When I'm With You: The Complete Novel by Beth Kery Page A

she said defensively.
    He nodded. “But being new in town—in the country, for that matter—I’m sure you’ll need some guidance through the process. Usually Javier or Evan will go with you to assist, but this Saturday, I will. We should get there early to get the best produce. Can you be ready by six?”
    “Yes.”
    He studied her through a narrowed gaze, sensing her bewilderment. Good . She’d been throwing him off balance since her arrival last night. It was about time she looked a little tongue-tied. “I’ll need your address in order to pick you up.”
    “I’ll just meet you near the market if you tell me where,” she said breathlessly.
    He designated an intersection in the Gold Coast neighborhood for them to meet.
    “I will set up medical exams for both of us tomorrow,” he said.
    “Medical exams?”
    “Yes,” he said calmly. “We should both know we are safe for sexual interaction. I know that I am, but I want to assure you of the same. Are you on birth control?” he asked levelly.
    She nodded.
    “Good. In the meantime . . .”
    “Yes, darling?” she prodded when he faded off.
    His gaze flashed to meet hers. Darling . The word sounded completely contrived, frequently practiced, and yet . . . undoubtedly alluring uttered from her flushed, ripe lips. Damn her. Always turning the tables. She waited, just a hint of amusement shining in her eyes.
    “You are my employee. We’ll keep our distance from each other, for the time being.”
    Her eyes widened in angry disbelief.
    “You were the one who begged for the job,” he reminded her mildly.
    “But that has nothing to do with—”
    “It does ,” he said sharply, shooting her a challenging look. “Remember? My rules? We’ll go at my pace, or you’ll feel a consequence.”
    Her hand flickered to the side of her bottom, as if she’d suddenly re-experienced the sting of his hand. He scowled; his cock lurched.
    “Elise?” he prompted, waiting for her agreement.
    “Oh, fine ,” she muttered, giving him a mutinous glance before she started for the door.
    “One more thing.”
    She turned her chin over her shoulder, meeting his stare.
    “Don’t ever call me darling again,” he growled softly. “I’m not one of your panting, disposable boy toys. I’m not even remotely the same animal.”
    He saw her throat convulse as she swallowed.
    As he watched her scurry out of his office, his cock throbbing furiously, his emotional state raw, he wondered whether he’d just untied the first knot in his sack, or tied off and tightened the monster of them all.
    Later that evening, Lucien stared out the floor-to-ceiling windows of his sixty-second-floor penthouse onto a gray, brooding Lake Michigan, holding a snifter of cognac in his hand. Originally, he hadn’t planned to be alone tonight. He’d had a date following his match. He’d planned to spend the evening as he traditionally spent time after a polo match.
    But then today had occurred. Then Elise had happened. And here he was, alone with a mess of unfinished business, a headful of doubt, and a hard-on that would not remit, no matter how much he distracted himself.
    They had won the match tonight, despite his fierce Argentinian-bred polo pony’s fouls. His teammates had joked that no one could handle Jax save Lucien, but it wasn’t his horse that had been an unruly beast this afternoon. It’d been Lucien. Jax had just caught his surly mood and become too aggressive in his defensive bumps of other players, incurring fouls.
    His temper had been unregulated when he was a child and young man. He’d learned control beneath the hand of an older lover at the age of eighteen. Natalia had sensed his need to master his emotions and desires and had tutored him in BDSM sex, Natalia typically taking the role of master in the bedroom. It hadn’t taken long for Lucien’s dominant nature to assert itself, however, and the couple had decided to amicably part ways. Lucien would forever be thankful to Natalia