Page 32 of Off Her Game

Noah’s door loomed ahead. She needed to see him. He’d help her feel safe, even though there wasn’t anything he could do to save her.

She knocked. No answer.

Hand raised to knock again, the door flew open.

“You’re late. Thought you might’ve bailed.” Noah gave her a once over. Maybe she’d underdressed in jeans and T-shirt, but the jacket upgraded the outfit. And she hadn’t worn her “clunkers,” having traded them for heeled boots.

She wanted to dive at him for a hug, but her gaze darted to the ceiling camera. No way she’d show that level of weakness after a few subtle threats.

She dwelled on what Symphis wanted her to do with Noah. Her interest in the actual doing had nothing to do with the computer code. She wanted to see this man lose his mind because of her. Heat crept into her face. He looked so hot. Dark jeans encased his muscular legs. The blue button-down shirt drew focus to his eyes.

“So, you thought it wasgoodyesterday?”

He folded his arms across his chest. She wanted to rip the buttons on his shirt open and kiss his chest, maybe find his ink. His eyes dilated as if he picked up on the fantasy swirling in her head.

“I did say that.” His eyes narrowed as his hand dropped off his chest. “You think your mouth could be persuasive enough to getanythingyou want?”

That meant he’d already been briefed about what happened last night. And knew what Rand expected her to do to get the code. Hopefully the hallway cameras didn’t pick up sound. It took colossal effort not to glance at the cameras.

With a slow smile she said, “I’ve got skills.”

Color suffused his cheeks.

Her gaze trekked south. She stepped into him, pressing tight to his erection. “You’d like to sample my skills, wouldn’t you?”

“Fuuuckk,” he whooshed out.

She pushed him into his apartment and slammed the door behind her. She whispered, “Symphis is watching me on the hall cameras.”

“That wasn’t for real?”

A laugh broke free. “I’m not sure you can handle me, if this was for real.”

He snagged an arm around her waist, leaned in. “I want to yank off those ridiculously tight jeans, rip off your underwear, and have you against the wall. For real. Right now. It’d be deep and hard until you scream and we both say to hell with this brunch and everything else. It’d bemethat makes you lose your mind. You’d givemeanything Iwanted.”

She might.

Oh, hell, for the dirty-talking bad-boy side of this man she would. Anything.

Breathe,she ordered herself when her lungs closed up.

He stepped away from her. “What do you mean he’s watching?”

She excavated her cell phone, pulled up the texts, and rotated her phone for him to read.

Noah frowned. “How long has this asshole been doing this to you?”

She shrugged.

“Jesus, Tori. I’m sorry. This guy’s seriously messed up.” He handed back her phone.

“He’s controlling his asset. I think he believes you and I are real.”

He snort laughed. “After that little show he thinks you’re getting down to business.”

She rolled her eyes heavenward. “I hate this. Hate being played like a gaming character. Hate all the pretend. Hate that some faceless person controls me.”

He released her. “All of this sucks.”