First Night by Leah Braemel Page A

but I’ll need some time to think about your offer, okay?” He paused while Sam, whoever that was, replied. The dragon tattoo on his biceps rippled as he stabbed his fingers through his Marine haircut. His shirt pulled tight displaying his shoulder muscles to perfection.
    Jodi closed her mouth to stop the drool and glanced around the room. Damn, it wasn’t a bedroom suite, more of a sitting room with only the desk, a couch and a couple of chairs. No mattress rumba. Oh, well, the couch would work just as well.
    He barked a short laugh, a deep rumble that had Jodi clenching her thighs together at the sudden ache that developed. Why did the one guy who got her hot have to be her boss? Why couldn’t he just be some guy she’d met at the party and would never have to face again?
    “Yeah, Sam, I know there’s a party going on.” Another pause. “Yes. I know sex is a great stress reliever.”
    Sheesh, did Terri get to this Sam guy as well? What is with everyone lately?
    “Yeah, I’ll think about it. Oh, and Happy New Year, Sam.” He closed his phone then began typing again. He cursed softly in Spanish. “Hey, Terri, what’s the password to the Gottfried account again? I’ve forgotten it.”
    “It’s not Terri.” When Mark looked around in surprise, she noticed the dark circles ringing his eyes. Shoot, even if she had a horrible propensity for animal metaphors, Terri was right; Mark was running himself into the ground. She held out the wine glass. “I brought you some champagne. After all, it’s New Year’s Eve, everyone deserves the evening off. Even the boss.”
    Mark sighed and gestured to his laptop. “Thanks for the thought, Jodi, but I can’t afford to slack off. I’ve got to get the Gottfried bid in line.”
    “I’m not saying,” she said softly, “that you stop work entirely. I’m just suggesting you take a short break. A couple of hours, that’s all.” He shook his head. “As tempting as that sounds, I can’t.”

    “Going to be stubborn, huh?” Jodi set the glass down on the desk. Before he could stop her, she snapped down the lid of his laptop. “Office is closed. You’re done for the day.”
    “Hey! What do you think you’re doing?”
    “Helping you relax.” After nudging his chair with her knee until he faced away from his laptop, she started massaging his shoulders. Holy cow, the man had muscles to rival an Olympic swimmer and they were tied up in knots. “I’ll make you a bet. If I can get into the Gottfried file, you have to put the work away and celebrate with me.” Mark groaned as Jodi’s thumbs worked one particularly stubborn knot. “What do I get if you can’t crack the password?”
    She leaned down and whispered in his ear, her breath hot on his neck. “Then I’ll be at your command for the night.”
    He stilled beneath her fingers. ¡Ay Dios mío! Did she mean that as the come on it implied? Or was she just offering to help him work on the figures for the bid?
    “Let me get this straight. If you crack the password, you and I celebrate.” Was that a metaphor for sex or did she just mean he’d go out and mingle with everyone?
    Please God, let it be a metaphor. “But if you don’t crack the password, you will willingly do whatever I tell you. Even if it’s not work related?”
    “You’re assuming I’ll lose the bet. I may not.” Damn. She had him there. While he should be more concerned about the security of his files, her self-confidence had his cock punching against his zipper.
    She moved closer, until her breasts cushioned his head, the massage changing to a caress.
    “What do you say, Mark? Do we have a deal? You ready for a little R&R?” The breathy hitch in her voice told him there was no misunderstanding her intention. Damn, she’s your employee, Rodriguez, this could come back and bite you on the ass.
    I’d rather bite her on the ass .
    Where the hell had that thought come from?
    Probably inspired by the breasts currently supporting his head.