“You shouldn’t wear your heart on your sleeve, Rayden.”
I frowned. “What does that mean?”
He leaned forward, his eyes glued to mine. “Don’t let a woman see how desperate you are for her. Fucking a woman is not about pleasure. That comes automatically. It’s all about control. Making her want you so badly, she begs. Even then you don’t give in. And when you finally do fuck her, you don’t let her come unless you say so. You control that moment you give in and that’s what makes a woman return for more.” He glanced at Zena before his gaze met mine again. “Right now, she knows you want her. She’s calling the shots which ultimately means you’ll return for more when you get that first taste. Don’t be a pussy, pun intended.”
“I’m not a fucking pussy,” I snapped without thinking.
His response came in the form of a cocked brow. Eyes on me, he lowered the glass he’d been drinking from but said nothing. I dropped my gaze to the table, suddenly embarrassed. Not only for hanging on to my virginity for her but realizing that he was right. Zena knew I wanted her and that was probably the reason she hadn’t given in yet.
“Nothing to be embarrassed about,” his soft words had me looking up and once more his perception had me floundering like a fish out of water. “Would you like me to help you?”
“Help me?”
His laugh was low. Filling the space around us with its resonance. I wondered if he was making fun of me. Yet there was no matching mirth in his eyes, just something inexplicable. Zena arrived at the table, breaking my stare down with him. I blinked and focused my gaze on her.
“Slept well?” Lorenzo asked.
“Yes, thank you,” her reply was unusually stiff.
I was curious about what had gone down when she’d disappeared to her room during dinner. It was the only logical reason she’d avoided looking at me when she returned to the table. I’d chosen not to question her.
Now, I watched his eyes roam over her face, stopping at each discerning feature and a hint of jealousy tugged at my chest. As if he sensed my gaze on him, he looked at me, one of his eyebrows lifted, almost daring me to question his admiration before a smile curved the corner of his lips. So slight, it was almost non-existent.
Then he stood. “Follow me and bring her with.”
Wondering what he was up to, I did as he asked. As we followed him, Zena mouthed, “What’s up?” I shrugged and shook my head.
Lorenzo opened a door after turning down a couple of hallways. He ushered us in and closed the door. It was a study, complete with a bar, one wall taken up by a bookcase, housing everything from encyclopedias to western novels, I gauged just by a quick glance at some of the titles I recognized from my father’s study. A wooden table sat against a backdrop of floor to ceiling windows that made up the wall opposite to the bookcase while an ‘L’ shaped leather couch occupied the fourth wall.
At the table, he grabbed something and held it out to me. Frowning, I realized he was holding out a mobile phone. I took it, my curious gaze on him.
“Call your parents.” His gaze flicked between me and Zena. “Tell them the truth or make up whatever story you want, but make it very clear to them that you’ll be returning home in a month.”
“A month?” Zena gasped.
“Or I could just kill you now and get it over with?” Lorenzo’s grimace prevented further argument from both of us. “A month. Truth or lies. It’s up to you.” He turned his back on us then half-turned. “And if you both plan on mentioning some code word to get them thinking, don’t. You might not like the repercussions. And just to make sure, put it on speaker.” With that, he walked over to his table and lowered his large frame into the leather chair. Leaning back, he watched us.
“What are we going to say?” Zena mumbled.
“I’ll go first, okay.” She nodded and I dialed. “Dad, it’s Rayden.” I responded the second my father picked up.
“Jesus, Rayden, where the hell are you? Austin came looking for you this morning and mentioned something about—”
“Dad,” I cut him off. “Please, I need to tell you something, but I need you to trust me, okay?”
“What’s wrong, Ray?”
I picked up on the immediate concern in his voice and my insides began a slow churn, my skin suddenly heating on a slow simmer. I needed to calm the fuck down or I’d end up ranting. My father was one of the most rational people I knew but I wasn’t sure how he’d handle what I was about to tell him. Before I could speak, I risked a glance at Lorenzo. Arms folded across his bare chest, he watched me.
Looking away, I took a deep breath. “Dad, whatever I’m about to tell you, I need you to hear me out, okay.”
There was a moment of silence on the other side before he responded. “Sure.”
“The night of my birthday, I witnessed something I shouldn’t have and as a result, I was kidnapped. Both—”
“Kidnapped?” I heard his sharp intake of breath before he said, “Ray, is this one yours and Austin’s pranks?” Despite the calm words, I could hear the apprehension creeping into his voice.
“Please, dad, listen to me. It’s not a joke. I swear. But I need you to promise me something before you get worked up about it.”
