Page 17 of Twisted (Never After)

I slip my hands in my pockets, my fingers running along the length of the metal staff.

Ciara and Yasmin stand on either side of the small white desk that’s against the left-hand wall of the reception area. Ciara’s dull brown hair is pulled back in a sleek bun, her eyes sparking with annoyance, her small wiry frame tense.

“Again, Mr. Faraci is a very busy man,” she says through a pinched smile. “You can set up an appointment, but that’s all I can offer.”

Yasmin sighs. “Fine.”

Ciara bobs her head, leaning down to tap on her computer. They still haven’t noticed me, and I take the time to really soak in Yasmin’s appearance. She’s dressed impeccably, as she usually is, her baby- blue pantsuit a gorgeous contrast against her brown skin. Her hair is down, wild and curly, and every time she moves, it bounces. Her teeth sink into the corner of her lips, her eye makeup accenting her expressive gaze, which is trained on Ciara as she taps away on the keyboard.

“Unfortunately, there’s nothing coming up right now.” Ciara smiles up at Yasmin. “Maybe you should give us a call later and we can try to work something out.”

“This is ridiculous,” Yasmin snaps. “I know he’s here, and I only need to see him for a second. He’ll most likely be at my house tonight. I— ”

Ciara’s face drops in a flash, her mouth parting as she sucks in a breath.

I smirk, knowing that Yasmin just inadvertently implied we were sleeping together.

“Look.” Yasmin sighs again, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I don’t want to have to go above you, and Ireallydon’t want anyone to get in trouble.”

She leans in, resting her hands on the top of the desk. Her back arches slightly with the motion, and the side profile of her bent over my office furniture sends a rush of heat through me. I could walk up behind her right now, press into her while I grasp her curly hair in my fist and feel her ass grind against my dick. I could rip off her pantsuit and take her right there, just like that, hitting spots inside her that the boy could onlydreamof.

I turn my eyes away, annoyed that once again, I’ve lost control of my thoughts.

“I know you don’t believe me,” she continues, her voice lower than before. “But you will get in trouble if I decide to make a scene. If you’d just tell him Yasmin is here— ”

“Then he’d be more than willing to clear his schedule for the rest of the day,” I interrupt, standing up straight and moving farther into the room.

Both of the women jerk their attention to me.

“Mr. Faraci, sir,” Ciara mumbles, her back going ramrod straight.

I pay her no mind, keeping my eyes on Yasmin as she straightens from where she was bent, crossing her arms over her chest as she looks at me. Something coasts across her features, making them soften ever so slightly, like she’s relieved I’m here.

Good. She’s needing me already, even if she doesn’t want to be.

I walk across the marble floors until I’m directly next to Yasmin. I glance down at her, breathing in her soft vanilla scent. My abs tighten and I move my gaze from her over to my receptionist. “I expect my employees to know when the daughter of Ali Karam is standing in my office.”

Ciara’s eyes widen. “Sir, I— ”

“This woman,” I cut her off, “is allowed to interrupt me any time of the day. For any reason. Understood?” She swallows and nods.

“Good.” I smile, reaching out and placing my hand on Yasmin’s back, twisting her in the direction of my office and pushing lightly.

Ian, who has been standing and watching silently, scrambles out of the doorframe, his eyes calculating as he watches me lead her.

Surprisingly, Yasmin doesn’t fight my touch, and it isn’t until I close the door behind me, shrouding us in privacy, that she jerks out of my hold, her eyes narrowed into slits as she presses her back against the closed door.

“Stop looking at me like that,” she demands.

A grin tugs at the corner of my mouth. “Like what?”

She tilts her head, staring at me. “How long were you just standing there like a creep, watching me struggle?”

“A while.” I shrug. “I was curious.”

“About?”

“Maybe I was waiting to see if the two of you would get into a sexy cat fight.” I wink. “My money’s on her, although I’d enjoy watching your claws come out.”