Out of Bounds (11 page)

A warrior did not run; he looked on his own nature and found peace in understanding himself.

His nature was always at odds with the modern world, but he’d be lying if he didn’t admit to enjoying the struggle. He thrived on adrenaline.

He turned his chair and faced his laptop. Drinking wasn’t the answer; action was.

It was time to put the ball back in Sabra’s court.

***

Monday faded away too easily for how much she’d worried about it. Nothing on the sixteenth floor was different. Her inbox was brimming and the project meetings still progressed at a speedy clip. Security didn’t show up to escort her to the pavement. More of the other VPs relaxed around her too.

No matter what else she thought about Tarak, she had to admire him for keeping their personal relationship out of the office. Her respect grew for him by a huge amount.

Of course, that was helped along by the fact that he was nowhere to be seen. It was comforting in a way, but unnerving too. She found herself waiting for him to surface as the week progressed.

Right. He’s done with you, sugar. Fucked you right out of his system.

Billionaires didn’t tend to give women who had walked out on them much of their time. At least that was what she’d heard.

Celeste would be happy.

Sabra’s martial arts training took care of her sleeplessness by completely exhausting her. She’d never realized her butt could hurt so much after just an hour of working out. The meager supply of over-the-counter painkillers she kept in her bathroom cabinet was running low by the end of the week.

When Friday rolled around, she found herself relaxing completely. The opportunity to celebrate another week in her new position was welcome. At five o’clock on the dot, Claudia knocked on the door.

“Have a nice weekend, Claudia.”

Her secretary didn’t stand in the doorway as she normally did when bidding Sabra good night. Instead, she walked across the office and laid a thick overnight-express business-sized envelope on the desk.

“Mr. Nektosha asked that this be delivered to you at the close of business today.”

There was a formal tone in Claudia’s voice, one which made Sabra’s stomach knot.

“Thank you,” she managed before her secretary turned and escaped.

Sabra stared at the envelope, her hands frozen. It took a moment for her brain to thaw out enough for her to reach for the thing. It was dirty from traveling through the mail system. She pulled the strip to open it and took a deep breath to steel herself against what she was going to find inside.

She began to tear open the top. The sound of ripping paper seemed too loud.

Her phone rang, making her jump. She grabbed it and fumbled it because she was so nervous. It slid across her desk, and she slammed her knee as she lunged after it. Pain coursed through her as she turned the touch screen over so she could read the caller ID.

She didn’t recognize the number but slid her fingertip across the screen to answer it anyway. A distraction was a distraction and she was desperate.

“Hello?”

“Did Claudia deliver the package?”

Tarak’s voice sent a shiver down her back. The previous week evaporated. It felt as though he’d materialized from her fantasies.

“Um… yes. She did.”

“I have decided to give you a counter offer, Ms. Donovan,” he informed her in a hard tone.

“A what?” She dumped the contents of the package onto her desk. A printout of an airline itinerary and a bank ledger stared back at her.

“A counter offer,” he confirmed. “You said you weren’t interested in sharing me with Liluye. I’m proposing you join me, and we see how well you can do at making sure I have no time to dwell on my past.”

Her heart leapt at the thought of seeing him again. Excitement bubbled through her, threatening to make her giddy. She forced herself to swallow it and try and maintain her composure. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“Because I’m your boss?”

“That’s one good reason. But I’m a little more stuck on the explosive chemistry between us.”

“I’ve been stuck on it too.” There was a low, male sound of frustration on the other side of the line. “I’ve decided it’s time for action.”

She closed her eyes, sealing her lips to keep him from hearing the little gasp of delight that rose from her in response.

“There’s two hundred grand deposited in that bank account. It’s yours as a backup plan.”

She swiped the bank ledger and opened it. “A what?” It didn’t seem possible to be holding the key to two hundred thousand dollars in her hands.

“A security measure—one which will override your argument of not mixing pleasure with business. The fact that I am your boss is nullified.”

“People are going to notice—”

“I am offering you a position in our Alaskan office, located on the design and development grounds. Your property will be maintained while you are out of the state. There is also a ticket for the ten o’clock flight for Anchorage. That’s enough money to see you through until you find another company to work for if you don’t want to stay at Nektosha if our personal relationship fails. There’s a letter from my lawyer as well, signed, sealed, and ready to hold up in any court against the threat of me trying to come after the money. Log in and transfer the funds before you leave. There is also a return ticket, good anytime.”

