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“Well, I didn’t think you could do it anyways.” He smirked. “Never mind. Forget I asked.”

That smile, it did things to me.

Damn me, but I rose to his bait. “I can do it! I just don’t think I should.”

Laughter glistened in his eyes. “You want to, though. Admit it. The idea of doing something unethical excites you.”

The bastard—it did. “Fine.”

He leaned forward, still holding out the binder. I snatched it, but he didn’t move away. The audacity! I held my ground, forcing him to brush against me. I had to tip my head back to meet his gaze, searching for any hint of hesitation. My insides clenched under the weight of his stare. A delicious tingle spread between my legs.

That mouth—oh, mother of god, that mouth! Why was it so perfect? And why was I crazy enough to want it on my body?

Because....A soft voice in the back of my mind taunted.You’ve never been fucked by a real man.

The tingle turned into a flood of heat. I wanted Markos, wanted him badly. This was no awkward gardener in my brother’s Tuscan villa, bumbling with my body and failing to get me off. This wasn’t the cold, unfeeling friend of my brother who I dreamed of kissing.

This was the pirate who ignited a wild fury in my veins and made me question my sanity. And I wanted him.

“Good,” he said. “Tonight’s your job application.”

I balked. “Application? You suggested it! I didn’t!”

“And any good businessman puts his employees to the test.” Markos grinned, all teeth and menace. “Let’s go, Serena. We’re already behind schedule.”

The air seemed dangerously thin as his words sank in. This was all happening too fast! I tried to take a steadying breath but failed.

Could I really go through with being a spy? Did I even want to? Muscles tensed, I watched Markos sweep out of the room. I didn’t move, not right away. Instead, I stood glued to the spot, watching his retreating back. I could tell him no. I should tell him no! I could turn around, march out of the manor, get on a plane, and disappear back into my old life. But my old life.... Was it my life? Was it what I wanted? No. No, it wasn’t.

“Coming?” Markos called from the hall, voice impatient.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I dashed after him. His pace was quick, determined, as we moved through the stately old villa. The windows were open to the warm evening air, and the smells of sun, earth, and olive trees saturated the rooms.

“Is this how it’s always going to be?” I asked as I bounded after him. My own breath was beginning to come in quick, short bursts. “Rushing from here to there with no warning?”

“Most of the time,” he said, sending me a playful glance over his shoulder. Before I had a chance to respond, we were outside. The setting sun washed everything in a golden glow, and the cicadas sang loudly in the rows of vines, sounding our passing.

“Okay, lead the way, Mr. Boss.”

Chapter 14 – Markos

“You’ve got to be joking.” Serena glared at the janitorial jumpsuit.

I watched her strain to decide if she would push back or relent. Did I miscalculate her heart? No...no, it wasn’t that. There was an eagerness under the surface that made me wonder if I was the first person to encourage her natural inclination for espionage.

“I’m notactuallyasking you to clean,” I smirked. “But it gets you back access.”

My pretty little prisoner, obedient and silent, kept glancing with nervous eyes between the janitorial cart and the door. She feigned confidence, but her hands shook slightly at the prospect of what lay ahead. The car trip down to Tampa had been covered in complete silence. Not a word, not a whisper from Serena, who sat next to me with arms folded and mind clearly racing, everything about her demeanor betraying her trepidation.

Now, in front of the doors of the back hall, I greatly anticipated this stunt—imagined her cool and collected as she made her way to the corner office before completing the task.

“You trust me enough to have me plant this?” she dared me, holding up the USB drive.

I nodded. “You said you liked snooping.”

That was a skill I could easily put to use. But first, this test.

There was no conceivable way this went wrong.