Billionaire Alpha

His Breath on Her Neck

Bethany

The rest of the afternoon, Bethany tried to work through her conflicting emotions. Ben stopped by and gave her a testing file for one of their large clients, and she was grateful for something to take her mind off of the lunch with Damon.

Damon hadn't been inappropriate, but it wasn't beyond him to make her feel much more with the way he watched her versus anything he might say.

She worked hard on the file until shortly after six. Her phone buzzed to remind her to get up and head home. She would be working late hours during the abhorred busy season, which was January through April, so most accountants tried to have normal ten-hour days the rest of the year.

"Are you going to Masquerade with the other interns tomorrow?"

She looked up at Damon, his arms across his chest, the thick muscles of his pecs pressing through the soft material. Her breath caught in her chest for a minute, the vision of undressing him rapidly sweeping her away.

"Yes. You?" She stood and stretched, clasping her hands behind her back and pulling. His eyes moved from her face toward her chest, the lightness of his expression darkening slightly. She crossed her arms over her breasts and moved out from behind her desk to stand before him.

"No. I'm not interested in dance clubs."

"Don't dance?"

"Only when I have to."

"And when is someone forced to dance? Seems odd."

"At weddings, which you and I will be attending for our parents soon, it would seem, and when you want to seduce someone." His eyes rolled over her, and once again she felt bare, stripped before him. The power of his seduction was something she'd fall over herself to see, but that was a pipe dream, something she'd not get the chance to witness, most likely.

"Are we going to be able to get away for the weekend in Jamaica?"

He nodded and moved from his position, running his fingers through his hair before looking over his shoulder out toward the hall. A scowl touched his face as someone called his name, the high timbre of the girl’s voice leaving no doubt who it was—Sadie.

He walked into Bethany's office and moved to stand just behind her, pulling her hair to the side and fiddling with the clasp of her necklace. Bethany stiffened at his nearness as Sadie poked her head into Bethany's office, her smile falling.

"Oh … sorry. Am I interrupting something?"

Damon spoke over Bethany’s shoulder, his chest brushing across her back as he dropped his hands and slid his fingers around Bethany's fingers.

"Actually, yes. If you need something, talk to Linda."

He turned toward Bethany, as she sat, frozen with shock. He looked down at her with something like hunger and control in his gaze. "It looks great on you. I love the way it teases me to want to see more of your skin. His fingers brushed by the heart-shaped locket, and she shivered, her eyes locked on him, unable to help herself.

Sadie huffed loudly and left as Damon moved back slowly, his gaze still holding Bethany still. She took a slow breath, realizing a desperate need for air.

"I thought you were going to kiss me. What a mess that would create." She sat down in the chair beside her. "If they knew I was your sister and then you planted the seed that we were somehow interested in each other …"

"No one will know you're my soon-to-be stepsister, and I think planting that seed is the best way to remind everyone else that I'm unavailable. I was thinking about it this afternoon. I'll inform my father, and I'm sure he'll be all for it. I promise not to push you past your comfort zone. Least not yet." He turned and walked from the office, his movements smooth, his butt fitting in his slacks far too well.

Bethany sank back in her chair and touched the necklace around her throat, her eyes closing. He'd been so close. Just a bit more, and his lips would have brushed hers. She swallowed hard, wanting to know what it would feel like, what he tasted like.

She exhaled loudly, standing and gathering her things before she made a bad decision. Going to see him again would only cloud her conscience. He seemed to be perfectly fine playing any part he deemed appropriate. Too bad his ethics weren't in line with hers.

*

Matthew greeted Bethany at the door, his famous bear hug her reward for a long day at work. He sat her down and took her bags, walking with her excitedly toward the kitchen. His voice was soft, and he kept glancing around, as if trying to ensure that no one was involved in his business but her.

"I had something really cool happen today," he whispered, hanging her handbag on the inside of the closet door. "An art dealer in Seattle called, and they want to see one of my paintings in a few weeks."

"Matt, that's great. Are you going up there by yourself?"

"It's right after your mom and my dad get married. I wanted to see if you would go with me? We could totally get two rooms, no problem. I just don't let too many people know about my talents, so this would be great for us to grow closer as siblings."

"I don't see why I can't go, as long as it's not during class and Damon lets me take off from the firm."

"Oh yeah. I called him earlier about it."

"You did?" She followed Matt outside, sticking her head into the kitchen to wave at her mom and Kent before joining her almost stepbrother.

"Yeah. It was his idea that you go with me." He smiled and walked toward the edge of the balcony, the air muggy and less than ideal for her business outfit.

