She sucks in a deep breath, holding the strap of her cross-body with both hands. She looks up at me through her lashes, and there’s a hint of curiosity in her eyes. She continues to stare at me in silence, biting on her bottom lip. It’s as though her eyes are alight with a million thoughts running through them. She makes it fucking hard for me not to throw her over my shoulder, take her home, and spank her ass for not using her words.In time, I say to myself.
“Sloane,” I warn.
“Yes?” she breathes out, stepping into me. I swallow.
“Stop looking at me like that,” I warn again.
“Like … what?” she asks, her lips parting on a breathy exhale. I reach out and grab her, spinning us around until I have her pinned against the car, and I’m towering over her.
“Like you want me to bend you over the hood of this car and fuck you right here in this parking lot where everyone can watch,” I growl.
Her breath hitches as she looks down to where my cock is now pulsing with need, straining against my sweatpants. Her eyes are burning with desire, and I’msureshe’s about to give in to it. That is, until she pushes at my chest just enough to turn and get into the driver’s seat of her car, locking the door behind her. She quickly grabs her buckle and clicks it into place, eyes fixed ahead of her. She puts the car into gear and drives out of the parking lot without ever looking back.
16
Riven
I pull up to my house and park in my garage before storming into the house. I’m so worked up from what happened in that parking lot. I can’t figure out if she ran because of the professional aspect of our relationship, or if she was afraid to open up to me. I’ll have to back off with my intent, let her warm up to the idea. That’s going to bereallyfucking hard, because all I can think about is the way her body felt pressed against mine. The way her breasts moved up and down with the acceleration of her breathing. The way the lust took over her eyes, turning the shade a beautiful, bright green.
I walk into my master bathroom, reaching over my head, tugging off my shirt in a single pull, and tossing it in the clothes basket against the wall. I discard the remainder of my clothing and step into the shower. I turn on the water as I press my handsinto the wall and let my head hang low, and the water pour over me.
I close my eyes and remember the way Sloane’s lips parted when she said, “Like … what?” The pink gloss, begging me to smear it across her pretty face. My cock twitches and fills as I continue to recall the way she looked at it, pressed against my sweatpants, against her body. I grab my hard cock and start fisting it slowly while I think about making her get on her knees for me. I imagine the way those plump lips would look circling my cock, and a low grunt escapes my throat. I start to move faster, harder, visualizing the gloss smeared across her mouth. I can see the black mascara running down her face as she looks up at me with those captivating eyes now rimming with tears.
I envision how good she would take it, grunting out to the bathroom tile. “That’s it, Sloane. Fuck … take it like the good girl I know you are.” I feel my release start to build, and it’s coming so fucking fast that I barely have time to suck in a breath before I’m finishing with her name on my lips.Fuck.
? ? ?
I’m sitting at the counter of my kitchen island, cleaning up my interview notes to send to Sabel. I read it over once more to make sure it’s up to her standards and hit send. I run my hands over my face and through my damp hair, hoping that this works. Ithasto work.
It’s been aweirdweek. I don’t know what I’ve gotten myself into, playing Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with Sloane. I’m not sure how much longer I can keep up this ruse. The lines between Professor Riven and Van are beginning to blur, and I need to clear my head. I know exactly what this situation calls for. Except, I signed a “no murder” clause in the contract with Sonus.I’m racking my brain for a way around that stupid detail when my phone rings. It’s Cal.
“Hey man, what’s up?” I say.
“Meet me at Sonus.Now.It’s urgent.”
Before I can say anything in response, he hangs up. I could sense the distress in his voice, so I don’t waste much time throwing on a pair of black joggers and a black shirt. I fold up my ski mask and jam it into my back pocket in case I need to throw it on.
I walk into my garage, scanning over my car and street bike. I opt for my Ducati Diavel V4 to get there faster. I hop on, grab my helmet off the handlebar, and put it on as I kick back the kickstand. I back out of the garage and take off, weaving in and out of traffic while I consider what could be going on that would have Cal this on edge. I make it to Sonus in no time, parking the bike and climbing off.
I storm right into the building without closing the door behind me. I’m jogging toward Sabel’s office when I hear it, ascream. It’s coming from the room toward the back of the building. Thetortureroom. I take off running toward the room and open the door, practically falling through it as I catch myself with my hands on my knees. When I stand, I come face-to-face with my brother. He’s chained to the fucking ceiling by both of his wrists, the trickles of blood running down his chest, a jarring contrast against the white ceramic tiling below him. The harsh fluorescent lights overhead cast a sickly glow. His head hangs, dark hair that matches mine, creating a curtain that hides his face. There are electrodes connected to his back. His breathing is shallow, and he looks like he’s been here for hours. Notagain. I growl, taking a step toward him. I stop when he throws his head back, screaming in agony. He’s being shocked by the electrodes that cover his back. Sabel doesn’t want me to go to him. Okay, fine. I’ll go to her.
“Hold on, Raithe. I got you, buddy. Okay? Just hold on,” I say to him as I walk over to the wall on my left and grab a steel chair that’s sitting against it. I look toward the two-way mirror that I know is on the opposite side of the room and pause, a sinister smile playing across my lips. Then, Irun.
I run full fucking speed toward the mirror with the chair overhead. When I reach it, I swing the chair, crashing into the mirror with my entire body weight behind it. I hear Raithe scream again behind me, and I continue slamming the chair into the mirror over and over and over again. It doesn’t budge. The fucking thing must be shatterproof. I figured as much, but I had to at least try. It doesn’t matter, though, because I know it’s enough to get Sabel’s attention. I hear the click of heels behind me, turning to face the bitch who’s wearing them. Sabel’s arms are crossed over her chest, and there’s a smug smile across her blood-red lips.
My heart is pounding, my lungs are burning, and sweat is dripping down my damp hair and face. I’m sure that I’m the perfect picture of insanity right now, but I don’t care. I step toward her, stopping when she holds up a remote with her finger over a button.
“I wouldn’t,” she warns.
“Why?” I growl out. It’s the only word I can manage to get out that wouldn’t escalate the situation.
“Riv,” she tsks, “you didn’t think you could get away with that littledisrespectfulemail so easily, did you? You need to be taught a lesson.”
Is she fucking kidding me right now? Clearly, she’s not. So, I tread carefully in my response. “Let him go. I’ll pay for this myself. My brother doesn’t deserve to suffer for it.”
Sabel walks over to me, pressing the remote into my chest. She runs it up and up before meeting my eyes. “Now, now. Youand I both know that the way to hurt you is to hurt the ones you love. And who better than your brother?”
I take a deep breath to refrain from acting on the very violent thoughts racing through my head right now. I fist my hands at my sides.
