“How could I miss what’s clearly not wanted?” she retorted, even though her nipples hardened immediately from the sound of his husky voice alone. At least she knew he was who he said he was. Supposedly. “I guess there are no secrets in this town.”
“When a scrumptious woman asks for the likes of me, that is news.” He raked his hand through his hair, the move far too sexy.
Damn him. Damn the situation. And damn the fact her pussy was quivering, already dampening her panties. “Just cut the crap, Officer.”
“You’re still angry with me for handcuffing you to the bed but you can certainly call me Pierre after what we shared.”
Sophia slowly removed her sunglasses, allowing him to see the glare in her eyes. “Very funny gesture. Do you shackle every woman you have sex with? A perk of your profession perhaps?”
“I would have returned. Eventually.” His eyes twinkled.
Even if the man was on the up and up, the cavalier attitude was enough to warrant him a swift kick in the balls.
Twice.
“We had our evening. Now, why don’t you stay the hell away from me?” She gave him the sweetest smile she could muster before turning and walking away. How had she allowed the asshole to get to her in the first place? Her grand idea wasn’t going to work. She couldn’t stomach or trust him long enough to even gather a look inside a freaking BDSM club.
Pierre jogged in front of her. “You are pissed and with good reason. I am no gentleman. That was a horrible thing to do.”
Why did he have a shit-eating grin on his face?
“Yes, it was.”
“Allow me to make it up to you.”
She laughed, stopping short, ready to punch the hell out of him. Then she realized that having him around just might come in handy. “And how do you propose to do that?”
“Dinner at a fabulous restaurant. Wine. Music. Dancing. We have some delicious and very kinky clubs in town. Then who knows what else? We will watch the sunset together as we dream about all things dominating.”
“Uh-huh. Your style of bondage leaves much to be desired.” He certainly seemed to know his way around. Maybe this could work, if she didn’t beat him to death.
“Bondage can be a very beautiful thing, as long as trust is involved. Passion and pain go hand in hand. You don’t have to hide your desires and longings that no one else knows from me.”
“You don’t know a thing about me,” she said bitterly then reminded herself that she’d been trained to go undercover at a moment’s notice, no matter the circumstances. She could play the submissive with the best of them.
Maybe.
“But I truly want to. No more teasing about last night.”
The softness of his deep voice penetrated every cell, floating into her bloodstream. She attempted to fall into the act, vulnerable yet inquisitive. “All right. The club sounds… fascinating, but I’ve never been to one before. They actually frighten me, but donotuse that against me.”
He slipped his index finger under her chin, inching closer. “Ashley, I truly am sorry. I had no intentions of hurting or embarrassing you nor will I ever use anything against you. Our little game just got out of hand. You are one of the most incredible women I’ve been lucky enough to spend time with. I meant everything I said last night, and I will prove to you that I am not the jerk you must think I am. Allow me to show you the darker side of desire, but in a controlled manner.”
She wondered whether his polished statement was true or not; however, this was one date she refused to turn down. The asshole had no real understanding of just how helpful he was going to be.
The rat was on the loose and Wrath was pissed. The mark had slipped through his fingers. This wasn’t going to happen a second time. Almost fucking up on the last job had cost him fifty thousand dollars and he’d taken a hit on his stellar reputation. Still, he was no monster, at least not by his standards.
He took no comfort in the fact that the illustrious and very powerful American had merely changed his plans instead of catching wind that there was a contract on his life. The situation had altered the very course of Wrath’s entire week. The five hundred thousand dollar payment was predicated on Mr. Wallace never making the conference in Belgium. He had exactly three days left to accomplish his mission, or all hell was going to break loose. Besides, he had plans for a two-week vacation and he refused to allow anything or anyone to get in the way.
Even a beautiful redhead. He’d seen a hint of her vulnerability, although he’d been surprised she’d actually admitted her fear. A BDSM club might indeed suit his mood for the evening, allowing self-absorption into the kind of darkness that fueled his needs. His thought of owning her hadn’t faded, although he was certainly just as cautious. He simply hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind since leaving her curled under the thin sheets, the outline of her voluptuous body irresistible.
The taste of her had been incredible, the feel of having his cock buried deep inside driving the savagery deep within.
He’d been furious with the slight weakness, vowing to walk away from her, making certain she couldn’t trail behind him. Now this. He took a sip of his drink, amused at the irony.
After realizing the mark had never set foot in the hotel, he’d gone to his own suite, finding out everything he could about Mr. Wallace’s extracurricular activities. The man had a penchant for giving pain, a true sadist. Well, he’d come to the right city in order to get his kink on. He wasn’t a man who believed in coincidences. There was only one club that a man of Mr. Wallace’s stature would bother setting foot in.
And Wrath could gain entrance with ease, everything carte blanche. The thought kept his cock as hard as a rock.
