Flame

Erotic Romance Serial Novel | ~15,000 words | Part 3 of 5 ''There is more than one way to be strong, Julia. You know one of them, I can teach you the other.'' With Julia's company weeks away from falling into the hands of her rival, Valerie James, things can't possibly get worse. But Julia's father's condition is worsening and she finds herself at wit's end. Now that her father's life on the line, her relationship with Mark worsens. Can she find a way to let Mark in and work together to save not just her company, but herself as well? Excerpt: Mark, I'm exhausted, I gasp. Mentally, physically, emotionally exhausted. Sit down, He responds sternly. I obey in an instant, plopping down beside him. You could have stopped our deal at any time. I've given you chance after chance to say you don't want to submit to me. But every time you continue to give yourself to my instructions, my desires and directions. Every time you keep the deal. Do you know why I even offered you our deal? He looks directly at me; his beautiful eyes trying to make contact with my soul. For a moment I feel myself opening to him and then before I can speak, the hard protective shell covers my heart and mouth. Oh, I don't know. Free sex for a change? I've paid for a lot of things in this world, but I've never had to pay for sex, he counters, batting away my bitter retort like a horse swats a fly. Even when I don't want him to be, he's perfect. Because I'm so hot? I ask disagreeably. Because you are so sad, He says, all humor falling from the sky. So lonely, solost. That's not your business. I think it is. I've watched you bully employees, push your weight around, shut out honest offers of friendship and stoke the fires of rage and regret. Lynx isn't a job; it's a battle ground where you pit your passion and talent against anything you can find. You win. You always win because you give it everything you have, and you have so much. So when I saw you in my office that day, ready to tear the building apart with your bare hands, I knew you needed help. Of course I needed help, Mark, I was robbed. Not help with Lynx. Help with life. Help with love. I knew you needed at least one person in your life who was willing to tell you ?