Page 32 of Prince of Wrath

I jumped to my feet. “For fuck’s sake, Lexx.”

She gripped my shirt and pulled me into her. I slammed my hands onto the desk on either side of her, catching myself. She lay back and ground her hips over my now-flaccid cock, trying to rouse it to life.

Before Sloane, I would have taken an attempt like this as a moment of rebellion to be punished. But now, Sloane was the only being I would have flipped onto her stomach, spanked, then plowed until she was raw.

“I want to make you feel good, my prince. You’re always so tense from chasing that little human around.” Her hooded eyes landed on my zipper. “I wouldn’t run from the wild and violent animal lurking under the surface. Let him free on me.”

With a firm hand, I gripped her face and leaned down until we were mere inches away.

“That little human is the only thing keeping me whole. The wild beast you want to bring out of me would tear you to shreds for even implying Sloane isn’t worth my time.”

Her eyes bulged. “I’m sorry.”

I let her go, walked to the door, then opened it. “You’re one of our best employees, Lexx, but if you ever try to seduce me or speak about Sloane like that again, I will enact my status and send you back to Hell for all eternity.”

She got to her feet and flipped her hair before sashaying past me and back into the club.

I watched from the window as she rejoined the clients. Semper stole a glance at me, and I gave her a reassuring nod. This was Lexx’s only warning. Because if I were being more truthful, I would rather have Semper handle it than send Lexx back to Hell. Though Lexx would probably prefer the latter.

After another hour or so, I planned to go home. It wasn’t where I wanted to be, but Sloane would call sooner or later. I’d left her only partially satisfied in the hope that she would be ready for another sparring match.

Chapter 13

Sloane

Seere was nowhere in the crowd while I accepted my award. I’d walked onto the stage with my thighs slick with the proof of my shame. When Maxine asked who my mysterious stranger was, the lies I would normally tell wouldn’t come.

“He’s just some guy I hate,” I had said, face red.

“Hate? It didn’t seem that way to me.”

“Yeah, well. Things aren’t always what they seem.”

Hours of chatting with guests, fellow lawyers, players I had signed, and too many other faces I didn’t have names for fell away and I was on my way home when I started wondering why Seere had shown up. There had to be a reason that had nothing to do with his fingers invading me in public.

I’d have to wait to find out what that reason was because there was a large figure standing in my driveway when I pulled in.

Ben.

I hadn’t emailed him back about lunch but didn’t think it was urgent enough that he would show up in front of my house.

“What do you want?” I slammed the car door and didn’t wait for him to speak before I started walking to the front step of my house.

“I thought you would email me back by now. Too busy fucking some investment banker?”

“What?” I dug through my purse for my keys.

I hadn’t expected to need them so quickly since I usually entered my house through my garage.

“You look like you’re coming back from a date, and judging by the outfit and time of night, I’m assuming he has lots of money and knows that’s how to get you into bed.”

I spun around to find him right at my back. He wasn’t angry, at least his face didn’t give away if he was. The heat creeping up my neck sent a warning signal to my stomach. Something wasn’t right about his demeanor.

“Tell yourself whatever you need to. I’ll email you back in the morning.” My key turned the deadbolt, and I pushed the door open.

A force shoved me through the entryway, then the door closed behind me with a rush of wind. Ben’s outreached arm barred me to the wall, his hand wrapped around my throat. It was his eyes that gave away the hatred he was acting on.

I struggled for air. My fingernails carved into the back of his hand, trying to pry his grip loose, but he was too strong. This wasn’t the first time he’d tried to put me in my place with force. I was transported to the last time he had his hands on me: the night he’d kicked me out of our condo. I’d had to sleep in my car. He’d been upset that I didn’t have dinner ready for him at 10 p.m. after he said he’d be home at six.