Reluctant Surrender (5 page)

Amicably? She gulped because she knew that was law-speak for “you’re screwed”. His firm was going to massacre her in court. She was still paying off her student loans and had barely scratched the surface of the cash she needed to buy her dream. She couldn’t afford to hire her own attorney to defend her from something she might have inadvertently been responsible for. That was the problem.

“Alistair, could you excuse us for a minute? I’d like to talk with Ms. Reneaux in private.”

Those calmly uttered words threw her into a panic. She didn’t want to be left alone with Ethan White…again, but it was too late because Mazer had left the building, or the office, as was the case. Now the bane of her very existence was pacing back and forth behind her. It wasn’t enough that he and his partners had harassed her by phone, email and snail mail since discovering the video, now he was going do it in person?

After several turns he stopped. “Colin, I want you to agree to the ten days.”

She twisted around to look up at him. “I’m sure you do.”

“I know you originally said you agreed to our special venue for the money, but I also know there were other reasons. One other reason you took the job.”

“Oh?” He sounded as if he were going to pull a rabbit from his hat. Just great. Was he a magician on top of a hypnotist?

“I read your blog on power exchange.”

Her heart skipped a beat. Of the seven hundred and twenty two posts she’d written since she’d started blogging, why had he chosen that one to read? Then again, why wouldn’t he? He was an expert in the field. Maybe she’d get lucky and he hadn’t read the comment thread attached to that deeply personal sharing. “And?”

“I know you have somewhat of an interest in our lifestyle. This could be an opportunity for you to learn and blog about it safely, while at the same time, earn the extra money you said you needed.”

“How very magnanimous of you. I get two things if I agree to let you guys shanghai me like this?”

His eyes darkened and a shadow came over his face. On most men the effect would be off-putting, but on him it made him look more powerful. This wasn’t surprising. The guy had a knack for remaining calm in the face of adversity. Hadn’t he proved that the last time they were together?

He let out a breath. “I don’t like your tone, young lady.”

And she didn’t like the way he bent over her. Or how his hands landed on his hips. Even his to-die-for cologne was annoying her. Annoying her because she wanted to close her eyes and breathe it in deep.

Wait, young lady?
“Too bad. I told you and your partners that I’d make something up. Anything. For my part in losing that disc, I’ll give you rave reviews for the balance of that day. That should be enough.” She scowled up at him. “You know I didn’t leak that footage. Even if I had it to leak, I wouldn’t have done it. I value privacy just as much, maybe even more than you guys do.”

He straightened, but continued to hold her gaze. It was unnerving. Most men at this point in a similar conversation with her would retreat. It was somehow thrilling that he wasn’t backing off. Not only that, he was moving forward. “And I would know this because…?” His chin jutted out. “You’re an international blogging enigma who has a limited knowledge of computer technology? Is this what you want me to believe? That you communicate with people across the globe with nothing more than a geriatric squirrel and family of fireflies powering up your computer and keeping you in business?”

Even though she knew her cheeks had gone pink, she wasn’t ready to back down. “Something like that, yes.”

“Are you always this stubborn?”

She could tell by the gleam in his eyes he was enjoying her obstinance. Recalling what he’d accused her of the last time they were together, she sniffed, “I thought you said I was impulsive.”

“That too. I’m compiling quite a list.”

That comment got her all warm inside. How could this appeal to her? Him tallying a list on her. Not good. “Look, I promise—”

“Colin, I haven’t forgotten what you promised me.”

His knowing smile had her heart flipping all over the place. Oh boy, he was dangerous. Tempting. Trouble, who had followed her home. “I’m not going to sleep with you,” she blurted and wished she’d kept her big mouth shut. Pretending she needed to readjust her purse, she held it up and gave it a shake.

“How do you know?”

Her bag sagged with a whoosh on her lap. “What?”

He was back to sitting on the edge of the desk. It wasn’t even his desk, it was Mazer’s, yet he folded his arms and looked right at home. It was as if that piece of furniture, heck, the whole dang room, belonged to him.

