ed with the cool assurance of a man used to get exactly what he wanted, when he wanted. Hi

d if she was to stay in it. Still, something about Rylan unsettled her despite her position, despite the control s

uddenly, thei

more than simply business, something neither of them could ignore crackled in the air between them. His eyes were sharp, strong, and for a minute they flick

it didn't matter, the link was indisputable. Between them, a subtle

opaque mask. With a low, under control voice, "Amaya," he added,

he spoke that made her seen. Her pulse still thumping from the s

his thumb in his game. She had battled too much to be free to allow Rylan's authorita

rom her work life. With Rylan, though, it changed. Her pulse would quicken, her thoughts would fly, and she wou

, as he watched her, waiting for her to shatter. She also loathed

manding day of meetings. There was obvious conflict between them. She could feel the heat emanating from his body, the

d abruptly, his voice low and somewhat amused.

But tonight something changed. She felt tonight as though she were peering into the

tally engross in his task, his attention unbroken. Amaya, though, couldn't get

rly reluctant. Rylan, why are we doing th

eyes narrowing as he gave her close attention. It was a rare moment of silence, a moment when he lacked control. A

voice unusual for softness. "But occasionally... th

not simply merciless and cold. He too was broken

r wedding, and her chest contracted. She momentarily glimpsed past the m

for the shortest of times. But Rylan's phone rang, cutting across t

osition. "We're not done here, Amaya," he contin

rief link between them alre

ast three weeks, one that although still reserved suggested something more. Something more like human nature. That was the issue, albei

sical. It was something else, not only the business negotiations or the wedding vows t

een. When she turned to face him at last, his predatory focus captured hers and set her heart p

eyes strayed from her face to the curvature of her body, linger

r breath and drive the feeling out of h

roaching closely and his presenc

e distance between them seemed to close, the air swelling with something she wanted not to accept

s nearly meeting her ear. "You cannot keep passing for Amaya. Between us exi

ension, the obvious draw between them all came down over her. She had never anticipated this. She

hers in a brief kiss. Her heart surged. At first, it was delicate, hesitant, as if t

nder control as they at last withdrew. Her body still tingling from the

mistake," her voice q

into a half-smile and eyes shining

elf consider the fallout from being linked to him. She was, however, caught in something even more convoluted now. She was no more only the comp

shortest of times, let the intensity of the attraction between them t

f from her ideas. Her gut turned

n he

him felt like walking a tig

ontrol. See me in the conference room. W

or him, the kiss seemed to be little more than a passing sensation. But Amaya couldn't

r feelings seemed intolerable in weight. She owed him to

ld really trust Rylan or what he wanted from her. One thing was clear though: this was far from done. And the fa

ked into the room: "This game is far from