Page 5 of Delicious Surrender
Brynne backed up until she felt the wall at her back. This was one of those times she wished for three more inches of height.
The woman curled her over-injected lips in contempt. “Are you one of those doormat subs who needs to be told what to do every hour of the day?”
“Excuse me?” Brynne recognized that haughty face from somewhere. When a wave of cloying perfume reached her nose, recognition dawned. She was the spokesmodel for a horridfragrance that was featured all over Harrods last year. That scent always gave her a headache.
Before she could respond, a man appeared in the doorway. “Do yourself a favor, Sierra, and leave now.”
Brynne lost the ability to speak, but her brain catalogued his features one by one and transmitted unadulterated hunger through her bloodstream, straight to her core. He was her darkest fantasies brought to life. His jaw was rigid, his fists clenched at his sides. He looked positively lethal. She had the urge to run but was rooted to the spot.
The woman’s screechy voice interrupted her perusal. “You’re a sick fuck, and I’m going to make sure everyone in our social circle knows it.”
“Go ahead. We’ll see how your pristine reputation weathers the gossip that ensues.”
“I hate you.”
He shook his head, clearly at the end of his patience. “Go.”
She turned on her heel and strode toward the staircase, then turned back, catching Brynne’s eye for a second before she spat, “You will be sorry.”
“I already am.” His barely audible response raised the hair on her neck.
Once the blonde viper was out of sight, he stalked toward her. Brynne didn’t realize she was inching away until she bumped into a table and almost toppled it.
The man reached past her to steady the wobbling lamp. “Why are you loitering in this hall?”
He stood close enough to singe her skin with his heat. His eyes raked over her like shards of green ice with the power to wound. She stammered, “Uh, Garrick told me to wait here for the butler after my interview.”
He made a strange sound in his throat. “Submissive or server?”
“Server.”
“Have you signed the NDA?”
She nodded.
“Good. You’ll do well to forget everything you saw and heard today.” He looked her up and down. “I trust you are bright enough to find your way to the front door?”
Her chin jutted, and she met his disdain with her own. “I was just following Mr. Hunt’s explicit instructions.”
“Good for you. We like that in our employees.” His mouth turned up slightly at the corners, causing her to stare at it. “What we don’t like…is impertinence.”
Her face was hot, and she hated how her body cowered under his stare. The old man reappeared and cleared his throat, saving her from saying something stupid. He wrung his hands and bowed. “My apologies, sir. Multiple deliveries came to the front entrance and delayed me. I will see the lady out.”
“It was no trouble at all, Miles.”
She watched him gently pat the man on the shoulder, the harsh tone gone from his voice.
“Don’t hurry on the steps. You’ve got to take it easy untilthat hip is back in fighting form.”
“Yes, sir, thank you, sir.”
He turned with a curt nod to Brynne and disappeared down the hall. Miles led her back to the entrance. She had barely stepped onto the portico when the door slammed shut at her back and freezing rain stung her cheeks.
What the actual fuck?Who was that guy? Why was her heart pounding in her ears? And what was the deal with that woman?
No doubt the tall, obnoxious Scotsman was the owner and Master of Dominus.
Nice work, Brynne. You made a lousy first impression.