“How do you know you’re not going to have sex with me?”

“What a strange question.” She was totally baffled and instinctively clutched her purse against her belly. “I know because I said I won’t.”

His expression remained unreadable, but there was some hint of what he was thinking in his tone. It smacked of challenge. “What a strange answer. It’s been my experience a person can’t be sure of anything in life, except perhaps death.”

She lifted her shoulders and let them drop dramatically. “I don’t want to quibble. So let’s just say I’d rather die than sleep with you. Is that better?”

His eyes twinkled. “No, because with me you can do both.”

Those words made her squirm. “You’re nuts.”

“I prefer resourceful. It’s true. I’ve been known to deliver
la petite mort
in multiples.”

“With multiple partners I’d wager,” she grumbled and looked away.

“Sometimes.”

Doing a double take, she narrowed her eyes. “Probably all of the time. Why can’t I write you a stellar review and call it a day?”

“Because we need more than that from you. We need the support of your followers if we hope to succeed here. Especially after the preopening fiasco. Everyone is waiting for The Carlyn to fail and we want to show them the benefits to be gained from having us here.”

“So you want me to dupe my readers into believing it’s a budding love affair while at the same time showcasing you and your buddies as great guys?”

“We are great guys.” He gave her a wicked smile and she wanted to smack herself for reacting to it. Her pulse was speeding all over the place. “And a seeming romance makes good press. Besides, you need the money and I think you’re more than a little curious about our community. As I said, it would give you a good opportunity to get some of your questions answered. Wouldn’t your readers love a view from the inside?”

He made a compelling argument. She did need the money. If they paid her what they’d promised she’d have more cash reserves for remodeling Wakefield once she owned it. And she truly was curious about the lifestyle. More so now that she’d done some research. She thought about her readers. They’d eat this up. The one piece she’d done on the collaring ceremony between a full-time Master and slave couple in Ohio had produced the highest viewing percentage since she’d started her blog.

“What if in the end I find I can’t in good conscience lie to my readers about the experience?”

“I’m sure that won’t be the case, but if it is? Don’t lie. Tell it like it is. All we’re requiring from you is the opportunity for an in-depth review. I’m sure it will be an eye-opener for not only your readers, but you too.”

Hmm. She studied him. Was she curious about the BDSM hype? Sure. Question was, would she rather die knowing or not?

Definitely knowing.

“Why does it have to be you to stay there with me? You do have two other partners.”

“You’re a smart girl. I think you have the answer to that already.”

It wasn’t his reply that had her blushing, it was the look accompanying those words that got her hot. No wonder they called him The Hypnotist. Those piercing green eyes boring into her made her breathless, restless and illogically giddy. She had to fight the urge to laugh. To cover that totally inappropriate response, she cleared her throat.

“Why, because of how I responded to you that night?”

“No.”

Well, she was glad to hear that.

“Because you responded to me.”

Dammit.
She looked away, saying flatly, “It was a mistake. One I don’t intend to repeat.”

“I believe you.”

Of all the things he could have said, she hadn’t been anticipating that. His expression was sincere, calm. Enthralling. “I’m, um, I’m glad you understand.”

“Better than you think.”

That statement gave her a shiver and she rubbed her arms from elbows to shoulders and back again.

“Do we have a deal? I get your support and help with The Carlyn’s reputation and you not only get the additional funds for agreeing, but you’ll get a crash course in basic BDSM principles and some practical experiences to relay to your readers.”

Her hands stopped rubbing. “Practical experience?”

He stood. “Yes, don’t you want to know firsthand what goes on behind closed doors? I believe you said as much in a comment to one of your followers.”

Double dammit.
He’d read the thread. There was no point lying about it now that it was out there. “I’ll admit I do have a certain curiosity. You know, from a purely professional standpoint.”

She held her breath and let it out slowly when he gave her a pass on that inane excuse. Her work had absolutely nothing to do with her curiosity in his community and they both knew it.

“Of course. Do we have a deal?”

