Free Bedding the Geek Tycoon by Desiree Crimson Page B

more specifically, she watched his ass move under the fabric of his pants.
    Wow. That was a guy that did squats for sure.
    Jenn got a pot of coffee started and they sat at the table. Bowser jumped into their guest’s lap and spread his girth across his legs. “Sorry,” she said. “I can lock him in the bathroom.”
    “No. It’s fine. I love cats.”
    His big hand spread down Bowser’s back, stroking him from ears to tail. Her kitty arched his back and purred as he butted his head against Ryan’s chest. What a slut. Never mind that Jenn would have liked to do the exact same thing.
    He had become so intense since she had last seen him—all protracted silences and a gaze that could scorch flesh. She felt like he could see through her, inside her, as if her skin was transparent and he could read her thoughts.
    She cleared her throat. “So… Ryan. What special project brings you to my neck of the woods?”
    “Have you heard of Turner Industries?”
    Of course she had. She would have had to live under a rock not to hear about one of the richest companies in the world. “I assume you mean the military contractor.”
    “Yeah. I’m one of their engineers.”
    “Congratulations. That’s a great job to land out of college.”
    He shrugged, like he didn’t think it was a big deal. “I’m struggling with a program. Your name gets thrown around as an expert in security algorithms, so I was hoping you could help.”
    “My company is a competitor of Turner. There’s a non-compete clause in my contract.”
    “If I could promise this program won’t compete with anything you’re producing, would you be interested?” Ryan asked. “I’ll pay you for your time.”
    She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth as she considered it. Jenn liked her job, but it was way below her challenge rating. Something for Turner could be a real brain-buster. It had been too long since she got paid for something fun like that. And if it meant getting to see Ryan Stone a few more times…
    “I could probably work something out,” she said.
    He set a flash drive on the table between them. “I appreciate it. This has been giving me a hard time for weeks.”
    I could give you a lot more than a hard time .
    Jenn smiled. “No problem.”
    He stared at her for too long. Heat crept up her neck and onto her cheeks. She went to the coffeepot to pour a fresh cup and hide her blush.
    The only sign Ryan stood was an offended chirp from Bowser as he dropped to the kitchen floor. She turned, and he was there, standing just inches from her. He was so close that a step forward would have brought her against his chest.
    He reached up and touched her chin with his hand, tracing his thumb along the bottom line of her lip. Jenn suddenly had to lean back on the counter to keep from falling over. Ryan had turned that hot, intense look on her lips, and it was almost too much. She felt like she was going to catch fire.
    Tragically, Ryan dropped his hand. “It’s late. I should let you get to bed.”
    English. Right. Jenn could speak words.
    “Yeah, okay. Sure.” No, no, no!

    She walked him to the door, and Ryan hung behind her left shoulder like a tall, broad-shouldered shadow. Opening the door a crack, she glanced around for Bowser to make sure he wouldn’t slip out while they were talking. Ryan was hovering over her, even closer than she thought.
    “Jeez, Batman,” she said, trying to make her voice light to cover the pounding of her heart. His proximity made her feel weak inside. “I’m going to have to put a bell on you.”
    He didn’t laugh.
    Slowly, but surely, Ryan reached up and leaned a hand on the door. It shut with a click. He hovered over Jenn, his arm blocking her path back into the apartment, and she gazed up at him and tried not to faint.
    “What…?”
    “Shh,” he said, and it was almost too gentle considering his intimidating stature.
    Ryan’s hand slid down, and he lifted her shirt enough to trace his fingers along her hip. His