Kiss of Ice (St. James Family) Read Online Free PDF Page B

topless on the beaches.”
    “ Do they?” she said vaguely. “I bet you fucked your way across that country.” The way she said “fucked” hit a note inside him somewhere and he felt sparks firing off throughout his body. He loved her dirty mouth. One of these days he would make her beg him to fuck her. He would make her scream. She was staring at him, her golden eyes locked on his, like she could read his mind. He kept his mouth shut and continued massaging her foot. “Did you have women in Brazil?” She asked in a low voice, rolling her head to the side. He chuckled. He admired her tenacity.
    “ I had my share,” he finally answered.
    “ Lucky you,” she said, her eyes closing.
    “ What about you?” he said.
    “ What about me?” She settled back into her chair, her eyes opening to slits. “You want to know if I'm sleeping with someone?”
    “ Yes. That's exactly what I want to know,” he whispered. She smiled, closing her eyes again.
    “ Mind your business,” she said. He laughed.
    “ Okay, Annie. Keep your secrets,” he said, taking a drink. Her head drooped against her shoulder and he realized after a moment that she'd fallen asleep. He dropped his head back, eyes to the ceiling, and took a deep breath. 
     
    7 Years Ago
     
    “You stay the fuck out of my office!” Annata hissed in Christophe's ear. She hauled him up out of her chair as he laughed. He loved fucking with his father's office manager. He was interning at International that summer, and was bored out of his mind until he discovered how fun it was to get under her skin. Just sitting in her chair would get her so angry, she could spit fire.  She pushed him toward the door. “Make yourself useful and go get me my coffee,” she snarled.
    “ Milk? Sugar?” he asked sweetly.
    “ Black,” she spit out.
    “ Get it yourself,” he shot back. “Bitch.” He lingered over the word, slightly shocked with himself for calling her that. Her eyes widened, then went cold. She tossed her head, her long braids snapping against her back.
    “ I'll be a bitch. I'll be the worst bitch you ever met in your life. But I'll be running this company one day,” she said in the most bone-chilling voice he had ever heard. “You're a pathetic, entitled piece of shit. You're an embarrassment to your father. You're nothing, and you're never going to be anything. Now get the fuck out of my office.”  He felt anger soaring through him, but mostly he was stunned. He had never been talked to in such a way. Even his father had never spoken such words to him. And of course, if he was completely honest with himself, those were his worst fears pouring out of her mouth. He turned and left her office, feeling an almost paralyzing range of emotions.
    When he calmed down, much later, he laughed off the words that she had spoken. He told himself that she was wrong, that she didn't know anything about him. He decided to make it his mission to make her life hell for the rest of the summer. Every day he would go into her office and move things around or take her things. He would take her beloved chair and give her a broken one. He would reset her clocks and unplug her lamp and keyboard. He knew he was being immature and he didn't care.
    On the last day of his internship, Christophe shut the door, closing himself inside Annata's clean little office. He smiled. The floor was clearing out as people were going home for the weekend. Of course, Annata was working late and was in a private  meeting with his father and the members of the board. He went over to the desk and opened the drawer. He rooted around inside, moving her things around. He picked up a floral scarf and inhaled. It smelled of citrus and flowers. He opened another drawer and dropped the scarf in.
    Heel-clicks echoed down the hallway outside. Christophe froze, a slow smile spreading across his lips. He knew then what he was going to do. Sure, it was childish. But the thought of getting a rise out of her was too