets in the way. I
will
get my medical stuff figured out on my own. I want you to go to school and finish what you started.”

“I give you my word that I’ll go back. I can’t concentrate on homework and attending classes when I know you need help. Think of it from my perspective,
Mom. Would you be able to just go on living your life if the situation were reversed? If I was the one lying in the hospital bed needing surgery, could you just pretend it wasn’t happening?” Ari challenged.

Her mother looked at her for several minutes as if trying to come up with the correct words, then glanced down. Ari knew her mom wouldn’t lie to her, so she chose not to say anything.

“I’ll be back by to visit with you but I have to run right now. I’m going to charm those board members and then we’ll get you into surgery and back on your feet before you know it. Everything has turned around now that you’re awake. Can’t you feel the good Karma in the room?” Ari said with a smile. She bent down and kissed her mother’s cheek, then walked from the room and made her way to the elevator.

Honestly, she was shaking inside. She was intimidated to meet with the panel of board members who could grant her a pro-bono surgery, but she wouldn’t show that. If she portrayed confidence then they’d see that the only right decision was to give her mother the operation she not only needed, but deserved.

“I’m here for a meeting with Mr. Coolidge and the board members,” Ari announced to the secretary stationed on the executive floor.

“Name, please?”

“Arianna Harlow.”

“They’re waiting for you now. Go through the door on the left.”

Ari tightened her purse on her shoulder and made her way to the door. She stalled when she walked through, seeing all the exceptionally dressed men and women sitting around a large oval table. One chair was available at the end. She assumed it was for her, but she didn’t want to sit until invited.