Sienna flinches but lifts her chin.
That’s all I need to tell me that she and I are going to war. I see the defiance burning brightly in her stunning golden-brown eyes. She’s brave, I’ll give her that, but she’s also stupid as hell. I’d punish anyone else, but something tells me those tactics won’t work with this woman.
The kind of punishment I have in mind isn’t socially acceptable.
Fucking her into submission crosses my mind, hard and fast, but that isn’t a card I can play.
Not with her.
Maybe if I charm her, I can win this. She might fight me, and she’d never willingly give me her consent now. I’ve never been sick enough to rape a woman into complying with my needs.
But something about Sienna makes me want to see how far I can go before this gets complicated and crazy.
“You keep messing with the energy,” I say quietly, curling my fingers into fists to keep from touching her. “I’m trying to keep you alive, and you’re fucking up the one thing I asked you to do.”
“You didn’t ask,” she shoots back. “You ordered.”
My jaw clenches. “We’ve been through this.”
“Unfortunately. The deal didn’t come with being a side piece that goes to illegal dinners with you.”
“Eating dinner isn’t illegal.”
“No,” she agrees, “but I’m sure the topic of conversation you’ll have is.”
Artem’s words ring in my head.
She’s more trouble than she’s worth.
You’re really going to bring her to see DeLucas when you have to hunt her down?
“I’m only asking you to sit down, be quiet, and look pretty. These are patrons who waltz every morning into your bakery with gripes and the same coffee order. You don’t want to be a prop, fine. But right now, you being a prop could be the only reason I don’t put a bullet in your skull.”
She hesitates for half a second. A flicker of doubt crosses her face, but she quickly covers it with more attitude.
“Then maybe you should’ve brought someone else,” she mutters.
My patience cracks.
I grab her arm, spin her, and press her back into the wall. Her gasp hits my ears just as I lean into her, my hand flat against her lower back, holding her there.
“I don’t want someone else,” I growl near her ear. “I want you. And I always get what I want, Sienna.”
She writhes under my grip, trying to push me away, but I hold firm. I’m not hurting her, just letting her know I’m done playing games.
“You are going to get dressed,” I say, my voice low, calm, and cold. “You’re going to walk into that meeting with me, and you’re going to smile, nod, and play nice. Afterward, you can go back to being pissed at me all you want. But donotscrew this up for me. Got it?”
She’s breathing heavily against me, and fuck me if it doesn’t get under my skin how good she feels. I badly want to forget what tonight is and just deal with her in ways that don’t involve business or fake rings.
Her silence doesn’t help.
I ease off just a bit, but remain close.
“You like pushing me?” I ask. “Is that what this is?”
“Go to hell.”
I smirk. “You first, princess.”
