Free Scandalous Heroes Box Set by Serenity King, Pepper Pace, Aliyah Burke, Erosa Knowles, Latrivia Nelson, Tianna Laveen, Bridget Midway, Yvette Hines Page A

smiled. She began to peck away on the keyboard. “4225.”
    Kyra smiled. “Thank you.”
    She hurried off before the woman considered the culpability of her actions. Kyra’s heart thundered under her breast with excitement. She couldn’t believe how smoothly she pulled that off. Getting to his room was one battle won. Explaining her reason for her return was another matter. Renaldo’s rejection of her both confused and intrigued her. She knew he was attracted to her. What was his deal? Her sister was right. She loved doing things the hard way.
    Kyra used the keycard to access the private floor. The elevator doors closed and she punched the number 42 for it to start to make its slow climb. Half her mind was determined to continue this path of impulsiveness, and yet the other half warned that the night could undoubtedly end with regret. She watched the numbers blink. She braced for her destination.
    After all what was the real risk here? He could turn her down again. Or worse he could reject her and then tell her boss of her late night proposition. And then another thought crept into her mind:
    What if he has a girlfriend, Kyra? Did you ever think that is why he kept his distance? What if he opens the door and flat out tells you that he wants you to fuck off and leave him the hell alone? What if he’s just not that into you?
    It would mean she misread all the signals between them. And Kyra’s ego refused to accept that equation. She may not be Halle Berry but she was certainly confident enough to believe in her own desirability. She had her strong mother and aunts to thank for that unwavering confidence. They instilled such pride and motivation in her she took risks all through life. It was ironic that now her rebellion seemed foreign to them when they were the cause.
    However there was no denying one fact. Renaldo’s aloof manner should make her cautious. In the office they called him ‘The Enforcer’. The women constantly whispered about how ominous his presence felt. He shadowed the Battaglia women. Scowled at anyone who came inappropriately close with a hard unblinking glare. Where Kyra found his dark presence sexy some women went as far as to say he was creepy.
    The elevator doors opened.
    “Oh shoot.” Kyra hesitated. Clearly she hadn’t thought this through. How would the evening end? On her terms or his?
    The doors to the elevator began to close.
    “Oh, forget this!” Kyra threw up her hand and stopped them. She sucked down a breath of bravery and stepped out into the hall. The plaque on the wall pointed left for the suite number she sought. As soon as she ventured in that direction she was met with an unexpected sight. A tall man dressed in a tailored suit leaned against the wall. He was one of the two men that followed the orders of Renaldo.
    He didn’t appear surprised or disturbed by her arrival. Kyra kept her hands down in her coat pockets and maintained his stare as she approached Renaldo’s door. She knocked three times before she heard soft footfalls draw close.
    The door unchained. As soon as the door parted she lost all her nerve. The butterflies she carried in her gut since she arrived incinerated and her face flushed hot with excitement under his leveled stare. She swallowed the lump in her throat. He appeared before her without a shirt, in his boxers, body ripped with chiseled perfection. And eyes the deepest shade of cognac with piercing intensity solely focused on her.
    How could Kyra be brave and foolish enough to think seducing a stranger could secure her dreams? What was her plan?
    Kyra gulped down the dryness in the back of her throat. She drew in a careful breath and summoned her voice. “Hi,” she said.
    Renaldo gave a half-smile. There was tightness in her chest again. She loved his olive skin, his dark hair, and those topaz brown eyes of his that blazed with smoldering intensity.
    He took her hand and she was pulled inside. It was as if she moved on autopilot under his