“That’s… um—” Her mind went blank.

“A brilliant maneuver on my part,” he said, cutting her off. “I’ve removed any possible argument you can make against a relationship with me based on needing your income.”

She tried to think of an argument but the only one was to admit that she was too chicken to see what would happen if they spent more time together.

“Okay, it is brilliant. I’ll give you that.”

It was also intimidating. Tarak lived in a vastly different world than she did.

Her cheeks were heating up, but she wasn’t sure if it was the idea of seeing him or annoyance with his ability to cut off her avenues of escape. It was boiling down to an issue of courage and if she had the guts to face him again. “Did you say Anchorage?”

“Yes. I’m at one of our testing tracks. I bought you an airline ticket instead of sending my jet for you to minimize the paper trail.”

“So it’s between you and me.”

“Exactly.”

It was ruthless, so in line with the way he’d struck her the first time they met. There was something else though, something more, and that was what made her check the airline itinerary closer for details. A tingle went through her as she pondered the idea that she was important enough for him to want her to not have any objections.

“You suck at issuing invitations,” she decided. “This is more like a battlefield plan.”

He snorted. “Are you coming, Sabra?” His question was guarded, but it was a question.

“Possibly.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line. “Why the hesitation?”

“What sort of VP would I make if I made snap decisions?” she purred softly. “It’s important to check the details.”

He chuckled menacingly. “You’re coming.”

“Really? So sure about that?”

“Positive,” he bit out. “I can hear the heat in your voice, Sabra. The challenge is exciting you. I bet your nipples are hard with anticipation. I know my cock is.”

The line went dead, but she was busy looking down her body. Two little bumps marked where her nipples were poking at her blouse. They tingled behind the cups of her bra, the delicate skin eager for another encounter with Tarak.

It was the perfect setup. She looked at the bank book and logged into the website. Once she tapped in the account number and the security codes in the little book, the website gave her complete access to the money. She stared at the number for a long time, just trying to soak up what it meant.

What it was, was a challenge.

A hard, impossible to ignore challenge.

She hesitated with her fingers poised over the keyboard for a long moment. Her pride didn’t want to let her take the money. But her logic just couldn’t quite make a valid argument against it. Tarak was right; he’d removed a significant obstacle. She typed in her account numbers and watched as the transfer went through. The system gave her a transaction number that she stared at for a full minute because it just seemed too simple for such an amount of money.

In Tarak’s world, it wasn’t all that much, but it was a huge gesture from a man who had told her emotions were just a holdover from evolution. The problem with it was that now he was once again something she could have. Straight sex, even with a sex demon, wasn’t enough for her. His hard line on emotions not being needed had enabled her to begin separating her need for him from her feelings.

Now they rushed back in. Her clit was throbbing softly, the sound of his voice echoing in her ear.

There was a knock on her door. She looked up to see the floor security chief standing there. Mr. Kim was as neat and sharp looking as always in a black suit. He stepped inside once she’d made eye contact with him. There was a soft rattle as a man pushed a rolling cart inside.

“Your personal things will be boxed and shipped to your new office, Ms. Donovan.”

Her personal phone buzzed as a text message came in.

Don’t bother to pack, your needs have been seen to.

She shook her head and typed in a reply.

All right, Tarak. You win this round.

She stood up and collected her purse. The security chief held out his hand as she neared him and pointed at her badge. It took only a little tug to remove it, but she felt the parting a lot deeper. The walk to the elevator seemed long, but at least the ride down to the ground was quick. Sabra stepped into the parking garage but stopped when she found Deanna waiting for her.

“I’ll turn your keys over to the property management team.” She held out her hand for the car keys dangling from Sabra’s grip. “Mr. Nektosha has provided a car to get you to the airport.”

Parked next to her little, practical car was a sleek, dark-windowed sedan. A man in a suit stood next to the passenger door, a hat on his head and dark shades hiding his eyes.

Deanna came closer, cupping her hand beneath the keys so all Sabra had to do was release her grip on them.