“Okay, Mr. White. You guys have me backed into a corner here. At the moment I can’t afford a lawsuit despite being moderately successful, so I’ll agree to spend the ten days. I’ll determine how to handle the review process as needed and pretend to be swept off my feeble feminine feet on a couple of conditions.” She paused and waited for him to say something. When he didn’t she launched into her demands. “For one, I want Casper to join us.”

“No.”

She ignored his abrupt denial. “Two, I want to sleep in the boathouse.”

“No.”

Here again she ignored him. “And three, I don’t want to spend more than an hour a day with you.”

“Not going to happen.”

She pursed her lips and said, “My sentiments exactly.”

It was his turn to ignore her. “The way this is going to happen? You and I will be alone at The Carlyn. You will sleep in the mansion in a suite I choose for you and you will spend as much time with me as I deem fit.”

There was about as much chance of that happening as there was of Yoko Ono winning
America’s Got Talent
. “No.”

The confident curl in his devious smile had her secretly sweating. She couldn’t let him see he was getting to her. For three weeks she’d held up. She’d refused their every request, even the nicer ones he furnished to her personally to get her to agree. Still… “I don’t appreciate being bullied.”

“That’s a shame.”

“Why? You think I should like it when someone bullies me?”

He clasped his hands behind his back. “No.”

That was a relief.

“But if this is how you’re planning on behaving when you’re around me, I’m thinking you better get used to it.”

She gasped and shot out of the chair. He was close and she had to sidestep to look up at him. “I’m not sure I even like you, Mr. White. I—”

“Ethan, remember? And as for you and how you feel about me?” He captured her chin and stared directly into her eyes. “‘Like’ isn’t what I’m aiming for.”

A sizzle went through her that singed her all the way down to her toes. “What are you saying?”

He searched her face and when his gaze paused on her lips they tingled. “In my world I prefer the concepts of love or hate. Like? Holds no great distinction.” He let go of her and she stumbled back. Then before she knew it, he had the paper and pen in hand and was guiding her to the desk. She couldn’t help remembering how similar this situation was to that last time they were together and how badly that had panned out for her.

“Sign it.”

So engrossed recalling those intimate images, she had to refocus. Taking a deep breath, she examined the dotted line. Hadn’t that last agreement gotten her into this mess? It had, and nothing had been right since. She thought about the attorney’s earlier words.

For the full ten days and then the matter will be closed. Regardless of the outcome.

Putting aside her secret and personal reasons for wanting to agree, she donned her business cap. She’d have her money and an awesome blog series to bring to her readers. Not to mention circumventing an expensive lawsuit. Why was she even thinking about this?

“Fine.” Plunking down her purse, she signed it and when it was fully endorsed, she handed it over.

She expected him to thank her, but she should have known better when he said, “Very good.”

No sooner had she snatched her purse off the desk and made to walk around him, that he grabbed hold of her arm.

“Wait a minute.” He held up the paper. “This means ten days, Colin. Me and you at The Carlyn. No one else.”

“I know.”

“Do you?”

She made sure he saw her eye roll. She might be scared shitless, but she didn’t want him to know it. “Yes. There will be no Casper. It’s not as if I can stow him away in my suitcase.” Although she wished to God she could.

“Casper’s not the man who concerns me.”

“Oh?”

“The man in here.” He tapped her on a spot just over her heart. “He’s the one that’s got me curious. Did he break you?”

She swayed. “How would you know about him?”

“I know a lot of things about you and by the end of our ten days together I expect to know even more.” He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Everything.”

Her eyes widened and she got dizzy. “This—your interest in me signing that piece of paper was not just about my in-depth review was it?”

He slowly shook his head no and this time she let her purse fall. Catching hold of the edge of the desk, she used it to steady herself. “W-why are you doing this?”

“Do you really want to know? If you do I’ll tell you.”

In that quiet moment he was sin and sex personified. “I-I don’t think so.”

His dark eyes sparkled. “All right then, I’ll tell you something you definitely don’t want to know instead.”