Page 53 of Delicious Surrender

“Is there anything else I can get for you?” Her voicesounded weirdly high pitched to her own ears.

“Yes. There are three packages over there. Open them and dispose of all the paper wrapping.” He pointed at the far end of the office, without so much as a glance. She gritted her teeth and thought about curtsying.Dumb idea, girlfriend.

“Okay.”

“Pardon?”

Brynne rolled her eyes. So that’s how he’s going to play it. Turning back to face him, she coated her words in honey. “I meant, I would be happy to, sir.” And added a curtsy for good measure. She spun around and waited for his reaction. The scrape of his knife and fork on the plate meant he wasn’t going to play.

Brynne hurried to rip the wrapping off the first piece. She noisily scrunched up the brown paper and dropped it on the floor. The frame faced the wall, so she left it that way and uncovered the second and third pieces. After rolling all the garbage into a ball, she faced him.

“I should get back; Mel is on her own.”

“Mel is fine.” Glancing at his computer monitor, he added, “There are no new tables.”

“You can see the lounge on your computer.” It was more a statement than a question. Jared had told her he had cameras everywhere.

“Yes, I can see almost every room in the club. For security reasons.” He cut a piece of steak and waved it toward the paintings. “Show them to me.”

Her fists clenched, and she whirled around and flipped the frames, so they faced him. Brynne’s breath caught in her throat. Keeping her back to him, she stepped back so he could see them, too.

“Aren’t they beautiful?” His voice gave away nothing.

It was a minute before she managed a reply. “Yes. Quite stunning.”

Brynne could not tear her gaze away. Her hand reached for her neck, sure that her racing pulse was visibly fluttering just beneath her hot and clammy skin.

Gage cleared his throat, and she turned to him. “Come here.”

His eyes were the darkest she’d ever seen. The way they glowed, they could have been lit from behind. She felt like a small rabbit targeted by a hawk, its intention clear, its power unmistakable. If she was quick, she might get away.

He took a sip of wine and pointed to the chair opposite his desk. The silent command raised goosebumps on her arms.

Brynne took a seat and clasped her hands together to keep them still.

“You seem quite taken with my new photographs.”

“Yes. I’ve never seen anything quite like them before. Do you know that woman?”

“Yes. She is well known in the scene. I’ve seen her in bondage before, but nothing like these. The photographer is very talented.”

“Mhmm.” She nodded.

Gage sat back and ran a hand over his jaw. “So, you like them?”

Brynne hesitated. She turned back and pretended indifference, but it was impossible. She was growing more captivated by the second. “Yes. I like them.”

“What specifically do you like, Red?”

“They are very elegant and erotic, the way the light hits her body. Her skin looks burnished. There are so many intricate layers of rope…and everything is symmetrical.”

“Do they turn you on?”

Brynne considered her response and reluctantly turned back to face him. Her eyes studied him. “What do you think?”

“I can see your shallow breathing and your skin is flushed pink.”

Her chin jutted, and she threw caution to the wind. “It’s true. I’d like to be her. What are you going to do about it?”