was directed at.
She learned a bevy of other things, some useful, others not. He was light hearted in general but would be dangerous when threatened. He was winsome and had a soft spot in his heart for most people, particularly children. And while she was the one that took control in the bedroom that night, she knew that he was a controlling lover on most occasions. Actually, probably on all occasions. She sensed that this was the first time he had let a woman lead him the entire way. It gave her a heady sense of power.
Looking down at an invoice from her beer distributor, she managed ten seconds of concentration then her mind drifted right back to Kieran. Cursing in frustration, Annika stood up from the desk and walked over to a small mini bar set up against the wall. She poured herself a small shot of Wild Turkey.
She wasn’t much of a drinker but once in a blue moon she’d have a shot. Not for what it did to her but she truly enjoyed the taste of bourbon. She loved the burn of it in her stomach and never drank more than one small shot. She didn’t like the way liquor made her feel if she had too much.
Annika took her drink and went to sit on the small loveseat that sat across from her desk. It was very interesting that Kieran would come here to The First Dimension to find her. She wondered how he even knew about her. If she had to bet, Ava Clairmont was behind sending him.
She thought she had met Kieran and his brother, Carrick, many years ago, but the memory was fuzzy. They didn’t really stand out. But she knew Ava well as their families were strong allies. She liked Ava a lot and respected her. It was the only reason she had agreed to meet with Kieran when word came through he was trying to contact her. Otherwise, she would have never given him the time of day.
And now it seems she had given him the time of night too. Her belly warmed up all on its own thinking about the sex they’d had. Kieran was, she thought, the most gorgeous man she had ever seen.
He had the classic good looks and physically perfect bone structure that would send most women swooning. And when his clothes were off? Talk about a work of art. She seriously did not think she could ever get enough of looking at the physical perfection of his body. He was solid and packed with muscle that had rippled beneath her hands. She loved a man that could consume her. Get it together, Annika. You turned down his offer--with good reason--and you will never see him again. Oddly, that thought niggled at Ava.
She really needed to put this out of her mind. Having the original intent of sipping at her bourbon, she took it down in one shot and set the glass aside. Time to get back to the paperwork.
***
Keiran walked into Itch and looked around. Same as last night. Wild music thumping with half naked bodies swarming the dance floor. It was a waving, pulsing mass of people. He walked toward the bar but was caught up short when Marcus stepped in front of him.
“What can I do for you, my man?” Marcus’ voice was friendly enough but there was an underlying tone in it that clearly said they were not friends.
“I need to see Annika.”
“Sorry, but she’s indisposed right now. I can give her a message for you.”
“I don’t think you understand, Marcus.” Kieran stepped forward so they were almost chest to chest. The move was not made in aggression, but so he could get closer and not have to shout over the music.
“I need to see Annika now. If you don’t take me to her, I am immediately leaving here and going to her father to let him know where she is. I know, for a fact, that she has kept her location hidden from him for many years, but I have no qualms about handing her up on a silver platter if you don’t take me to her now.”
Kieran could see a muscle twitching near Marcus’ eye. He could tell the man did not like the threat, but if he gauged him right, he knew he would do anything to protect Annika. He figured his next move would be to either try to kill him to keep his silence, or take him to