Come into my den, Carson Fox had dared Josie with his eyes. That pushed her into agreeing to talk in his office. It was ridiculous, the way this thick-headed Alpha set her nerves on fire and put her on edge. She felt like little red riding hood, except when the big bad wolf came to eat her, she willed him to do it. The way Carson looked at her, she felt like something edible.
Not exactly prey, because prey fought to survive, didn’t they?
No, she wanted to take a ride on the wild side with this man. See if he wasn’t all talk and no action in the sack...Jesus Christ no. Come hell or high water, she will maintain her dignity and pride, despite what little of it she had left. His eyes, initially blue, now burned gold with desire and for once, she was glad of the desk in his office, separating her from him.
“Well,” she said, unnerved by his silence. “What do you want to talk about?”
“Why don’t you start?”
She growled under her breath. No way was she getting anything out of this bastard. “If you’re here to waste my time, then I’m leaving.”
“Without telling me off?” He asked.
That stopped her. “What’s the point? You don’t seem to be interested in listening.”
“It’s because you don’t make such a convincing argument, Josie.”
The sound of her nickname made her recoil.
“What did you call me?” she whispered.
Only three people called her Josie, and two of those were gone—first her father and second, the man she had a crush on when she was little, one of her father’s apprentices, whose name she couldn’t remember.
“Josie.”
“That was a lucky guess.” She bit her lip, not liking she was in unfamiliar ground.
Why was it that everything this guy did unnerved her? For crying out loud, it didn’t seem to be because he was a lofty Alpha who expected everything to be handed to him by those he saw as inferior.
“Not a guess, don’t you remember me?”
She frowned, digging through her memory and finding no answers. “I don’t recall an arrogant Alpha wolf who thinks he can push anyone around.”
“Not everyone. It’s only your buttons I’d like to push, Josie.” Carson sat back, looking at her with those raking eyes again that didn’t fail to start up her heart or turn her skin fever hot. “How’s this, I’ll make you a deal. You do something for me, and I’ll move my bakery to a new location. This town’s big enough for the both of us.”
“Do something?” Josie swore under her breath.
Carson raised his brows. “Do proper ladies curse?”
“This one does. I knew it, knew you were sketchy and shady.”
Carson feigned looking hurt. “Darling, your words are like a dozen arrows through my chest.”
“I’m not your darling or your anything. Don’t be dramatic. It’s clear to me what or who you want.”
Josie couldn’t believe she was saying the words, much less consider them. Someone with moral fiber would stand her ground, yet no other man in her entire life had ever looked at her the way Carson did—not just a conquest, but something else, something she couldn’t put a name to. She was frightened to guess the answer anyway.
What would people think of her? Hell, she didn’t care, but what would Pansy think? Pansy always disliked it when Josie tried to get her to stop dancing the pole, to find something decent...but what was Josie doing?
“What do I want?” Carson asked.
Damn the smug bastard for making her say the embarrassing answer out loud, and for enjoying this far too much.
“Me,” she whispered.
He chuckled, and neither mocked her nor corrected her answer.
“Darling, why is that so hard to believe? Don’t think I’m good enough for you?” Carson asked.
“No, it’s just I’m used to men paying more attention to my sister.”
The words slipped out without warning even though she knew she should put her guards up. Being careful around this dangerous Alpha was her best bet of survival...but why did the thought of a man like Carson wanting a woman like her thrilled her to bits?
“Oh, believe me, baby. You’re the only thing on my mind.”
His mind? Had he been thinking of her prior to their meeting? Carson must have caught a glimpse of her and decided she was his next prize. That must be it. Maybe because she was his enemy upped the stakes.
“So, how do we do this? Understand something, I’m not usually like this. I don’t give myself away to any man,” she blurted, not knowing why she wanted him to understand. Hell, a man like Carson shouldn’t care, but his gaze turned dark.
“Darling, once you’re within my reach, I’m going to make sure you fully understand what a fucking perfect and sexy woman you are.”
She swallowed at his words. It was already happening. She was falling for the spell this smooth-talking bastard of an Alpha wove over her. “Enough. Do me the courtesy of not lying to my face.”
He growled, the sound rumbling through the office walls, making her jump in her seat.
“I never lie, Josephina, because I have no reason to.”
“That was unwarranted. Sorry.” Josephina meant it, although muttering apologies didn’t come easy to her. Yet, this was the second time she said that word to him. What could she say? He seemed capable of bringing out the wild and scary parts of her she didn’t know existed.
“Apology accepted...only if you come and sit on my desk. I want to examine you.”
Wait. What? Did Carson really just say those words? Part of her was outraged. The other part was excited by the dirty request. How could such a thing turn her on? Yet wetness seeped into her panties, and Carson could smell her.
“I should sue you for sexual harassment,” she blurted.
“Oh? Aren’t we simply two consenting adults?” Carson smiled, showing her teeth. “Don’t pretend with me, darling. There are no secrets between shifters. Either you take my offer and sit on my desk, or leave. The door’s right through there.”
He was right of course. No one forced her to stay here and do what he commanded. Yet, if Carson had really been serious, he promised to move if she agreed to his ridiculous proposal.
“Tell me the rules,” Josie said.
“Good girl,” he rumbled. “For the next three days, you’ll be mine and do whatever I ask.”
“And after three days?” Josie asked, intrigued. She shouldn’t be, she knew. This was a thousand shades wrong and yet, what could go wrong? Pretending to belong to this man, this Alpha who was her enemy for three days would send most women walking, but not her. After all, Carson genuinely wanted her for some incomprehensible reason, was that so bad?
“If you satisfy me, then I’ll move my shop far away from yours. Deal?”
Arrogant prick.
“One day,” Josie stated, crossing her arms. Unbelievable she was making a bargain with this man.
Carson shook his head. “Two days and that’s my final offer.”
“Done, and shifter’s word is law.”
“Shake on it.” Carson held out his hand, which she looked at distrustfully.
Damn. How would she get anywhere if she were this skittish? Rising from her seat, she shook his offered hand. They were big, callused, had old burns—a dedicated baker’s hands and she found herself admiring him as a fellow artisan...until he opened his mouth anyway.
“Now that that’s done, I want you on my desk, Josephina.”