Demon’s Little Lamb: Chapter 6

Azriel knew things weren’t going to go well if he didn’t come clean soon. He had to find out if Luxemberry had delved to get information from Lamb, and if she’d wittingly or otherwise given away any hint as to what she’d seen or worked on while at Argent. He was damned close to throwing caution to the wind and just asking her, but he’d already fucked up once when he’d kissed her. If she was a traitor to Argent and he showed his hand, they would lose all the groundwork they’d laid with Luxemberry and fucking Rush Developments.

He kept possession of her hand until he shut and locked the door to his office firmly behind him. He didn’t have to tell his assistant he wasn’t to be disturbed. He never took women into his office, so he hoped it looked like he was angry with Lamb and intended a dressing down in private. While he had no intention of having sex with his little Lamb now, he did intend to secure her presence with him for the weekend. After that, he’d make sure she never wanted to leave him. Then he’d work out how to tell her about his role in this. With luck, she’d never have to know.

Once she was safely inside his office, he locked the door, taking a much-needed calming breath. “Have a seat.” He didn’t turn around just yet. Looking at her now might be his undoing.

“Why are we here?” Lamb’s voice quivered a little, but he heard her clothes rustle and the couch settle as she sat on the soft leather.

“You and I need to talk.” He should just lay it all out for her right here. Tell her about Luxemberry’s desire to take over Argent and that he was trying to use her to do it. Instead he found himself unwilling to divulge company intrigue to someone not in the inner circle.

“I’m sorry about the scene in the dining room. I didn’t know Mr. Luxemberry would be there.”

He waved it away. “That’s of no consequence. In fact, you conducted yourself with extreme grace and poise.” He sat on the opposite end of the couch from her. “Someone is betraying us all by letting him inside the campus and smuggling messages to you from him without going through proper channels. I have to ask this, Lamb. I’d be negligent if I didn’t.” He took a hesitant breath, as if reluctant to bring up the subject. “Did you welcome his attention here?” Even asking that much was close to revealing his hand, but she would likely expect the question. Not asking it would be just as big of a gamble.

She shook her head almost violently. “Not at all. You know what happened the night of the New Year’s Eve party. Nothing has changed my feelings. He’s a married man. Off-limits no matter what he says.”

Azriel nodded. “I figured as much. You’re to tell me if he tries to contact you again.”

“Yes, sir.” Her tone was meek, her posture defeated. Azriel found her distress uncomfortable in the extreme. Thankfully, there was a soft knock at the door.

“Ah! That would be your lunch.” Azriel was grateful for the interruption. It allowed Lamb to compose herself and him a moment to get himself under control. He let Maria in. She placed the food on a table in the corner of the room next to a floor-to-ceiling set of corner windows that overlooked the city. “Come, Miss Newsome,” he beckoned. “Lunch is served.”

She hesitated a moment, then shuffled to the table, obviously not wanting to eat. “I think I’m too upset to eat much.”

“Just try.” He smiled at her. “Please.”

Lamb nodded and sat in the chair he’d pulled out for her. She’d ordered a lobster salad with a citrus spritz and a butter sauce.

“Looks interesting.” Azriel smiled at her. “Why not try a bite? I’ll get you a glass of wine. I’m sure it will go much better than water with your meal.”

“I’m working, Mr. Ivanovich. I don’t think it’s appropriate.”

He waved that away. “You’ve had a rough encounter. I think one glass of wine is an excellent idea. Besides. That’s part of what I wanted to talk to you about.”

Immediately, her gaze shot to his. Her eyes were wide and round, real fear and dread on her lovely face. “Are you… are you firing me?”

Azriel blinked several times, taken aback at her swift and immediate distress. “Absolutely not, Lamb. Absolutely not. I’ve been getting regular reports from your project preceptors, and they all say you’re doing fantastic work and that you learn very quickly. No. If anything you’ll be offered a permanent position when your internship is over, assuming you keep up your work ethic.” When she slumped in the chair again, Azriel couldn’t resist reaching out to cover her hand in his. “I don’t offer internships to just anyone. If I didn’t fully believe you’d be a good fit for this company, you wouldn’t be here.”

“Thank you,” she said, her voice small. Azriel didn’t like this side of Lamb because it made it nearly impossible for him to keep his distance.

“Look. Let’s forget about that for a while. It’s Friday. You’ve got the whole weekend to relax and forget about this mess.” This was it. If he played his cards right, he could get her take on what went down with Luxemberry since the party, and get her to himself for the weekend while Giovanni and El Diablo picked apart Luxemberry’s reasoning for targeting Lamb. If she hadn’t supplied him with information, then why continue to hound her? If she’d promised it and then hadn’t delivered, he needed to know that, too. Azriel was confident he could get it from one or the other of them. If not, maybe El Diablo could get it from Luxemberry’s wife.

“Believe me. I’d love nothing more.”

“Good.” He smiled, nodding toward her food. “I realize you might not feel up to much, but try to eat something.”