"He told you that you and I should go to Seattle?" Was he trying to throw her off on Matthew? Seemed odd. Damon wasn't the family-type guy, from what she could tell. Why he would try and build her relationship with Matthew was concerning. Unless he hoped they might find something more in each other. Damon wanted her to fall in love with Matt?

"No, silly. He's going with me for sure, and he told me to invite you. He wants to get to know you better and thought this would be perfect."

Lust rolled over her as she reached up and touched the small heart necklace her mother had given her for her sixteenth birthday.

"What time did he call you?"

"Just now. Well, actually, just before you walked in the door. He's great, isn't he?"

"Yeah … great."

She turned and looked toward the long stretch of green grass, her thoughts scattered. What was Damon up to? He wanted her in Seattle with him, and something told her it wasn't for business or familial reasons at all.

Could she be so cursed?

The next morning was uneventful, the whispers in the office about it being hump day causing everyone to chuckle and be inappropriate in hopes of garnishing a laugh. Bethany worked to avoid everyone, her thoughts depressing her further. She would have one more week before she needed to start working along with her classes. Her masters was important to her and would be needed in order for her to sit for her CPA certificate, but going back to a non-work environment seemed odd.

What would Krista and Jake be like around her? It was bound to be a bit awkward for a while. They were probably enjoying the week with her gone. Maybe she needed to think about getting a place of her own, away from campus, and just driving in for classes.

A knock at her door caught her off guard, a soft sound of surprise leaving her. She stood as a guy about her age waved, the smile on his face friendly, his eyes blue like the ocean.

"Sorry to scare you. I'm Philip, the newbie." He smiled and moved into the room, his accent putting him from Australia or somewhere far away. He extended his hand, and Bethany reached out to shake it, his grasp firm, his gaze moving around her face.

He was handsome, and his voice could melt chocolate, but she ignored all of that, her own emotions locked up in a battle over what to feel for Damon and what to seek counseling over.

"No problem. I was just deep in thought. I do that a bit too often." She smiled and pulled her hand back. "I'm Bethany."

"I've heard. There's a red-headed girl out to get you, I believe." He smirked and moved back toward the doorway, leaning against the frame and crossing his arms over his chest. His dark blond hair fit his tanned skin perfectly, the set of his jaw giving him a masculine appeal. He was probably just like Jake and used his rugged good looks to have women think the opposite. All guys were like Jake, except Damon.

"Sadie. Yes, she's a peach for sure."

"Says you’re dating the boss."

"Oh yeah? That's new to me." She shrugged. "We're all going dancing tomorrow night. You should come. Would be good to get to know everyone. I plan on doing so myself."

"So you'll be there?"

"I plan to." She smiled as someone tapped Philip on the shoulder, the voice soft and muffled. He looked back over at her and waved.

"Seems the boss wants to see me. I'll catch you later. Pleasure meeting you, Bethany."

He left, and she stood beside her desk, leaning over and putting her hands on the smooth surface. Why was an office setting so seductive? Was it the taboo of thinking about getting caught being intimate with someone at work? Was it the smooth, hard surface of the furniture that you might leave prints along, your evidence etched into the office?

She smiled at the thought, her expression changing drastically as she looked up to see Sadie standing in her door, her hand on her hip.

"So, just so you know. The new guy is mine."

Bethany stood up and moved toward the other girl, stopping beside her file cabinet and tilting her head as a smirk drew her lips up.

"The new guy, Philip?"

"Yes, Philip, you ogre. He's mine, and don't think for one minute whatever is going on with you and Damon matters. He uses everyone here. We've all had our turn in his lap." She smirked and looked out into the hall before turning to focus on Bethany. "Philip is mine. You can play with Damon until he's tired of you, but once that's done, no going after the new hottie in the office."

"And if I do?" Bethany asked, her voice soft and almost menacing.

"Then I'll make sure you lose your job here. Quite simple really. Kent thinks of me as a daughter. I'll tell him something about your ethics being a bit off, and you'll be gone. Try me on it; just don't come crying to me when the cards fall the way they will."

"Interesting. I think I'll leave my and Damon's love affair up to fate. I haven't sat on his lap, by any means, but he sure has bought me a lot of jewelry lately." She picked up the small heart on her chest and rubbed her fingers along the diamonds as she let her stare beat into the other girl.

"He does that to everyone."

"Doubt it."

Bethany turned and walked to her desk, reaching into her bag and beginning to pull out various cords. She ignored the other girl until Sadie huffed loudly and left. She was trouble and the kind that Bethany planned to dispose of. Damon was right about one thing—the girl would scream rape from the rooftop if she thought it would get her fifteen seconds of fame. Sad, really.