“I didn’t have anything to do with what occurred at the coffee shop. I don’t know why you won’t believe me.”
“In truth, it doesn’t matter if I believe you or not. You can easily identify the assassin. You likely believe I killed him, even though that’s not true. Your knowledge of him makes you a target. You will be hunted, and I assure you that the methods of your disposal will be… horrific.” I allowed the words to sink in. When her lower lip quivered, I pressed forward. “Do you understand?”
“Yes,” she hissed through clenched teeth. “What is my part of the deal other than to convince you I had nothing to do with it?”
“You’ll allow me to learn everything there is to know about you.”
“Why?”
As soon as I folded my fingers and rubbed them under her chin, she stiffened. Yet the electricity was instantaneous, my heart thudding, my balls tightening. I witnessed the same reaction crawling from deep within her. As she bit her lower lip, I could tell it was a gesture to keep from moaning.
Our hunger was explosive.
Finally, she pulled away, breaking the connection.
Sighing, I stood, taking a few steps away. “Because I’ve begun to believe the gunman in your coffee shop wasn’t after me. I believe he was after you. Now, I don’t know the reason and it’s entirelypossible you don’t either. But the truth will be discovered. I only hope you aren’t deceiving me. You won’t like what happens if I learn that you are.” I headed toward the door, stopping and turning with my hand on the lever.
“What’s the second part of this deal?” While I could smell her fear, she kept her heated gaze.
My admiration of her was growing.
Her defiance was increasing, the little spitfire showing venom in her eyes. My cock twitched, longing to have her writhing underneath me. “The second is that you will do everything I command. You will be mine for the duration. Mine to taste. Mine to train. Mine to fuck. And mine to own.”
She allowed a smile to cross her face and I knew exactly what she was thinking.
Over her dead body.
“Be careful, Mr. Prince. I might have a few codicils of my own. Deals are made with two people involved.”
“And perhaps I’ll consider them. I’ll have your things brought to the room. Be ready in an hour.”
“For what?”
“We’re going out to dinner. We might as well enjoy ourselves while you’re my guest.” All the control I’d reminded myself I needed to establish and keep was already slipping.
There was no possible way of resisting her entirely.
“Aren’t you afraid of the boogeyman?” she asked in her most seductive voice.
She could make me laugh although I wasn’t in the mood, my thoughts focused on killing Vincent Santos. Whatever happened from here would be a shit show of a proportion I’d never witnessed.
“Not at all. This is my town, Josette. My family is steeped in acts of black magic. You’ll learn just how powerful I am. But for the record, you will obey me without hesitation.”
There were so many things I craved doing to her. With her. Dark, sadistic things. The visions in the back of my mind confirmed she’d not only awakened that darkness, but that if I wasn’t careful, she’d learn to use it against me for her benefit.
“Just remember what I told you. I have no plans on locking you in this room. However, if you try and escape, I assure you that you will be punished until you regret your actions.”
She wasn’t fazed by my words, keeping the defiant glare on her face.
“I believe you’ll find everything you need inside my home to keep you entertained. I also have book and movies, hopefully some to your liking. There’s a media room on the first floor as well. While I’d need to have some food brought in as I usually only have coffee in the mornings, if there’s anything in particular you’d like, just leave a note.”
“For one of your men to pick up.”
The woman was going to drive me crazy. “I have many employees of various types in different positions. As I was saying, I’ll allow you the privilege of enjoying every room in my home with the exception of my office. But remember, privileges are earned and can just as easily be taken away.”
She slowly shook her head, her eyes shimmering like glass. Except they were tears. “You’re not going to allow me to see Indiana. Are you? You’re punishing me all over again.”
The defiance had faded, leaving a vulnerable woman whose only method of protecting her sanity was an animal. What in the hell had someone done to her to create such panic hiding behind her shimmering eyes?
