Owned (Office Intrigue Book 8) by Nicole Edwards (year 2 reading books TXT) 📗

fact I was sure he contributed to the design choices. He seemed like a man who was in control of every aspect of his life.

“Are there others joining us? I mean, besides the doctor you mentioned?” I prompted when Talon disconnected from another phone call.

“There are, yes. Although I have offices in various US states, my base of operations is on Sapphire Island. While I am prone to splurge on luxury, I prefer not to waste if at all possible. Taking the jet to and from the island is costly, so I tend to keep my staff close.”

“Let me guess, you own the island?” I’d meant it to be teasing, but I should’ve known it was fact.

“I do.”

I did my best not to act surprised. “How long is the flight?”

“Roughly seven hours.”

I smiled shyly. “I’m sorry if it seems as though I’m interrogating you.”

Talon laughed, a deep, throaty sound that made my skin tingle. “I enjoy your curiosity, Miss Bishop.”

My thoughts instantly drifted back to seeing him watching me in the mirror, and I realized I enjoyed his curiosity, as well. Not that I would share that fact with him. It was bad enough my nipples had pebbled tightly and my clit throbbed with excitement. Strange how a couple of hours ago I was in dire straits, escaping the clutches of a madman. And here I was, contemplating what it would feel like for Talon to touch me with those really nice hands.

Honestly, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt such an overwhelming sexual attraction to anyone. Probably not since the early stages of my relationship with Jake. There for a while, I’d started to believe I wasn’t interested in sex. I was happy to say that was not the case. At least if my reaction to this man was anything to go by.

“What are you thinking about?” Talon asked, his gray eyes pinned on me, a smirk on his lips as though he knew where my thoughts had drifted.

I felt the heat traveling up my neck and wondered if my skin was as red as it felt.

“Nothing.”

“A lie,” he said boldly.

Because of the disapproval I saw in his eyes, I felt guilty, but I wasn’t sure I was capable of telling him the truth.

“Tell me.”

The command in his tone had a strange effect on me. I’d noticed it since the moment we met. I found myself wanting to obey him despite my hesitance to do so.

“Miss Bishop.” His head canted to the side, eyes narrowing on my face. “I will not ask you again.”

Holy hell. The tone, the command … it coalesced into a firestorm that erupted inside me, and the next thing I knew, I was blurting out my thoughts. “I was thinking about you watching me in the shower.”

He did not seem surprised by this revelation. “Did you enjoy it?”

More heat rushed to my head, making my ears burn. “Yes.”

“Look at me.”

It took effort, but I managed to meet his gaze.

“The feeling’s mutual, Miss Bishop.”

My eyes widened with surprise as I studied him momentarily. He was watching me closely. So much so I could practically feel the heat of his gaze.

“In fact, I’m also thinking about watching you in the shower,” he said, his voice even, eyes blazing.

I swallowed, continuing to hold his gaze and willing him to elaborate.

“I like seeing you naked.”

I inhaled sharply, my skin tightening, a subtle throbbing between my thighs.

“If you belonged to me, you’d be naked right now.”

That throbbing … not so subtle now.

While I found myself intrigued by what seemed to be a mutual attraction, there were a million questions I wanted to ask him—mostly related to the two half-naked men in the other room—but before I could launch the first one, my stomach pitched as the plane began to move.

“I’ve never been on a plane before,” I admitted, gripping the armrests as I leaned into the cushioned back of the chair.

“You have nothing to worry about.” Talon’s gaze scanned my face again. “Once we’re in the air, there’ll be enough to keep your mind occupied that you won’t even know we’re flying.”

I swallowed hard, but not in fear.

That sure sounded like a promise.

And I had to wonder why I liked it so much.

Half an hour later, the pilot informed us we’d reached cruising altitude, and according to Talon, the seat belt sign had been turned off. I didn’t actually see a sign or a light, so I had to take his word for it.

Talon quickly took off his seat belt, then picked up the phone. I ascertained he was speaking to the doctor, which was confirmed a minute later when we were joined by a handsome man carrying what appeared to be an old-fashioned doctor’s bag.

“Dr. Tate,” Talon greeted.

The man nodded, then kneeled down at my feet.

I frowned, feeling slightly shunned that he wasn’t speaking to me although those were my feet he was looking at.

“I used the first-aid kit,” Talon explained.

Lifting one at a time, his gaze skimmed over each foot briefly. When he was finished, he stood tall, glanced at Talon. “You did a fine job.” He finally looked at me. “Do you intend to be up walking around?”

“She will,” Talon confirmed. “For a bit.”

The doctor had the decency to respond to me. “When you’ve settled in and don’t plan to be on them for a little while, I’ll tend to them more thoroughly.”

Not sure what to say to that, I offered a polite, “Thank you.”

Dr. Tate wasted no time, grabbing his bag and exiting as quickly as he’d come in.

Well, that felt … abrupt.

“As promised, I’ll take you to see your brother,” Talon said as he got to his feet.

After fumbling to release my seat belt, I finally got it unlatched, then managed to stand, gripping the robe, keeping it closed at my chest, feeling incredibly vulnerable because I was naked beneath.

Talon gestured toward the doorway, and I stepped in front of him, leading the way. It was slow going, what with me taking awkward