“They’ve needed a top-of-the-line analyst up there for a long time.”

Sabra looked away from the private car and locked gazes with Deanna.

“They’re lucky to have you joining them.”

Sabra let go of her keys, and her former boss gave her a sharp nod.

“Really lucky.” Deanna repeated. “Good luck.”

The driver opened the door, proving he was tuned in to everything she was doing. It was exciting and terrifying. The two emotions flooding her with equal intensity as she slid into the back of the car. It really was a different world, one that looked inviting with all its personal service. At least until you realized your personal privacy was being sacrificed in order for those amenities to be in place.

A few moments after the door closed, the driver pulled out. But her phone vibrated with another text message, proving Deanna had dutifully informed her boss of Sabra’s progress.

I can’t wait to take care of you myself, Sabra.

The ticket was for first class. Sabra sat back and marveled at the meal the steward offered her. Getting to the airport had been a frantic fight against Friday-night traffic, and she’d insisted on going home first, which put them further behind. There was just something too submissive about leaving town with nothing but the clothes on her back.

Hell, there were a lot of things about her relationship with Tarak that were too submissive. He lived in a different world than she did.

But he wasn’t any happier.

That thought stuck in her head. Her dad had been fond of telling her money didn’t solve all a man’s troubles. He still had to look himself in the eye every morning. It couldn’t ensure health, and it couldn’t buy love.

At least not hers.

Sure
about
that?

She didn’t care for the doubt surfacing inside her. The roomy first-class seat made it hard to ignore, though. The two hundred grand sitting in her savings account was another. Being free from the normal worries was welcome indeed.

It left her trying to decide what there was between Tarak and herself. She drifted off into sleep as she pondered it.

***

“You’re where?” Celeste wasn’t happy. “I can’t believe you’re flying up to Alaska to see him. Are you insane? They have, like, two state troopers per village up there. Calling 911 isn’t going to bring you the same sort of response.”

“I think Anchorage is a little more civilized,” Sabra countered.

“Don’t bet on it,” Celeste snapped. “It’s called the last great frontier for a reason. There’s going to be tons of snow still on the ground. Didn’t the design team get delayed by a blizzard? Did you go to the airport straight from the office?”

“Ah… yes, but I don’t really have anything for Alaska.” Sabra looked down at her leather heels. Halfway to her destination, she was catching a connecting flight and her toes were already cold. A clothing store near the gate caught her eye. “I think I’m going to do a little shopping before they call boarding.”

“I doubt they have snow boots in a terminal.”

“I know.” Sabra walked toward the shop, eyeing the yoga pants on display. “And I know you’re worried about me. I don’t know what to say, but I feel as if I have to do this.”

Celeste was quiet on the other end of the line. “Just keep your guard up. Don’t be impressed with his tactics. Money doesn’t mean as much to him as it does you and me. Neither will your heart.”

She wanted to argue but couldn’t find any hard facts to use. All she had were feelings. They were flooding her and making it impossible to think rationally. She’d be a liar if she didn’t admit she liked the giddy sensation of knowing Tarak had taken the time to plan how to get her near him again.

Or that the idea of being alone with Tarak wasn’t worth every risk she was about to take.

***

Anchorage wasn’t as remote as Celeste had implied. When the plane touched down, there were several gates along the terminal servicing other aircraft.

But it was covered in snow. Sabra pressed her face into the small window opening to get a look at the white stuff. The Californian in her shivered.

It was pushed off to the sides of the runways but blew around like white sand. The yoga outfit that had kept her cozy for the flight felt skimpy as the plane pulled into the gate. The steward was busy handing thick coats to the other passengers in first class, but Sabra hadn’t brought one along. Back in the economy cabin, people were pulling zippers up and putting hats on. A few odd looks were cast her way as the door was opened and everyone began to file off.

The moment she stepped into the Jetway, the cold hit her. She sucked in her breath and tried to walk faster, but two people in front of her were taking their time getting to the terminal, their thick coats making it a comfortable walk for them.

By the time she made it inside again, she was hopping around trying to keep warm. Her phone buzzed and she pulled it out of her purse.

“Welcome to Anchorage.”

“A damn chilly welcome,” she groused. “You could have warned me there was still snow.”

