The Dom with the Dragon Tattoo (Masters of Submission #5)(6)
She was opinionated to the point of being aggressive. She was confident and self-assured to the point of arrogance. She epitomized everything he steered clear of in a woman. As a respected Dom, who demanded his subs be obedient at all times, he shouldn’t find her remotely attractive, yet strangely he did.
Her lips were full, and he watched a moist tongue swipe away remnants of the butter sauce that had oozed from her salmon.
Even the way she held her wineglass endowed her with an elegance that seemed at odds with her plain-Jane looks.
The nagging doubts continued to feed his imagination as he cut into his steak, allowing the blood to follow the knife. “As I’m sure you are aware, cyberterrorism is a major threat to our country’s security. Cerberus Technology is a world leader in the cutting-edge software needed for the twenty-first century.”
“Of course I am aware. That’s why I contacted you.” Not a single tremor betrayed her as she held her fork completely motionless, midway between plate and mouth.
Tyler wondered if she were always so unflappable. He would love to make this woman tremble uncontrollably. His cock hardened at the mere thought of it.
Rebecca covered another small piece of salmon with butter sauce before forking it to her lips. “I’m in the process of developing a revolutionary password protection system. It needs further work. Two years should see it ready for marketing.”
“So why do you need Cerberus? Why not continue to develop it with Omega Computing?”
“Money. Cerberus is funded by the federal government, because of its links to the US military. Omega Computing can’t compete with that type of funding.”
Tyler took a sip of wine and held her in his gaze, wondering why he found her oddly familiar. “I take it this will be an expensive project?”
“Expensive? That’s an understatement. It’s a biometrics system that can change dynamically every time it’s used, making it impervious to hacking.”
“You seem confident in your ability.”
“Mr. Stone, I’m good at my job. The best there is. That’s why you’ve flown all the way from Houston to see me.”
Oh, how he would love to tame her sassy ways. If any lady needed a man’s discipline, it was this one. “Let’s cut to the chase, Rebecca. How much do you—”
“A basic two million a year. Plus a percentage based on results. A prestigious company car would also be required. An Aston Martin or Bentley would be most agreeable. I would be willing to sign a two-year contract provided it came with an opt-out clause that guarantees me a full year’s pay should things not work out between myself and Cerberus Technology.” She paused for breath. “I would also insist on choosing my own team, just as I have at Omega Computing. My terms are nonnegotiable, Mr. Stone.”
As she spoke, he visualized her bare, reddened ass lying across his knee. Only she wasn’t saying, “My terms are nonnegotiable, Mr. Stone.” She was crying out, “I’m sorry, Master, I’ll never be so disrespectful again.”
But business was business. He held out his hand. “Welcome to Cerberus Technology, Rebecca. Now let’s enjoy lunch. I’ll order some more wine.”
A satisfied smile settled on her lips as she placed her knife and fork down. She then dabbed at her mouth with a white linen napkin before taking his hand. “You won’t regret this, Mr. Stone.”
Something clicked in his brain. Something that he knew he needed to understand. Just the simple way she’d dabbed the napkin to her lips made him search for answers. This innocent act seemed so familiar to him. Where had he seen it before?
The uneasiness he’d felt when they’d first met returned. Only this time its insistence wouldn’t quit. Where the hell have I seen her before? Where the hell have I seen those lips before?
Then it struck him like a freight train on a deserted track.
Oh yeah, he’d seen those lips before all right, just last night in fact. On that occasion their sexy fullness had been covered with bright-red lipstick. Shit. He’d acted like a dumb f*ck. Why had it taken the best part of an hour to realize that the lady sitting opposite him was none other than Dana, the erotic dancer from Club Submission?
Don’t beat yourself up, man, this lady is a real chameleon. She’d fooled him. She’d fool her own mother with a transformation like that. It was definitely her. The same build. The same height. The same mannerisms. But hold on. What about the eyes? When Dana briefly lifted her golden mask at Club Submission, he’d been met with the most startlingly blue eyes he’d ever seen. Rebecca Miles had brown eyes. Shit. Perhaps he’d f*cked up after all.
Wait a minute.
She’s wearing thick glasses. So what’s to stop her wearing colored contacts when she goes out at night?
Nothing.
It’s her.
Rebecca is Dana. Goddamn it, they’re one and the same woman.
He smiled and raised his glass. “To the future, Rebecca.”
She touched her wineglass to his. “To the future. You seem very happy, Mr. Stone. Amused even.”
“Knowledge is power, Rebecca.”
Chapter Four
Two months later
“Rebecca, I’m gonna call it a day.” Rob Ferino stood from his desk, his chair scraping noisily on the hardwood floor. He massaged the back of his neck and groaned before relieving the tension in his shoulders by rotating them. Rob was a real tall guy, she guessed about six seven, so suffered more than most when staring at a computer screen for hours on end.