Mastered by the CEO (Mastered By #4) (3 page)

“Rachel, I told you I won’t discuss it with you now, so stop pushing.”

“But—”

“Another word and I’ll put you in the bedroom and lock the door.”

She frowned. “That would be kidnapping.”

He chuckled. “I doubt you’d make the charge stick. So let’s just relax and spend a quiet evening together.”

* * *

King eyed Rachel as she sipped her juice again. He couldn’t help watching her full, pouty lips, glistening with juice as she put the glass down. When her pink tongue glided over those lips, his groin tightened.

Her long, chestnut hair was bound at the back of her head with a clip, all the ends neatly tucked in. It was longer than he remembered. Her hair had been too short to put up when they’d worked together, but he’d always told her how he’d love to see her with long hair.

Her eyes, green with specks of gold, remained fixed on her glass. He’d commanded her to be silent and she’d actually obeyed, as much a shock to her, he was sure, as it was to him.

Heat washed through him. He liked the feeling of her following his orders. But then, he’d always known he would.

When she’d called him Mr. Taylor, his heart had leapt. Of course, she always called him that in a professional setting…but here, when they were alone… His heart pounded. If she were to call him Sir, he’d probably burst at the seams.

As he gazed at her now, however, memories of the hot, sensual sessions they’d shared in his office had him longing to hold her in his arms. Longing to feel her naked body against him, her soft sensual murmurs whispering in his ear. To glide his cock deep onto her warm, welcoming body.

His cock swelled, but the band aid on her head reminded him she was in no condition to even walk straight, let alone have wild, savage sex like they used to.

An even deeper craving swelled through him… to do something he’d never done with Rachel. Something he’d yearned to with a force so strong he’d had to hold himself back with an iron fist.

To dominate her. Totally and completely.

But if he’d even tried, he’d been certain she would have run for the hills. Most of the time, she wouldn’t even do what he told her as her boss. Trying to command her as his lover… Well, that was doomed to fail.

She lifted her gaze from her glass briefly, then dropped it again when she found he was watching her. At her uncertainty… the slight confusion in her green eyes… protectiveness surged through him.

He loved the fact she needed him right now. Loved that she’d agreed to stay the night so he could watch over her.

The predatory male in him couldn’t resist her frailty. Not to take advantage of her, but to take care of her. To know she was his woman and he would protect her.

Even if only for one night.

A knock sounded at the door and he walked across the room to answer it. A waiter rolled in the cart of food and placed the covered platters on the table, along with the condiments, a basket of bread, and coffee service. He signed the check and the waiter left.

Before he could return to the couch, Rachel was on her feet. He strode to her side and slid his arm around her.

“I can walk on my own,”

He ignored her protest as he guided her to the table and pulled out her chair, then waited until she was settled before he sat down at the head of the table, kitty corner from her. He lifted the lids off the platters. He’d ordered both of them seafood pasta, which he knew she loved.

He smiled when he saw the way her eyes lit up at the sight of it.

He poured her a glass of water and watched her poke her fork into a fat scallop and raise it to her lips.

God, he’d missed her. She might be defiant and strong willed, but she was also sweet and feminine. And he knew that very defiance and strong-willed nature made him want to dominate her even more.

“It’s very good,” she said. “I love seafood.”

“I remember.”

“You do?” Her inquisitive look seemed incredulous.

Did she really think their relationship had been so superficial to him that he wouldn’t?

“That’s why I ordered it.”

“Oh… well, thank you.”

He ate a plump shrimp, the succulent flavor bursting in his mouth.

“I know you’ve been with Brenier Electronics for three years now. Where did you work before that?” he asked.

He risked her wanting to talk about the merger again, but he wanted to know how she’d been these past five years.

She stared at her plate, pushing around a shrimp. “After I gave you my notice, I moved to Granger Intel.”

“Yes, I remember. But I did some business with them a few months later and I heard you were no longer there.”

He had specifically asked. In fact, he’d insisted she be put on the consulting project they’d proposed to his company. He’d thought if he could spend more time working with her, maybe he could convince her to continue their relationship.

She toyed with her food a little more. “I… was self-employed for a while.”

“You left Granger Intel after three months to be self-employed?”

She bit her lip, a sure sign she was lying.

“Rachel, tell me what happened.”

She sighed. “They hired me because they’d bid a big project for the government, but the funding dried up and they didn’t continue after the first phase, so they laid off the entire team.”

“That’s unfortunate. Where did you go after that?”

“I… well, I said I was self-employed.”

Oh, fuck. “You couldn’t find anything, could you?” He knew how tight things had been. “How long were you out of work?”

She gazed at him, her sad eyes telling the story.

“The whole time until Brenier hired you?”

She nodded.

“I’m sorry. It must have been a tough time for you.” He shook his head. “Why didn’t you call me? I would have hired you back in a heart-beat.”

She shook her head. “I couldn’t. Not after I’d walked out like I did.”

His heart ached knowing the financial difficulties she must have faced. How being out of work like that must have shattered her confidence.

“But you’ve done well,” she said, pasting on a smile. “You’ve gone from being president of a medium sized company to CEO of a huge corporation in only five years.”

“I’m happy with my progress.”

“And Collier Industries is an even bigger entity now that you’ve bought Brenier Electronics.”

He sipped his water. “We’re not going to talk about it.”

