Conflict of Interest Read Online Free PDF Page B

her mouth. „Or throw in a little something extra with the Scotch. I’m open to bribery, I think. I haven’t really encountered the genuine, blatant sort before but I’m willing to experiment…“

    He lifted his head for a moment, regarding her with deliberate provocation. Kali drew in her breath, still trying to decide on the best means of manipulating the awkward situation. When he removed her glasses with a slightly menacing, taunting manner and put them behind him on the coffee table she reached a decision.
    Lang Sterling was spoiling for a fight. He needed to mend some of the lacerated machismo she’d whittled on during the evening. He needed to work out some of his frustration and annoyance. Giving him the struggle he wanted and letting him, in essence, think he had conquered her on some level was probably the most efficient way of getting him back to a normal plateau. If Sterling could be said to have a normal, reasoning mode of operation!
    „Come on, little Vice-President,“ he urged tersely, beginning to nuzzle her ear, „wish me happy birthday. Give me a kiss for a present…“
    „I could care less about your birthday,“ she gritted, loosening one booted foot sufficiently to kick his shin. „I brought you here tonight to talk business! Let me go, Lang!“
    The reward for her rebellion was a stinging nip on her earlobe which made Kali flinch. She had no reason to think Lang would become dangerously violent. There was nothing in the information she’d turned up on him to indicate real menace but he had consumed a fair amount of Scotch tonight…!
    Nevertheless, her decision made, Kali proceeded to wage a furious struggle. She tried to push at him with her captured wrists, attempted a few more swipes at his vulnerable shins with her feet, and twisted her head from side to side in an effort to avoid his mouth. It was an amazingly realistic performance, she thought vaguely at one point, considering that was all it was.
    „I wanted a woman in my bed tonight, Kali Havelock,“ he rasped huskily as she began to pant a little from her efforts. „Since you were so eager to substitute yourself for the one I had found on my own, you can damn well act the part!“
    Still holding her wrists, he heaved himself upward far enough to tear off his elegant black evening jacket, dropping it in a heap on the carpet. Kali’s eyes widened as he came back down beside her.
    Somehow, in that white, ruffled shirt, the black tie undone and hanging loose around his neck, his hair rakishly tousled, Lang Sterling was beginning to seem more of a difficult proposition to handle than she’d bargained for.

    But she was committed to a course of action now. She would have to trust her instincts and abilities.
    „I’m not about to let you manhandle me,“ she hissed.
    „No?“ He traced a path upward from the edge of the velvet skirt waistband, his fingers sliding over the silky lame material of her blouse until they rested just beneath the curving weight of her small breasts.
    „No!“ But Kali’s breath came with sudden sharpness as he touched her with an almost delicate caress.
    „I should have known you were the type to wear a bra, even under a blouse and that jacket and even though you’re only big enough to fill a man’s hand…!“
    „Sorry if I fail to please! You can leave your suggestions and comments behind on the appropriate form when you leave!“ There were sparks behind the smoke of her eyes as she glared at him.
    „I wasn’t complaining,“ he retorted mockingly, letting his thumb probe for the nipple hidden beneath the layers of fabric. He touched his lips to her throat as she tried to arch her head back out of reach.
    „You feel just right in my arms.“
    In spite of herself Kali blinked at the tone of surprised wonder in his words. Who the hell did he think he was? With a rush of growing annoyance she writhed furiously beneath his hand. As she did so, his ear came within reach and she clamped at it