Obediently, Lamb picked up her fork and dug into the salad. As she forked one slow bite after another into her mouth, she grew more relaxed, her eyes heavy lidded as she chewed. Azriel could almost believe she’d forgotten he was in the room, she was so engrossed in the food. Either it was extremely good, or she was just as hungry.

The way she savored each bite was a fucking turn-on. Azriel had never thought the act of eating particularly erotic, but Lamb made it so. He could imagine her opening her mouth not for the lobster, but for his cock. Which just thrust images of what she must have done with Luxemberry into his head. It was an exercise in frustration he couldn’t seem to stop.

When she’d finished the last bite and wiped her mouth delicately, Azriel grinned at her. “Constance always made the most delicious Lobster Spritz. Did you enjoy?”

“More than just about anything. It’s my favorite from the restaurant.” She gifted Azriel with a small, but genuine, smile. “I could eat it nearly every day.”

“I’ll have to remember that.” He straightened and cleared his throat. The sight of her obvious enjoyment of her food had turned him on mightily. If he stood right now, he’d embarrass himself and remove any chance he had at wooing Lamb slowly. “So, on to the topic of conversation.”

“Which is?”

For a long moment, Azriel debated on how to approach Lamb with this. He didn’t want her to feel threatened, but he needed this time with her for multiple reasons. “Alex and his wife, Merrily, have invited Giovanni and myself to a weekend retreat. Since Merrily will be the only woman in attendance from Argent, I thought she might be more comfortable with a fellow female wonder in the tech field along.”

“Mr. Ivanovich, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Just… hear me out, Lamb. Argent has been under fire for several months. We’ve woven a trap for our enemies and need to spring it. Naturally, we’d prefer not to be in the vicinity when it all goes down. While Merrily isn’t involved, she will stay with Alexei, and her daughter will be sent to Kentucky with a friend of mine. Cain owns one of the largest paramilitary organizations in the world and will protect Bellarose almost better than we could. Merrily needs to be with Alexei. I could use your help to keep her company. The three of us are difficult to deal with at the best of times.” He gave her a small, self-deprecating smile. “This hasn’t been the best of times.” He continued, “Some friends of ours own a stretch of beach in Lake Worth, Florida near Palm Beach. They’ve generously offered us the use of it and all the protection that goes with it for the weekend. I guarantee you’ll meet many interesting characters while you’re there. You’ll also enjoy the sun and sea at no expense to you.”

“So you want me to come with you to keep Mr. Petrov’s wife company?”

He shrugged. “Essentially, yes. You’d still be my guest and therefore my responsibility. This costs you nothing, and you get to relax and have a weekend away from worry. In fact, should you come with us, I’d insist on it.”

Had he worded the offer any other way, for any other reason, Lamb would have slapped him and stormed off. Might have even kicked him in the balls for her trouble. Instead, she found the prospect of spending time far away from James the best idea in the world.

“I shouldn’t do this,” she said, taking a deep breath. “It’s a horrible idea, but I think I might.” She held up a hand when he opened his mouth to speak. “But I’m not sleeping with you. I’m not your ‘date.’ I’ll be a guest, but nothing more.”

“I’d never expect more, Lamb.” His shark-like smile said otherwise. Still, probably because she’d spent the last few weeks trying to be smart, she decided to throw caution to the wind. Probably because, the longer she was in his presence, the more she relaxed around Azriel. He was gentle with her, and unfailingly kind. Even when James had been doing his best to get her back into bed, he’d not treated her with as much respect as Azriel had. While Lamb was under no illusions that anything good could come of this, a wild side of her simply wouldn’t be denied.

“Fine. I’ll do this. I’m taking you at your word, Mr. Ivanovich. Foolish as it is.”

He chuckled. The sound was warm and inviting. It made her want to smile when she knew she shouldn’t. Hell, she should be running out of this office like her hair was on fire, but Goddammit, she wanted to see what happened next. She wasn’t so naive to think he didn’t have an ulterior motive. She just couldn’t give a fuck. Worst case? He would use her, like she’d described their first encounter, and throw her away. Hadn’t she asserted men in his station in life used women like her all the time? So what if he did? She knew what she was getting into, and she’d still get a vacation out of it. Not to mention an internship she already had with the most sought-after company in her field. Even if it was cut short by several months, it was still more than most women in her field ever got. She could make it worth the heartache if she had to.

“Good. Go pack. I’ll pick you up in an hour.”

She cringed. “How about I meet you back here?”

“Little Lamb, I know where you live. I also know your concerns. Which is why I’m seeing to it that, while we’re gone, you’re moved to a part of town more fitting to your employment. Argent owns an apartment building two blocks from campus where many of our employees live. When we come back, you’ll have a place all set up. No more worries about my Rolls-Royce getting its hubcaps stolen.” Judging by the look on his face, he was trying to make it a joke.

Lamb just shook her head. “Too soon.”

“Ah. My bad.” The arrogant man actually winked at her.