Free Embraced by Fire by Louise Delamore

breath, wishing he could turn off all the lights in the place, because right now he felt like he was under spotlights. She was going to notice him, he knew it. He hated imagining the look in her eyes when she discovered him creeping around.
    Her eyes returned to the papers in her hands and, making distressed sounds, she tried to smooth out the wrinkles. She turned the corner and vanished into the lunchroom. She didn’t even glance in his direction.
    Ryu’s lungs expanded shakily as he sucked in a relieved breath. He wiped his sleeve across his forehead as adrenaline darted through his veins. Once his heartbeat calmed, he made his way cautiously to Edward’s office. He wanted to run, instead he forced his feet to maintain a cat-like care.
    Once again the door was locked, once again he pulled out his lock picks. Eyes continuously darting over his shoulder to check the corridor, he made quick work of the lock and hurried inside. Hidden from sight he let out a sigh of relief.
    That had been too close.
    Wiping sweaty palms on his cargo pants, he focused on checking Edward’s office. As he opened a drawer, he remembered he still needed to check Kait’s office. He let out a silent groan. She’d better be gone by the time he was done in here.
    If the damned woman wasn’t so attractive, if she didn’t distract him like crazy, this mission wouldn’t be tying him in knots.

Chapter 9
    “Okay, people, can I have your attention?” Kait clapped her hands together as she looked around the group gathered in the lunchroom.
    The buzz slowly died down and all eyes focused on her; the only ones she felt, solid as a caress, were copper. Ryu had been studying her since she came in and her body hummed under his gaze. His face however, was unnervingly blank. Her eyes darted in his direction as she struggled to find a clue as to what he was thinking as he watched her. Nothing, just those luminous, copper eyes.
    She cleared her throat. “As you all know we’ve got the Taste-IT-Power event on Thursday—”
    “How come it’s on a Thursday, most of the corporate events we do are on Fridays or over the weekend?” Deron asked.
    Kait glanced at her notes. “It’s the company’s 10 th anniversary. As well as throwing a party they are giving all staff Friday off. That way it doesn’t matter if everyone’s out late having fun at our event, none of them have to be in at work the next day.”
    “Nice boss they’ve got.” Rachael wiggled her eyebrows as she cast a look at Victor who was sitting in on the meeting.
    “Thank you, Rachael, I can take a hint.” The corner of Victor’s lip twitched in a smile. Rachael was one of the few people who had the nerve to tease him.
    “I’ve printed out a list of the tasks that still need to be accomplished before Thursday.” Kait started handing out lists to everyone.
    Ryu’s fingers skimmed over her palm as he took a copy. Her breath skittered and her thigh muscles clenched. Not daring to look at him, she hurried to give out the rest of the handouts. She needed to get a hold of herself, this was ridiculous.
    Almost as ridiculous as the night before when she’d stayed late and begun imagining things. On her way to get coffee, she’d been positive she caught Ryu’s spice and fire scent in the corridor. No one was there of course, but his intoxicating scent followed her home and into her dreams. Heat burned up the back of her neck as she recalled what her sleeping mind conjured.
    She opened her eyes in a candlelit bedroom full of shadows and secrets …Sitting up slowly, her hands trailed over silky, forest-green satin sheets. Decadence surrounded her.
    Stretching languidly, she lifted the heavy weight of her hair off her neck. Longer than in real life, the rich river of red reached her hips. Releasing it to tumble down her back, she adjusted the plunging neckline of her diaphanous, white negligee. The sheer fabric a stark contrast against the dark linen.
    Music played in the distance and she