Billionaire Alpha 1(12)

She bit at her lip, anxiety pressing against her at why he had to play the ass and do it so well.

"There are several of the girls in the group that plague me and, I'm   sure, hope to catch my eye and then my heart. It's not happening. I   would never date someone your age, and I'd most certainly not be   interested in being anything less than completely professional with   someone that works for McKenzie and Bryant."

Her heart sank, much to her dismay. What had she hoped for? That her   stepbrother would see something in her and show her how a real man takes   a woman? Bend her over the long sleek top of his desk and give her   reason to use his name profanely?         

     



 

"What does this have to do with me, Damon?"

"Glad you asked." He paused as the waiter placed the food before them, the smell causing Bethany to groan softly.

She loved good food more than anything in the world.

Damon's eyes moved from his plate to hers, his lips parting as he   studied her. "I assume your sensual sound of pleasure is toward the   food?"

She laughed and picked up her fork, picking at the crab before taking a   tentative bite and letting it melt on her tongue. She groaned softly   again, nothing too loud, but the flare in his gaze told her quickly-he   liked sounds.

"Stop concerning yourself with my food addiction and tell me what you   want of me where the interns are concerned. I am one myself, so keep   that in mind."

He waved her off, picking up his own fork and starting to eat, his head   bowed slightly, but eyes focused on her. The long slope of his nose was   beautiful, his eyelashes long and almost resting on his strong   cheekbones. He was indefinitely masculine and yet breathtaking, by   anyone's standard.

"I need you to ensure that the message is clear. I'm not interested in   anyone within the office. One silly girl keeps trying to visit me daily,   as if I'd ever find anything in her interesting. It would only take  one  moment alone with her and she could file a sexual harassment suit   against me. That's where you come in. Make sure they know. Simple,   really."

"And why would I know that you're not interested? They don't know we're   soon-to-be siblings. It wouldn't be believable that you just put me in   charge of spouting out information, as if you and I were intimate."

"Don't tell them that you're soon to be my sister. They would treat you   quite unfairly, and then I'd be forced to step in and save you."

"I don't need saving." She stiffened as her past caused her to feel small before him all of a sudden.

He looked up, leaning back as realization crossed his features.   "Everyone needs saving, Bethany. Don't deny yourself when the   opportunity arises."

She had no clue what he was talking about, and it was easier to continue down a linear path for their discussion.

"I'll figure out what to tell the interns, but being ambiguous will just   make it seem as if I have my own agenda to get into your pants."

She looked up as he chuckled, his face softening with the action. Her   heart ached in her chest at what would never be. She swallowed the   desire to be whatever he wanted, to do whatever he demanded, to force   him to want her as much as she wanted him. The realization of her   feelings caused her stomach to turn.

"You think far too much on things. No drama, no lies and no complaining. Rules to live by, I promise."

They spoke very little on the way back to the office, Damon inviting her   to stop by the next day and fill him in on her conversation with the   other girls. She awarded him with a deadpan stare and walked back to her   office, her fantasies leaving her heart beating fast and her palms   sweaty.

She needed a stiff drink.



*



The rest of the afternoon, Bethany tried to work through her conflicting   emotions. Ben stopped by and gave her a testing file for one of their   large clients and she was grateful for something to take her mind off  of  the lunch with Damon.

Damon hadn't been inappropriate, but it wasn't beyond him to make her   feel much more with the way he watched her versus anything he might say.

She worked hard on the file until shortly after six. Her phone buzzed to   remind her to get up and head home. She would be working late hours   during the abhorred busy-season, which was January through April, so   most accountants tried to have normal ten hour days the rest of the   year.

"Are you going to Masquerade with the other interns tomorrow?"

She looked up at Damon, his arms across his chest, the thick muscles of   his pecs pressing through the soft material. Her breath caught in her   chest for a minute, the vision of undressing him rapidly sweeping her   away.

"Yes. You?" She stood and stretched, clasping her hands behind her back   and pulling. His eyes moved from her face toward her chest, the   lightness of his expression darkening slightly. She crossed her arms   over her breasts and moved out from behind her desk to stand before him.         

     



 

"No. I'm not interested in dance clubs."

"Don't dance?"

"Only when I have to."

"And when is someone forced to dance? Seems odd."

"At weddings, which you and I will be attending for our parents soon, it   would seem, and when you want to seduce someone." His eyes rolled over   her, and once again she felt bare, stripped before him. The power of  his  seduction was something she'd fall over herself to see, but that  was a  pipe dream, something she'd not get the chance to witness, most  likely.

"Are we going to be able to get away for the weekend in Jamaica?"

He nodded and moved from his position, running his fingers through his   hair before looking over his shoulder out toward the hall. A scowl   touched his face as someone called his name, the high timbre of the   girl's voice leaving no doubt who it was-Sadie.

He walked into Bethany's office and moved to stand just behind her,   pulling her hair to the side and fiddling with the clasp of her   necklace. Bethany stiffened at his nearness as Sadie poked her head into   Bethany's office, her smile falling.

"Oh  …  sorry. Am I interrupting something?"

Damon spoke over Bethany's shoulder, his chest brushing across her back   as he dropped his hands and slid his fingers around Bethany's fingers.

"Actually, yes. If you need something, talk with Linda."

He turned toward Bethany, as she sat, frozen with shock. He looked down   at her with something like hunger and control in his gaze. "It looks   great on you. I love the way it teases me to want to see more of your   skin. His fingers brushed by the heart-shaped locket, and she shivered,   her eyes locked on him, unable to help herself.

Sadie huffed loudly and left as Damon moved back slowly, his gaze still   holding Bethany still. She took a slow breath, realizing a desperate   need for air.

"I thought you were going to kiss me. What a mess that would create."   She sat down in the chair beside her. "If they knew I was your sister   and then you planted the seed that we were somehow interested in each   other  … "

"No one will know you're my soon-to-be stepsister, and I think planting   that seed is the best way to remind everyone else that I'm unavailable.  I  was thinking about it this afternoon. I'll inform my father, and I'm   sure he'll be all for it. I promise not to push you past your comfort   zone. Least not yet." He turned and walked from the office, his   movements smooth, his butt fitting in his slacks far too well.

Bethany sunk back in her chair and touched the necklace around her   throat, her eyes closing. He'd been so close. Just a bit more and his   lips would have brushed hers. She swallowed hard, wanting to know what   it would feel like, what he tasted like.

She exhaled loudly, standing and gathering her things before she made a   bad decision on her part. Going to see him again would only cloud her   conscience. He seemed to be perfectly fine playing any part he deemed   appropriate. Too bad his ethics weren't in line with hers.



*



Matthew greeted Bethany at the door, his famous bear hug her reward for a   long day at work. He sat her down and took her bags, walking with her   excitedly toward the kitchen. His voice was soft, and he kept glancing   around, as if trying to ensure that no one was involved in his business   but her.

"I had something really cool happen today," he whispered, hanging her   handbag on the inside of the closet door. "An art dealer in Seattle   called and they want to see one of my paintings in a few weeks."

"Matt, that's great. Are you going up there by yourself?"