There was a suspicious choking sound on the other end of the line. “I thought you were a competent manager who would be proving her worth by double-checking the details.”

“It would serve you right if I decided to use that return ticket now.”

“I’d have to buy the seat next to you, and it would be a very long flight considering how we affect each other; no privacy for twelve hours.”

Her cheeks heated as she made her way through the secured section of the terminal. She tucked her phone back into her purse and tried to steady her nerves. Men wearing hunting suits mingled with the business passengers. There was a rustic edge to their features and a practical look to them. They wore heavy boots, and sturdy clothing covered them. She passed by a huge stuffed bear inside a glass display case, its teeth over an inch long.

The chill made her pass by quickly, walking through the security checkpoint. She spotted Tarak instantly. Her gaze was drawn to his. It was like a magnetic pull. Her lower lip went dry as a shiver went down her back that had nothing to do with the chill.

He had black boots on and black snow pants. A matching jacket was open to reveal a fitted athletic thermal top. His lips curled in greeting.

But she wasn’t sure how to proceed. Her mind went blank, her thoughts freezing and leaving her floundering in front of the man who consumed her.

Tarak didn’t appear to be any more sure than she of what to do. He stood for a long time, just studying her. His black eyes glittered with satisfaction, sending a rush of heat through her. He wanted her, and part of her latched on to that knowledge with a grip which stunned her. Arousal snaked through her and it didn’t build this time but burst into full flame. She felt like she was going into heat.

“This isn’t what I want to do,” he spoke at last.

His words cut through the giddy sensation she’d been enjoying since leaving southern California. “What are you talking about?”

“This.” He reached down and pulled a bag off the polished tile floor. “I’d enjoy it far more if I were telling you to take your clothing off.”

Two men walking nearby turned and smirked at them. They looked her up and down before flipping Tarak a thumbs-up.

He cupped her elbow and guided her toward a restroom sign. “Welcome to Alaska. Population male.”

She reached for the bag, but he pulled her against him and kissed her. It was as if she’d forgotten how good his kisses were. She was suddenly desperate for it. He cupped her face and slid his lips across hers before boldly penetrating her mouth with his tongue. He thrust it deep, seeking hers and stroking it with a long lap.

A cheer went up from behind them. He pulled back, allowing her to look at the two men who’d been watching them hoot with enjoyment. Tarak thrust his hands into his jacket pockets.

“Go on, before I follow you in there and risk security having to haul us out with our pants down.”

“As blunt as always.”

His lips thinned in response. “Exactly the way you like it.”

She shivered and dove around the corner before she replied. Replying was a bad idea; it would only lead one place—a bathroom stall—and she was pretty sure she wouldn’t be able to keep her mouth sealed while he fucked her. She certainly hadn’t been able to before.

The snow pants came all the way over her waist. There was even a bib front that did nothing for her figure. But they did wonders for cutting the chill. He’d brought her the thickest pair of socks she’d ever seen, but they were soft and squishy once she pushed her feet into the boots the bag yielded. A jacket completed the outfit, and she sighed as she warmed up.

A price tag was still dangling from one cuff and she snapped it off. The amount made her cringe. Celeste’s warning replayed in her mind, but it wasn’t enough to keep her from walking back out to meet Tarak. No matter what happened, she needed to face it—because she was more afraid of spending the rest of her life wondering what might have been.

***

Their ride met them at the curb. The Nektosha all-terrain vehicle rolled up to stop in front of them with a crunch of snow beneath its huge tires.

“Nice,” Sabra remarked when Tarak opened the door for her.

“Glad you approve. This is a test model.”

The all-terrain vehicle was called a Terrain Tank. It had tires that came up to her shoulders. Each one was crafted with huge grooves to make sure it got lots of traction in deep snow. There was a step attached to the side for ease in getting into it.

“I guess there is no better place to test a snow vehicle than Alaska.”

Inside there were comfortable seats, but each one had a five-point harness in place of seat belts. She pulled one over her head and snapped it into the metal bracket that sat in front of her chest. A driver sat behind the wheel. He pulled smoothly into traffic the moment Tarak closed the passenger-side door. The dashboard was alive with displays.

“It’s ten below?”