He knew she was edging to talk about the merger.

He stood up and cleared away her empty plate, then poured her a coffee. He’d ordered decaf because the instructions the doctor had given him said to ensure she got lots of rest. She added sugar and cream. He picked up the two cups and carried them to the sitting area. She followed him into the room before he could go back to help her to the couch.

He knew he was being overprotective—she could walk on her own—but he didn’t want to take any chances.

He said nothing and sat down beside her on the couch. He pressed a button on the remote control sitting on the side table and the large television mounted to the wall came on. He selected a movie, some current romantic comedy he knew she’d probably like, and settled back in the couch.

She sipped her coffee and placed it on the table, then settled back, too. After twenty minutes, her head was drooping sideways. She was going to get a sore neck that way, so he slid his arm around her and drew her close to his body, her head resting against his chest.

She felt damned good there.

When he knew she was sound asleep, he scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom. As he laid her on the bed, he realized he shouldn’t leave her to sleep in her clothes. She wouldn’t sleep comfortably in a snug, straight skirt, a bra binding around her chest and garters pinching her thighs.

He smiled. She probably wasn’t actually wearing garters, but a guy could fantasize.

He unfastened the top button of her blouse. When his fingers moved to the second button, his gaze lingering on the newly exposed skin, just barely showing the swell of her breast, he hesitated.

What the hell was he doing? Once he got her blouse off, would he unfasten her bra next, exposing those beautiful breasts of hers? His cock swelled at the mere thought of seeing them again. Then would he strip off her skirt and take off that garter belt she might or might not be wearing?

And would he stop there, or would he peel away her panties and gaze at her sweet pussy? Would he be able to stop himself from touching her? From waking her up and seducing her?

He couldn’t do that. It wouldn’t be right. She was in his care right now and the one thing he seemed to need to protect her from the most was himself.

He squeezed her shoulder. “Rachel, wake up.”

She turned her head to the side, her soft breathing still slow and steady.

“Rachel,” he said a little louder.

“Hmmm?” She turned to him and her eyelids fluttered open. “What?”

“You fell asleep. And that’s good. You need to get a lot of sleep. But right now, you should change into something more comfortable.”

She glanced around the room. “Oh,” she said sleepily, “I don’t have anything here.”

He stood up and grabbed his pajamas from the dresser drawer and set the top on the bed beside her.

“Here, put this on.” He helped her sit up. “Do you want help?”

She shook her head. “I can manage.”

“Good. I’ll be back in five minutes to make sure you didn’t fall asleep in your clothes again. Okay?”

She nodded and he headed for the door. He timed exactly five minutes, afraid she’d just roll over and go to sleep again, but when he tapped on the door, she called for him to come in.

When he stepped inside, she was sitting on the bed wearing his silk pajama top. His gaze fell to her long, shapely legs, then to her shiny, chestnut hair cascading over her shoulders in soft waves. He longed to run his fingers through it.

While he’d waited, he’d changed into the pajama bottoms and it didn’t escape his notice that her gaze fell to his naked chest. He smiled as he saw heat flickering in her eyes.

“Good. Now get some sleep.”

“Where are you going to sleep?” she asked, looking a little nervous.

“Right here.”

He almost laughed at her widened eyes.

“But—”

He walked toward her and her eyes widened more, but he simply grabbed the extra throw on the end of the bed and walked to the fireplace.

“In the chair,” he said as he sank into the easy chair and rested his feet on the ottoman. “Good night.”

Then he turned off the light.

* * *

Rachel was intensely aware that King was sleeping only a few yards away. She didn’t think she could fall asleep knowing he was so close… afraid he’d climb into bed with her…
Wishing
he’d slide in beside her and wrap her in his big, protective arms.

God, she’d missed him.

But she was an idiot. She couldn’t start up with King Taylor again. He’d bought her company. He was surely going to fire her. Why wouldn’t he?

She’d always been a frustration to him. The sex between them had been great, and that’s probably the only reason he had put up with her. But if she’d stuck around long enough for that attraction to burn out…

She’d done both of them a favor by leaving when she had.

But that didn’t stop her from longing for him. From dreaming about him. Wishing she could experience even one more time in his arms.

Idiot.

She stared at the ceiling, trying not to think about their naked bodies entwined. The feel of his lips on her neck… gliding down her chest to her breast… his tongue gently nudging her nipple.

She rolled over. Too suddenly. Her head began to ache.

“Are you all right?” he asked in the darkness.

“Fine, thank you. Just rolling over.”

She closed her eyes, knowing she’d never fall asleep.

She drew in deep a breath. Relaxed her body. Felt her limbs grow heavy. Imagined the darkness cocooning her in a soft blanket of sleepiness…

* * *

“Rachel?”

Rachel started to wakefulness. It was dark and it had been a man’s voice saying her name.

“Who is it?” She wasn’t sure where she was. She could make out a shadowy shape in front of her as her eyes grew accustomed to the scant light in the room.

“Do you know who I am?” the voice asked.

“King?” Of course it was King’s deep, smooth-as-silk voice.

“What’s my last name?” he asked.

She frowned. “Taylor.”

“And what’s your name?”

“Why are you asking me my name?”

The bedside light turned on and King grasped her shoulders gently.

“You were in an accident and have a concussion. Do you remember?”

“A concussion?” The car accident. “Yes.”