“I have nothing to say to you.”
I tipped her head back. “Good. Then we won’t…talk.”
Her eyes widened. “If you think I’ll let you touch me again?—”
I lifted one eyebrow. “I don’t recall you letting me earlier and yet…”
I left the rest unspoken.
She broke my hold, turning her face to the right, shielding it from me with a cascading mass of tangled black hair, starting to curl again as it dried.
Taking pity on her, I released her.
She immediately moved to the other side of the room, placing as much distance as possible between us.
Crossing to the library doors, I said, “In addition to the danger of the storm and nightfall, Lucifer and Hades patrol the grounds so don’t try to leave, Madison. Stay here until Elijah returns to escort you to your room. I’m placing you in the unused wing for now. I want you out of sight of the staff for now. Be a good girl for me, and I’ll reward you.”
She kept her face averted. “You can’t keep me prisoner here forever, Pierce.”
My hand stilled on the brass doorknob.
There it was again.
After all that had happened to her, she still hadn’t lost her naïve faith in humanity, her belief that truth and good would prevail.
I smiled as I turned the doorknob and opened the door to leave. “Who’s going to stop me, Madison?”
CHAPTER 37
PIERCE
Entering the study, I raised my palm and gestured for Stewart to remain seated.
He dutifully sat back down, his hat in his lap, and eyed the tea service Elijah no doubt brought in to warm our guest.
The sheriff took a moment, his eyes scanning me. If he thought anything about my half naked and bloody state, he was wise enough to keep it to himself.
Despite making him wait over an hour already, I would begin the meeting when I was ready and not a moment sooner. I held my hands behind my back and stared out of the window, listening to the thunder rolling in from outside.
I inhaled deeply, calming my thoughts.
I needed to focus on the task at hand and not on Madison down the hall.
But thoughts of the cliff crashed through me. Her beautiful eyes flashing fire and desire, her hair whipping in the wind, the way my kiss made her lips blush a harsh, bright red.
I shifted my hips as my cock swelled. Good thing I was still facing the window.
Walsh impatiently adjusted in his seat. I glanced over my shoulder as he repeatedly glanced at the grandfather clock in the corner, no doubt lamenting the passing minutes.
Too damn bad.
He was on my time.
There was a knock on the door. I called out. “Enter.”
The door opened and my valet entered carrying a heavy cobalt blue dressing robe. I slipped my arms through the robe without a word, and he quickly backed out of the room.
After belting the robe into place, I took my seat at my executive oxblood leather chair and grabbed the silver pitcher of coffee.