“Sure is.” Tarak winked at her. “Really warming up.”

“Ha ha.”

“What we got here, boss?” the driver inquired with a jovial tone. “It’s a little early for the snow birds to be returning.”

“It’s not too early for this one,” Tarak insisted.

There was an ease to the conversation that surprised her. Until she realized that the testing facility was where Tarak created his designs. It was his workshop and a part of his personality no one really had a clue to. The way the driver chuckled suggested far more camaraderie than she’d ever suspected Tarak of.

It gave her a spark of hope for something deeper between them as well.

The driver headed out of the city and finally turned into a driveway which had a security gate. He reached up and pressed a remote clipped to the sun visor. The gate began to slide open a moment later.

“This is Nektosha’s development and Arctic testing division.”

She soaked up the details as they drove across what looked like a cross between an airfield and a racetrack. There were hangars all over the place, their roofs sloped to let the snow slip off. The white stuff built up in heaps next to the buildings. In the distance, someone was actually riding a sled pulled by a team of dogs.

The driver headed toward a huge log cabin–style house. It had several different sections but it was constructed of massive logs. He pulled up and Tarak was out of the passenger seat in a flash.

He pulled open her door as she fussed with the seat restraint and finally got it open.

“That’s an interesting note. The latch is too stiff for a woman.”

He was making an honest observation, but it was slightly unnerving too. This was his world and a harsh one at that. She wanted to be able to rise to the challenge.

The house was magnificent.

Once inside, she sighed as warm air hit her frozen nose. The doors opened into an entryway that had benches and hooks on the wall for their coats. There was another set of doors which would let them into the house. She shrugged out of her coat and sat down to remove her boots. Nonslip carpets lined the floor, chunks of dirty snow already scattered on top of them.

“Okay?”

She looked up to find Tarak watching her. She caught just a hint of indecision in his eyes before he turned and took a lighter-weight jacket off a hook near the interior doors and offered it to her.

“Yeah, I think so.” She stood but kept her attention on the jacket. He cupped her chin and raised it so their gazes locked again.

“You’re not,” he decided in a hard tone.

“That’s the same tone you use in the boardroom.” Her temper had flash lit. “I’m not here to see my boss.”

His eyes narrowed, and his lips curled back menacingly. He didn’t give her much time to study his response before he dropped the inside jacket and clasped her wrist tightly. He jerked her toward him with a sharp motion. She bumped into him and felt his breath against her ear.

“I’m still going to tell you exactly what I want from you,” he promised.

She shivered with growing excitement. “If you’re a good boy, I might even give it to you, Tarak.”

He grasped her hips, the hold sending a jolt of need through her. His chest vibrated with a low sound of male appreciation. “You might be the only woman alive I’d consider trying to behave for.”

Her hand was resting on his waist. She smoothed a path across his flat, toned belly before boldly clasping his cock. “That would be disappointing. You strike me as a man who makes his own rules.” She raised her head so she could look into his eyes. “You make me eager to misbehave.”

“Thank God.” He cupped the side of her face and sealed her lips beneath his. It was the balm she needed for the week of second-guessing. She stretched up onto her toes, seeking what she’d craved since walking out on him.

He tasted better than she recalled. He was hard and unpredictable, but that satisfied her like nothing ever had before. But he pulled back and held on to her hair to keep her from following him.

“I’m dangerously close to fucking you up against the wall. I swore I wouldn’t do that.”

He drew in a harsh breath before reaching down and grasping her wrist again. She got only a glimpse of the interior of the house before he was pulling her behind him, up toward a set of double doors. The fact that he was taking her away to fuck her made her crazy with excitement. It licked at her insides like some kind of beast. The man affected her so intensely.

He pushed open a door and tugged her through the doorway and toward the bed. For a moment he paused and stood between her and the doorway. His black eyes glittered with satisfaction, making her breath catch.

“I don’t think I would mind.”

He pulled his shirt over his head, baring the sculpted perfection of his chest. “You’re encouraging me, Sabra.”

She shrugged and reached for the hem of her top. “Is that a problem, or are you doubting my sincerity?”

He opened the button fly of his jeans, allowing his cock freedom. The swollen organ fell right through the separated front.

God, she wanted a taste of it.