Read Online Beyond the Edge by Susan Kearney - Free Book Online

wasn’t just a luxury—it could get him killed.
    Nigel was an especially cunning thief. Underestimating his quarry would be a mistake.
    When they arrived on the ground floor, she interrupted his thoughts. “Where am I supposed to sleep?” she asked in a businesslike tone, but her subterfuge didn’t fool him. She didn’t like the idea of sleeping near him.
    “The couch.”
    Without looking in his direction, she floated the linen over the plush leather, tucked in the edges, and plumped the pillow. Once she’d lain down, she closed her eyes, and immediately proceeded to tossand turn. Sleeping in those tight jeans couldn’t be comfortable. And that’s when he realized that she wanted him to take command. She’d given him every sign of wanting him—except a verbal one.
    If she couldn’t make the decision to accept what she so obviously wanted, he would make it for her. He might be wrong, but he didn’t think so and decided to test her. If she obeyed, he’d take that as a sign that she’d agreed to their bargain.
    “You can’t sleep in those clothes. Go change.”
    “I’m fine.”
    “All that tossing and turning is distracting me. And if I’m going to be distracted, it might as well be for a good cause.” He gentled his tone, but kept the ring of command. “Go change into that lace nightgown that’s hanging on the back of your door.”
    “I haven’t agreed.”
    She hadn’t said no, either. He’d taken a chance by snapping out the demand, knowing if she obeyed that she’d eventfully give him what he would ask for. “Do it. I want you to wear something sexy.”
    Eyes full of fire, she stood and flung off the covers. And they locked gazes. He held his breath, wondering if she could find it within her to give up control. This moment wasn’t about her clothing, it was about whether she would follow his order.
    Her eyes flashed with hesitation. And outrage. And interest.
    He could see her fighting herself as she trembled. The air around them snapped with electricity. He waited, hoping she’d give in to what they both wanted.
    And finally, head high, she headed up the stairs. He waited until she was partway up before speaking. “Fallon.” She halted on the stairs and glanced over her shoulder at him and he could have sworn desire rippled through her. “Don’t wear anything underneath it.”
     
    F ALLON WONDERED if she’d lost her mind. Because she was going to do exactly as he asked. And while earlier, she’d thought to cooperate with the hopes of possibly intercepting some of his technical data for her country, she didn’t kid herself now. She wanted to do as Kane asked for the sheer pleasure of doing so. Just thinking about wearing her long, lace gown for him caused her mouth to go dry and her belly to pull with anticipation. While Fallon had never done anything like this before, if the idea of wearing that gown for him aroused her, she couldn’t imagine how much more exciting she’d find the actual act itself.
    When she couldn’t bring herself to agree to his bargain, he’d taken the choice from her. She supposed if she wanted to be ill again, she could attempt to leave him, however, she’d much rather don the lace gown and see where her actions led.
    So once she reached her room, she shucked her jeans and T-shirt and only hesitated at her panties and bra before those items joined the rest. And after she shimmied into the five thousand dollar Chanel nightgown, she figured it was worth every penny. Standing in front of her mirror, she fluffed her hair and grinned in satisfaction. The gown revealed streaksand slashes of bare skin but still covered all the essentials. And she looked damn good in it. She watched her diet, exercised regularly, cross training between cycling, running and swimming. Still, she took a deep fortifying breath before heading back downstairs.
    She knew so little about Kane. But her lack of knowledge made what she was doing all the more thrilling. Especially since she