Read Online Sapphire by Taylor Lee - Free Book Online

bartender who must have seen Sapphire quaff her drink, Jase nodded, signaling for a refill. Waiting for the amiable bartender to replenish their glasses, Sapphire felt Jase’s fierce grip soften. To her own surprise, Sapphire resisted his move and leaned against him. Stunned at her unexpected need for his support, she tried to back away. But, if her confused gestures surprised him Jase didn’t let on. Rather, he tightened his hold slightly and pulled her stool next to his, erasing the scant inches between them. Undone by the rush of emotions swirling over her, Sapphire fought against the tears that were threatening to fall. As angry as she was, she was stunned that, more than anything, she wanted the overwhelming man to hold her, if for only a moment. Give her time to compose herself before she left. Which she would need to do if she were going to keep from breaking down completely.
    The next moments seemed to last a lifetime. Knowing that she wasn’t able to make sense of what was happening, she was relieved when Jase broke the silence. Indicating that, like her, he was struggling with a mix of emotions, his voice was rougher, not as casually insinuating, as it had been before. Certain that anger with her was his primary emotion, Sapphire breathed easier when he softened his tone.
    Keeping his lips disconcertingly close to her ear, he drawled, “Hmm, I’m impressed, Agent Shaw.”
    At her startled gasp, he continued. “You are as fiery as I predicted.”
    Certain that he was taunting her, Sapphire tried to jerk away but his grip was firm.
    “That kind of anger, if shrewdly leashed, can be a potent force in a dangerous crunch. You see, Sapphire, men who don’t see your remarkable talents, your fierce skills, mistake the value of your temperament. Properly controlled, your righteous fury makes you deadly. Lesser men dismiss it as a tantrum and write you off as a temperamental, uncontrollable female. To put it succinctly: a bitch.”
    Trying to control her trembling body, Sapphire struggled to understand. She forced herself to meet Jase’s gaze, frustrated that she couldn’t keep from stammering.
    “I…don’t know what you are saying. I…I don’t understand.”
    Gaining confidence, she attempted to move from under his arm but he shook his head and if anything tightened his hold. Tossing her head, she did her best to glare at him.
    “What you trying to prove, Colonel? You know how much this mission means to me. What it would do for my career at LOTN. Why did you insist on meeting me tonight? Did you want to embarrass me further? Make me plead, beg you to let me join your mission?”
    Now thoroughly angry, Sapphire managed to push away from him.
    “Why don’t you be honorable, Jase? Stop pretending, testing me, lying to me. Just come out and tell me that when you first saw that video you knew that you would never work with me.”
    Folding her arms tightly across her chest, she scoffed, “Suck it up, Colonel. Grow a pair. Have the guts and decency to tell me that you never intended to put me on your precious mission.”
    Rather than responding in kind, Jase huffed a soft sigh. Turning on the barstool so that he was facing her directly, he reached for her chin. Holding it between his fingers and his thumb, he lifted her chin forcing her to meet his eyes. His expression was surprisingly serious.
    “Ah, Gabriella, you couldn’t be more wrong. It was the video that did it for me. From the moment I saw you snatch that com out of your ear and saunter back to the computer as if you had all the time in the world to download the documents, I knew that I could never find an agent I wanted more on this mission.”
    Smiling at Gabriella’s shocked expression, Jase didn’t add that he’d never seen an agent he wanted more, period . Fortunately they were sitting down and the bar top obscured the tell-tale bulge in his jeans. He assured himself that he’d deal with his randy dick later. A prick hard enough to pound nails