ors when a voice spoke out of an intercom near the doo

can come inside," the crackling

despite the distortion fr

m. It'

lloping like a panicked hors

s the familiar click that signaled the door unlocking.

she entered an office so larg

gh to live in, and per

ous locations, along with leather chairs, and a floor-to-ceiling fish tank with

ice, giving whoever was in the room a view overlooking the

n Sharpe behind his massive black desk. The desk was of the same o

hat sat on his desk. His gaze was intent and focused, and

announced, still wa

d, and her voice sounded so slight a

head to glance at her. "Come closer." H

reached a pair of black lea

is lips curving into the

so soft. So unlike

?" she asked, immediately

scuss," he said, his voice an

Her belly felt leaden a

er. "We need to address what happened ear

"I'm so sorry about that. I was trying so hard not to spill t

said, his voice taki

eased. He rose from his chair, his suit still just as unwrinkled and imp

catch in her chest

away and looked down at her. "Do you know

," she said. "I

. "No," he said. "T

tion. "I didn't want to spill coffee

ying anything

He wants to yell at me for spilling coffee on h

both frightened

th this, she told herself

gized," she said.

tepped down off the platform and then walked to within a f

ore shockingly good-looking than she'd previously realized. His skin was smooth, slightly tann

der that, his musky masculine scent

...but he also made her feel some

was

word that s

si

espite the obvious fact that he took good care of his fingernails. To the contrary, everything about Cullen Sharpe looked strong and invulne

en what do you want?" she asked,

t slight little grin disappeared and his nostril

h me

s suit coat and unbuttoned the top b

cip

and she was worried that perhaps Cullen even knew it. He was sitting

and check, wishing for a

, and for him to possibly know that her nipp

to calm her nerves. "I don't t

like to k

gue

as if needing to distance himself from her now. "You

idea what we're talking about." Her voic

y chiseled in stone. "You're going to learn how to please me. And onc

ow creasing. "Everyone makes m

itched. "And perhaps y

r it is you're going to teach me?" She threw he

ooking the city. Against the backdrop, he looked like an im

mera, this would m

n I started this business, they thought I was insane. I hired people that the business world ass

n't fail," s

for the first time, she thought she saw somethi

is eyes? Someone vulnerable, someone who

like the moon being obscured by clouds. Hi

er lap and licked her lip

rk together," Cullen said, his voice beco

" she caught th

aid. He shook his head and sighed. "Let's go back to this

n't k

e, Ivy. Don

" she said, her

se you lie to yourself." He crossed his arms and wa

ol room was becoming hotter now, as if someone was turning up the thermos

her-the sight of his perfect lips up close had caused her to fumble the tray e

," she said, keepi