Of course I knew I had no other choice. While I tried avoiding touching him, he was having none of my insolence, grabbing my fingers and yanking me from inside. I was suddenly crushed against him. As I’d done before, I pushed my hand to his chest. Even through the fabric of his linen suit and the crispness of his shirt, I was able to feel his rippling muscles.
He stared down at me with the same cold eyes I’d noticed after shots had rung out.
I instinctively knew he had more on his mind than desire to punish me, so I offered the same coolness in return.
“Your brothers are here, several others as well. They’re waiting in your office.” The driver was offering a condemning look at me as if the entire afternoon of chaos was mine to accept the blame.
Well, fuck him.
“Thank you, Jarvis. Tell them I’ll be right there after I tend to some business.”
Now I was business? I tried to pull away from him, but he wasn’t allowing any movement whatsoever.
My senses remained on high alert, uncertain what to expect. Maybe that was why, when he turned on his heel with my hand in his, walking me up the short flight of stairs and into his house, I remained silent.
With my heels and horrific nerves and his long strides, it was difficult to keep up with him. As he led me through the house, I gathered a sense of him through the art on the walls, the furniture in the rooms. The man was eclectic, preferring no one particular style. What I did note was that while the furniture was muted in color, the walls and art were a stark contrast.
Reds. Violets. Cobalt blues. Emerald greens. All dark and reeking of passion.
Much like the man.
My mind was muddled from the insufferable thoughts. They were completely inappropriate and unacceptable.
I was taken to a room with two doors. He didn’t take long in swinging them open and presenting the space with little more than releasing my hand. There was no ability to resist as he pried the leather strap of my briefcase from my hand. He took two steps away, reaching inside.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing? That’s mine.”
He wasn’t deterred by my outcry, taking his time until he discovered what he was looking for.
My phone.
“Give that to me.”
Holding it into the light, he chuckled as he twisted it in his fingers as if showing off a prize. “A new phone, I’m glad to see. I’ll return it in good time. I simply wouldn’t want you to call anyone who might interrupt our time together.”
His words were ominous, not exactly a threat, but a statement that he was in full control. Damn the man. He pocketed it, giving me another heated look before heading straight for a bar in the corner.
Unable to move, I held my arms and studied my new prison. The room was exquisite with high ceilings, two walls covered in bookshelves with a loft above, windows surrounding the curved exterior. A spiral staircase led to the platform where I could see leather furniture and additional dark wooden bookshelves.
In the area below was a conversation area, plush light tan loveseats and chairs surrounding a huge circular granite table. I noticed speakers every few feet lining the walls and on the other side of the room was a baby grand piano, perfectly polished and the highlight of the space.
He didn’t ask if I wanted a drink, yet he brought me one, eyeing me as he would an enemy until I acquiesced and accepted the offering. As I’d experienced before, the touch, while brief, created tickles of heat and thoughts of desire that had no place in the moment.
“Why am I here and do not tell me it’s about saving my life, Mr. Prince. Even if I agree you kept me safe when an unhinged gunman entered what should have been a protected space, if all you’d wanted was to keep me protected, you could have dropped me off at a police station. But you didn’t. You chose to take me against my will, which in the broadest terms is called kidnapping. No matter your defense, you won’t be able to ignore the charges that will be presented to you.”
With him being so close, I felt a frisson of something unfamiliar, stronger than the reactions I’d felt so far. I couldn’t put my finger on the difference, but it was crawling along my skin leaving me aching all over.
He took a sip of his drink and in response, I turned away, refusing to give him what he obviously wanted. Which was to keep me terrified.
I should learn never to underestimate him. He was quick, grabbing my wrist and holding me in place. “Are you finished with explaining the nuances of the law to me, Catherine? Because if you are, I need to ask you some questions.”
His outright refusal to admit that abducting me was morally and legally wrong defied everything within me. However, I reminded myself that career criminals believed themselves above the law. What I knew instinctively was that the sooner I satisfied his morbid curiosity, the sooner I could leave.
Assuming he was going to allow me. “I assure you I’ll have questions for you as well. But I’ll reserve those for the appropriate time. When I face you in court.”
“Don’t play coy with me.”
The man was cold as ice when he felt it necessary. I glanced down at the heavy crystal glass and he laughed.
