Page 42 of Reckless Devotion

“We also ordered takeout on your card and watchedCrazy Stupid Loveon the big screen.” She flicks her finger over her shoulder, indicating the two large beanbags placed in front of the wall of monitors.

“Where did you get beanbags from?” I frown at the large navy seating bags, and the empty Chinese takeout boxes that surround them.

“This is New York City, I could order a dominatrix to comb my hair and ride me like a pony and she would be here within twenty minutes. You think I can’t source beanbags?”

I scratch the back of my head, my brain running sluggishly, by my standards. “And why are there two?”

“One for Jen, duh?” She makes a face at me like it’s the most obvious thing in the world and I’m about to remind her that Jen is an computer program without a body, when it hits me.

“Wait, how did you get my card details?”

“I was bored!” she cries, throwing her arms into the air like boneless pool noodles.

This fucking woman. “You are unbelievable, do you know that?”

A small feline smile creeps across her full lips, bringing her back into her usual realm of stoic smugness. Likely on account of successfully erecting my irritation. It’s not the onlything fighting to stand to attention either, and that part leaves me baffled. I’ve always liked my women fiery and confident, but it’s usually a prerequisite that they like me back.

“There is a capital B in that billionaire title of yours, Walker. Good for you.” I grit my teeth as she walks around the work bench and perches on the side closest to me—close enough that I get a hit of that heady jasmine scent. “Besides, you’re hardly going to turn me in for hacking into your bank account when I heard firsthand earlier today that you commissioned someone to hack into other companies’ databases.”

I scrub my hand down my face, pausing to press my fingers into my eyes. “And dare I ask why you didn’t just go home instead of all this?”

Her mouth pops open indignantly. “You didn’t tell me I could!”

“And since when have you let that stop you?” I can’t prevent the derision from leaking into my tone.

She is already opening her mouth to retort, but as my words land, she freezes, a subtle crease appearing between dark arched brows. “Good point,” she mutters quietly, mostly to herself.

“He’s so killing the vibe,”my automated assistant cuts in sassily.

“Another good point,” Pepper agrees readily, folding her arms across her chest in a way that threatens to bring my attention to the smooth skin that presses against the neckline of her shirt. Her tone turns silky and goading. “Does that piss you off, Wolfie?”

My eyes narrow on her androgynous face, trickling down to the way her lithe body leans away from me, palms propped behind her to hold herself up. Something deep in my chest rumbles its approval, and without thinking, I take a step closer, my leg teasing the dip between her knees, wondering whatit would be like to spread them apart and devour her there until she’s pliant and writhing. I bet that would wipe the self-congratulatory look off her face.

Her eyes go wide as I lean over her, the faint gold that gathers just near her pupils sparkling in the overhead lights like a beacon. Drawing me in yet warning me off at the same time. My palms meet the space next to hers, her stature small enough that I still have to curl over her. I don’t miss the way her breath becomes sharp or how her pulse flutters just below her jaw, as much as I’m sure she would like me to.

We stay caged inches apart for a tense second and when I speak, my voice is gravelly even to my own ears. “I’m a billionaire with a capital B, remember?”

Her sweet breath puffs across my skin, her cadence taking on a breathy, husky edge that has my brain taking a high-speed elevator to the lowest level, where cavemen bash flint together to try and spark fire. “Good, then you won’t mind that I also relieved you of two hundred thousand dollars for a charity that protects endangered jellyfish in Australia."

A tingle of awareness crackles over my skin, and I don’t know whether to chew her out, or kiss her. The balls on this woman outweigh those of anyone I’ve ever met, and what’s more, I fucking love how she doesn’t give a shit about pissing me off. I lean in closer, our breaths tangling as she tilts her head a touch, a thrill of excitement running through me when I realize she’s angling herselftowardme and not away.

“What are you doing?” she asks unsteadily, her cheeks pooling a warm copper brown.

“Satisfying a curiosity,” I murmur, dipping my head slowly down to her shoulder—giving her time to pull away. When she doesn’t, I dust my lips across her collarbone, fighting back a groan when I realize her skin is just as soft as I imagined it to be.

Her chest heaves in my face, and the way I see her thighs press together forces me closer to the edge, my grapple with this invisible force that draws me to her losing ground.

“It’s giving backseat make-out.”The zesty voice above cuts in just at the wrong time, draining the tension from the air. I groan softly, drawing myself away from her soft heat a few inches to look into eyes that are visibly stunned.

We both break into laughter at the same time, the ridiculousness of the situation crashing over what was seconds ago electrical charge. Pepper lets out a cute little snort, causing herself to squeak and clap a hand over her mouth.

“You have to undo whatever you did,” I groan, pulling back to give her a few more inches of space.

She tips her head to the side, her pastel locks falling over one shoulder. “On one condition.”

“Anything.”

“I get to take the beanbags home.”