When I'm With You Part V: When You Submit Read Online Free Page B

be an emergency, for them to be calling at this hour.” Still, he didn’t reach to answer it, seeming undecided. Finally, he cursed under his breath and snatched up the phone.
    Elise’s concern rose as she listened to him speak in terse French to whoever was on the other end of the line.
    “It sounds bad,” she said when he eventually hung up.
    “I had Monsieur Atale, the manager of the Hotel Louis—a man I trust implicitly—look into something for me. He’s been working on it and reporting back to me every few hours. It seems our main accountant was in on the embezzlement scheme. Monsieur Atale doesn’t have adequate funds to complete the payroll, and it’s payday tomorrow.”
    “I’m so sorry,” she said, hating the worry lines on his forehead.
    He pinned her with his stare. “I can handle the technicalities of getting things back on track. I’m just furious at those sons of bitches for forcing the issue now. Just when you finally spoke your desire aloud to me.”
    She gave him a shaky smile and sunk down next to him on the couch. She took his hand. “It’ll still be my desire when you get back.”
    He squeezed her hand and lifted it to kiss her knuckles.
    “You’re going to have to leave tonight, aren’t you?” she asked.
    “As soon as my secretary in Paris can book me a charter flight. She’ll be calling back any minute. I’m sorry, Elise. It’s rotten timing.”
    “I understand,” she assured, ignoring the ache expanding in her chest. “Of course you must go. The employees of all three hotels have dependents . . . families relying on them. They need their paychecks and jobs.”
    “I’m glad you understand.” He stood and took her into his arms. When she looked up at him, he cradled her jaw, his fingers caressing her tenderly. He glanced at his cell phone and then back at her. She heard him curse under his breath. The next thing she knew, he’d swept her into his arms and was carrying her toward the hallway.
    “Lucien?” she asked, amazed.
    “A few minutes isn’t going to make that much of a difference,” he said grimly.
    A moment later, he lowered her onto his bed and placed his hands on either side of her hips.
    “Do you own a vibrator,
ma chère
?” he asked, his face just inches from her own, his voice striking her as decadent and rich, making her skin prickle with awareness.
    She swallowed thickly and shook her head.
    He said nothing, but moved away from her. She watched, her breath coming in increasingly erratic puffs, as he turned and opened one of the bedside table drawers. He removed an unopened box and tore through the seal, tipping the contents into his hand. She saw a chrome, bullet-shaped object and several red elastic bands fall into his palm. He chose one of the bands and attached it to the vibrator. He secured the chrome bullet to his finger using the band and sat on the bed next to her.
    “Take off your panties and lift your dress to your waist. I’m going to pleasure you, and you will return the favor. It’s going to be quick, out of necessity,” he said, his mouth twisting slightly in dissatisfaction, “but effective, and I want to explain something to you.”
    Quick but effective.
Her pulse began to thrum at her throat.
    She felt his gaze on her as she whisked her panties down her thighs and off her legs. “Sit in the middle of the bed,” he demanded quietly when she started to raise her dress. She scooted to the center and leaned against the pillows, her breathing growing choppier by the second from mounting excitement. His gaze remained glued to her pussy when she lifted her dress to her waist.
    “Now spread your thighs,” he murmured, edging toward her on the bed, one knee bent, the other long leg left draped over the side of the mattress.
    She watched with bated breath as he flicked a button on the vibrator and she heard a muted buzzing sound, like a bee had invaded the room. She gasped loudly when he matter-of-factly pushed the metal bullet