Yield (In His Service, #1) / In His Service (ePub)

Lizzie Reese has a problem: she needs a job to pay the bills, and her passion for the cello hasn't prepared her for many options. When she finds herself at the doorstep of the wealthy Alexander Griffin's high-class art gallery, she's more than willing to do what it takes to please the stern, demanding man in exchange for work.

When his domineering nature prompts her to rebel, a spark ignites between them. Lizzie doesn't quite understand his power over her... but she finds herself helpless to resist. Mr. Griffin seems equally unsettled, and none-too-happy about how she makes him lose control.

Lizzie is too stubborn to give up and Mr. Griffin too intrigued to back off, but they come from different worlds. Will they learn to understand each other before it's too late?

Excerpt:

She gasped as he pushed her up against the counter. His slender fingers trailed down her arm and over her hand, encircled the neck of the bottle, and wrenched it from her. He slammed it down in front of her. His body was warm against her back. Lizzie couldn't stop herself from trembling.

"What... what's wrong?" she asked quietly.

"What do you think you're doing?" he hissed hotly against her ear. Her hair rose on end. Tingles of aroused terror shivered through her.

"I don't know what you mean," she said.

"This," he tilted the water up to her, "is room temperature. And it is still in the bottle."

His voice was charged with more energy than she had ever heard it. She stared ahead at the wall, afraid to move. His long, muscled arms held the countertop and bottle, trapping her between them. A familiar ache began to spread between her legs.

"Don't move."

His presence vanished behind her and she exhaled a shuddering breath. Lizzie heard the refrigerator open, followed by the clink of glass and metal. He returned and placed a chilled bottle of sparkling water down on the counter. His body pressed against her again. She gasped audibly. Warmth tingled over her body. Her head spun in confusion and excitement.

He pulled open the cupboard above.

"Take down the glass and the platter," he demanded.

Lizzie looked up and saw several crystal glasses and some silver pieces. She took down a glass and a platter.

"Now fill the glass," he whispered so close she could feel his lips brush her ear, "put it on the platter, and carefully carry it out to our very rich and important client."

She nodded numbly and took a deep breath. Even the small expansion of her ribcage narrowed the small gap between their bodies and pressed them closer. Lizzie put the glass on the platter and poured the cold water into it.

Warm hands squeezed her shoulders.

"Very good," he murmured. She closed her eyes and bit her lip.

Then suddenly, he was gone, his shoes tapping lightly across the floor back out to the main area.