Bowles, Jan - In Debt to the Dom [Guilty Pleasures 1] (Siren Publishing Classic) Read Free Page B

We’ve followed the trail all the way to a bank account in Switzerland.”
    Maddie looked surprised. “You have?”
    “Goddamn it, Maddie. You’re not dealing with the girl guides here. We’re professionals. Did you really think you could steal half a million dollars and just walk away with it? So, let’s make this easy for everyone. Tell us where it is now and then we can wrap this up.”
    “I can’t do that.”
    “Why?”
    “I just can’t.”
    He flipped open her personnel file. “We know all about the foreclosure notice on your house. The area where you live has some very expensive real estate, even for someone in your position. It seems you’ve been living a lifestyle beyond your means, Maddie. And you thought you’d help yourself to my money.”
    “That’s not true.”
    “Then what is it? You can’t have it both ways.”
    “I can’t say. As soon as my house sale goes through, I’ll pay everything back. I promise.”
    The first sign of contrition made him round on her. “Is that an apology? So you just thought you’d borrow the money for a few months? Is that it?”
    “What are you going to do?”
    “What would you do?”
    She hung her head in shame. “Call the cops.”
    He picked up the phone. “Good idea. Now we’re thinking in tandem.” His anger, now exasperated by her lack of an explanation, spurred him into action, and he began dialing.
    “Please don’t.”
    “Pardon?”
    “Please don’t, Keaton. I’ll do anything.”
    Her pleading made him disconnect the call. Her submissive tone brought something in him to the surface. Something he had kept locked and hidden away for years.
    He stared at her. “Anything? Do you have any idea what anything means?”
    “Yes.” Her hands clasped tightly together. “I have a buyer for the house. In just over a month, the sale will go through. I can pay you back then.”
    “So, in the meantime, you’ll do anything to keep me from turning you in?”
    “Yes.”
    “Do you know what that makes you, Maddie?”
    “Yes.”
    He stood and walked around his desk. At six foot three, he towered over her small petite figure. She couldn’t be more than five-four. Standing in front of her, he looked down into her trembling features. With a finger under her chin, he angled her face.
    “Look at me.”
    Her gaze rose to his, and he saw the frightened girl in her eyes. Physical desire spun its way into his body as her pale green irises connected with his. He wanted to dominate and make her compliant to his will. He wanted to seek some sort of satisfaction for her abuse of his trust. He wanted to bury his hands in her hair and love her the way he’d wanted to since the first time he’d seen her.
    “I thought you had principles?” He mocked.
    “They won’t do me any good now.”
    “No, they won’t.”
    “I can make up for last week when I was so despicable. I can be whatever you want, whatever you desire.”
    “Is that so? Careful, Maddie, because my desires might not be the same as yours.”
    “Oh, I think we’re on the same level when it comes to sex.”
    He shook his head, and laughed out loud. “You have no idea, do you? Vanilla sex is okay for the right occasion, but I prefer something a little more exciting.”
    Digesting what he’d just said, she stared directly at him. A faint blush tinged her pale cheeks. “You wanted me once. You can still have me.” She paused briefly. “However you desire.”
    “You put a high price on…” he let his eyes sweep over her before continuing, “your services. Do you really think you’re worth half a million dollars?”
    He saw her wince. She was fighting for her survival, and he knew it, yet he couldn’t—wouldn’t—back down. He wanted his pound of flesh. Maddie had broken his trust.
    “Until my house sale goes through, I haven’t anything else to offer.”
    He stared at her. At that moment, he felt it was possible to crave and despise in equal measure. She aroused a primitive need in him. He