“I don’t want to hurt you. I wouldn’t be able to recognize your face afterward, and I’d feel bad,” he answered firmly. Then he moved over to me, and without any warning, took me by the wrist. “You come with me, though,” he demanded.
Was he seriously expecting me to just follow him after what his blond said to me?
“Forget that!” I jerked away from him, and he shot me an annoyed look, like he was so put out by my disobedience. “Go see your sidepiece. She’llknow how to keep you entertained.” I gave him an insolent grin and tried to step away, but his strong, confining hand was locked around my arm, and he stopped me again. I glared first at those possessive fingers and then into the golden eyes that were watching my face with their usual cool aloofness.
“That wasn’t what you think,” he explained, and I burst out laughing.
Did he think I was stupid?
“Oh, for sure. You accidentally tripped and fell, first into one of them and then into the other.” I continued laughing hysterically. In reality, I was trying to conceal the pain that carved up my heart behind a facade of insolence.
Neil remained serious, and I caught a brief flash of distress in his eyes as well. For the first time all night, he looked ashamed.
“It happened right after you called me,” he said in a rush. “I was training with the heavy bag. I was alone and didn’t feel like calling anyone. You said all that stuff to me and—” I cut him off furiously.
“Are you saying it was my fault? Seriously?” I scoffed. It felt like his fingers were burning into my skin. “You gave in because you’re a pervert and vanilla sex isn’t enough for you. We both know it. Apparently, the idea of focusing on just one woman is too scary for you,” I burst out, electrified with rage.
“Quit it,” he warned me in a threatening whisper. I could feel his hot breath against my lips. I could smell the smoke on his breath. But I would not allow myself to be distracted by the electricity that passed between our bodies, even in a moment like that, and I went on.
“Or what? You going to offer me another threesome with your blond like you did at the Halloween party? This time, invite Xavier along so I get something out of the experience too,” I answered contemptuously.
There was no stopping me; it all burst out of me like a river flooding its banks. Memories, disappointments, suffering—it had made me reactive and irrational like I’d never been before.
Neil’s eyes changed color; they appeared to grow less brilliant and duller. My breathing sped up as he moved so close to me that he grazed my nose with his own.
“You will come with me. Stop being a fucking brat,” he ordered. He breathed in my scent, and his eyelashes fluttered. He gave me a small, craftyhalf-smile. “You don’t want to piss me off, Tinkerbell.” He took my chin with his other hand and held it tightly. Then, without any warning, he gave my cheek one languid lick, holding me still the whole time. “Be good,” he concluded hypnotically after this show of possession, strange and animalistic as it was. I should have been irritated, offended, and disgusted, but instead his voice and actions had a lulling effect on me. My body relaxed, and my muscles stopped putting up a fight against him. The hitch in my breath told him exactly how a strange kind of need had replaced all the emotions I had just been feeling.
Lust had taken hold of me.
It was obvious from the blush that reddened my cheekbones and the way I was moving so sluggishly on my legs.
He looked at me, pleased with himself. He knew exactly what I was feeling.
Neil was hyperaware of my physical reactions, and when he was trying to seduce me, he made sure to hit all of them so he could bend me to his will.
With all his experience, it was easy for him to get the upper hand, and it all made me feel so helpless.
“Let’s go.” He pulled me along by the arm, passing Xavier, who had been standing there motionless, just watching our interaction. Then he led me out to his car and never let go of my arm, despite my complete surrender. Maybe he was still afraid I was going to make a run for it?
“You’re a lunatic,” I murmured, tripping along in my high heels. It was intended as an insult, but he just smiled.
“And you are my Tinkerbell,” he said cheerfully before unlocking the Maserati, opening the passenger door, and ushering me inside.
Though I persisted in fighting this war against him, I couldn’t help but follow him into his darkness, promising him my mute, sincere love.
Day after day, Neil wove his golden threads around me, imprisoning me.
He didn’t just dominate my body; he dominated my mind and heart as well.
My soul belonged entirely to him.
It had belonged to him since the first time that I’d been caught in that enigmatic stare.
His looks bewitched me.
His mature voice awakened my most sinful carnal desires.
I was his.
