“There’s a third partner on the books but only listed as a corporation. Who is that? Is that the person that has the money? Are you financed through a private equity firm?”
Joline shook her head. “At this point, we are a limited liability company, incorporated out of Delaware. Our third business partner is private. And we’ve set things up to maintain that privacy,” she told him. There was absolutely no way she was going to reveal Shantra’s role in their business. He would be livid if he knew that his baby sister was the fabulous designer that everyone has been talking about.
“But you’re going to tell me the name,” he said softly.
Joline’s system went on high alert. “No. I’m not.”
Rais chuckled softly. “Yes,” he countered, moving closer to her. “You are going to tell me. And we’re going out tonight, by the way.”
“The third party has requested anonymity and I’m going to ensure that request is respected. If you can’t handle that, then I would offer you several other businesses who would be thrilled with your attention.”
Rais laughed again. “No business is thrilled when my attention is caught.”
Joline swallowed painfully, watching as he moved slowly closer to her. “Why is that? Are you that horrible to work with?”
He shrugged one massive shoulder. “It is possible that I am a bit more dictatorial than other people enjoy.”
“I’m one of those people,” she told him, wishing that she’d taken a bigger area for her office now that she was trapped in this tiny room with him.
“Are you saying I would be dictatorial towards you?”
She pressed her back up against the wall. “I don’t think you can help it. It’s part of your nature.”
His eyes moved up and down her body, appreciating the simple wrap dress that flattered her figure and hugged all of her delectable curves. “Would you want me to change?”
She laughed nervously but scooted off to the right, behind her desk. She was hoping that the furniture might deter him, send the message that she didn’t want him to stalk her like this. “I don’t think that’s possible.”
“Anything is possible,” he replied, but lifted his hand, running a finger down her skin. The desk was too narrow for her to be completely out of his reach. That, and the fact that he had long arms. “I wouldn’t have thought it possible that one’s skin could be so soft, but you’ve shown me that I’m wrong there.”
She wasn’t aware of her head turning, leaning slightly into his touch. Her eyes were transfixed by his gaze. “What are you doing?” she asked, but she knew!
He moved around the desk, trapping her just like he’d done in his office. “I’m going to kiss you. Again.”
Her eyes moved lower, glancing at his mouth before moving right back up to his dark eyes. “I don’t want you to kiss me,” she told him but her words were barely a whisper. Her tongue darted out, wetting her suddenly dry lips.
He smiled slightly. “If I were to step back and walk out of your office, would that make you happy?” he asked.
Joline opened her mouth to tell him yes, but the words wouldn’t come. She just couldn’t lie to him like that. She knew that, deep down inside, this man terrified her and fascinated her. She didn’t want to experiment with whatever was going on between the two of them because this chemistry between them scared her more than all of her childish nightmares ever could. But she couldn’t lie to him.
“That’s what I thought,” he said and his head lowered to hers, his lips brushing against hers almost tentatively. But then again, Rais never did anything tentatively. He was rough and demanding and powerful, but never tentative.
Whatever it was that he was doing, it wasn’t enough for her. Joline lifted her head, trying to capture his kiss, to deepen the teasing touches. Every time she came closer, he lifted his head out of her reach and she was growing more frustrated with each attempt. When she couldn’t take it any longer, she reached up with both hands and pulled his head down to hers. Kissing him, initiating the kiss and deepening the connection caused her heart to beat frantically. But she was only allowed a brief moment to control that caress. Rais, naturally a take-charge sort of man, took over the kiss, pulling her against him once more and making her very aware of her femininity. Well, and his very impressive masculinity.
Once again, he didn’t let up until she was shifting against him, unaware of the sounds she was making as his hands moved over her lush figure. Each time he moved his hands, she’d gasp or moan or do that deep, sexy sound that had him hard as a steel rod faster than he could have thought possible.