Free Temptation to Submit by Jennifer Leeland

guard, then.”
    Slowly, he stepped away. “It won’t help.”
    * * * *
    Rita’s was busy, and Tori scanned the tables for her friends. Nell was already there, so Tori threaded through the lunch crowd to her table. “Sorry I’m late.” Tori slid into one of the chairs. “That bastard Paulus kept me past one.”
    “He’s still a bastard?” Nell asked with a slight smile.
    Tori glanced at Nell. Could she see something? Tori tried hard to hide how much Finch had come to mean to her, even when he drove her crazy.
    Each day started out the same. She arrived late, and Finch bent her over his desk to spank the hell out of her. Then Tori would have to run to the bathroom and get herself off. Finch had never broken his rule again and only spanked her through her clothes, though Tori had often fought the desire to beg him to strip her again and, this time, fuck her.
    She didn’t cave in. She also didn’t call off the impending kidnapping. The anticipation was killing her. Worst of all, he didn’t mention it again, and she couldn’t bring it up. He hadn’t said a word when she’d handed him her consent and her additions.
    She wasn’t ready to admit that he had started to become essential to her well-being. “He’s an asshole.”
    “Who is?” Gina seemed tired.
    Tori realized it had been weeks since she’d spoken to Gina. Wrapped up in her mom’s situation and ConFed’s money mystery, she hadn’t had much time. And where Nell glowed with contentment, Gina seemed anxious and worried.
    “Tori is complaining about Atticus again.”
    Nell’s attention wasn’t on Tori though. Both of them were focused on Gina. Tori didn’t get it. Of the three of them, Gina was the only one who didn’t have a new boss. She and Reena had always worked well together, and Tori had always suspected they were closer than colleagues. Just before the Vegas trip, though, Gina seemed to distance herself from Reena.
    It had been Reena who’d partnered up with Gina at the erotic expo and had given Tori one of the most beautiful examples of public play she’d ever seen. What had happened?
    Gina seemed to realize that Tori was about to start digging. “Poor Atticus,” Gina said and shook her head. “He’s so hot, though. I don’t think he’ll find it tough to replace you.”
    That was the last thing Tori wanted to hear, probably because it was true. “Shut up.”
    Then Gina changed the subject. “What about you, Nell? How is working for the mysterious Mark Conners?”
    “I like him.” Nell’s face was flooded with color, and Tori spotted it immediately. There was definitely something there.
    Tori couldn’t help but smile. “She’s holding out on us.”
    Nell cleared her throat. “At least he’s not laying everyone off.”
    Gina gave her a puzzled look. “No, but he’s definitely pissing people off enough that they’ll quit.”
    “What do you mean?” Nell cocked her head to the side.
    “He slashed the software development budget,” Tori said. “Every single purchase order goes through Atticus now. You should have seen Yarina. She was furious.” She shuddered. “That woman scares me.”
    Gina smirked. “She should. The woman’s vocabulary is extensive. I know. She ripped into Reena too.”
    “Does she know Mark is the one who cut her budget?” Nell seemed worried, her forehead wrinkled in a frown.
    “She knows now,” Gina said. “Reena told her this morning.”
    Tori watched Nell. It was pretty clear that Nell was concerned her new boss might be threatened in some way. Time for some fishing. “Tell us the truth, Nell. Does Mark kiss as good as he looks?”
    “Tori!” Nell protested, but her face flooded with color.
    Tori exchanged a mischievous glance with Gina. “That’s not an answer.”
    Tori grinned as Nell pursed her lips together.
    Then Nell sighed. It was a dreamy, contented sigh that spoke volumes. “He kisses better than he looks.”
    Gina smiled. “I’ll bet he does.” She brushed her dark