Chapter Four

Bri

When I heard the lock turn on the door, I jumped from the seat and moved to stand on the opposite side of the room. The slight bit of hope I had thinking it might be someone that could help me was dashed when Rogue Delaney strolled back into the room.

“I’m sorry the night didn’t go as expected.”

I couldn’t believe how nonchalant he was acting. “Didn’t go as expected? How can you be so calm? Your friend, who I suspect is a member of the Russian mob, was shot at, the would-be assassin was killed, and your grumpy friend is covering it up. I would say, didn’t go as expected is a bit of an understatement.”

His lips turned up slightly, but otherwise, he seemed completely unaffected by my words. He held out his hand. “Come, I’ll take you home.”

Thank God . He must have come to his senses. Perhaps his broody looking friend convinced him that my being here would only bring trouble. With caution, I moved across the room toward him, intentionally sidestepping his outreached hand. The deep growl that escaped him indicated his disapproval.

Once outside the office, he gripped my hand tightly, interlaced his fingers with mine, and began tugging me behind him as we moved through the crowd. It surprised me that even with the incident that had happened outside the club, everything was as it was before. People were dancing, the music was loud, and the noise of voices and laughter was buzzing around me. When we reached the waiting car outside the club, I looked around expecting to see police cars and a crime scene unit, but the only thing was a line of people waiting to get inside the most popular hedonistic club in Chicago. I felt Mr. Delaney’s hand on my lower back as he urged me forward. He opened the door for me to get into the back seat then climbed in to sit beside me.

“This isn’t necessary. I could have found my way home on my own, and I don’t need an escort.”

He tilted his head in my direction but made no effort to touch me. “I will determine what is necessary.”

I scooted as far away from him as possible and looked out the window as the car moved through the busy city streets, but it didn’t take me long to discover we were not headed in the direction of my small apartment.

“I thought you said that you were taking me home. Where are we going?”

He turned to look at me, his face serious, and his eyes seemed to pierce through me. “I am taking you home, just not your old apartment.”

“What the hell? Where are you taking me?” The fury I had initially felt was soon replaced with fear. Had he grown so tired and bored with my petulance that he was planning something much more sinister? He had already proven that he was a dangerous man, and that violence was nothing new to him.

I switched tactics. “Just take me home and we can forget that we ever met. I will not tell anyone about what transpired at the club tonight. I won’t call the cops, and we can pretend this day never happened. I promise. Or you can just stop the car and I will either walk or take the bus from here. Either way, you will not have to worry about me talking about you or what occurred tonight. You will never see me again.”

He reached across the car and pulled me onto his lap. I thought about fighting him, but that may cause more harm than good. He turned my face toward him.

His brow furrowed as he studied me. “You are afraid, Angel. Your whole body is shivering.”

I tried to turn away, but he held my chin firm.

“Do you think I could so easily forget meeting you, Bri? Do you believe that I could let you walk away, never to see you again? That you would be a passing thought, just another girl that wandered into my club?”

His warm lips moved to my bare shoulder, and I closed my eyes willing my traitorous body not to react. “What are you going to do to me?”

“I told you. I am taking you home, just not your home. After what happened tonight, I want to make certain you are safe, and the only way I can do that is to keep you close. Until I have more information about the incident that occurred outside the club, you will stay with me.”

His arm wrapped around my waist. “But that is not what you are afraid of, is it, Angel?”

I held my tongue, refusing to answer.

“You can relax. I have plans but none of them include hurting you.”

His fingers slipped lower as he traced circles on my thigh just below the hem of my dress. “But that assurance still doesn’t ease your mind. There is something else that is worrying you.”

I pushed his hand away. “The only thing that will ease my mind is being away from you and whatever crazy shit you have going on in your life. I am not your responsibility anymore. In case you have forgotten, I quit. I am no longer your employee. I know I signed a contract but after tonight I’m sure you aren’t going to try and hold me to it. So, stop telling me to calm down and stop trying to make me accept this as normal. It isn’t making me feel any better. I’m sorry if me being a bit freaked out over this displeases you. A man was killed tonight, and you and your friends are involved in things I don’t even want to know about. I just don’t understand why you won’t let me go home.” My hand flew up to cover my mouth. “Oh my God!! Are you holding me captive?”

My body shivered as a deep rumble vibrated from his chest.

“Hmmm, is that what you think I’m doing? Holding you as my sweet little hostage? Keeping you all to myself so you can play out my deepest, darkest fantasies. I must say, I like the sound of that.”

I rolled my eyes not certain if he was serious or not. “Just take me home. I don’t have time for this. I have too many responsibilities to play games. If I don’t get a job soon, I will be evicted from my apartment, and I won’t have anywhere else to go.”

His eyes widened. “You no longer need to worry about trivial matters, love. I will be taking care of things for you from now on.”

The man was exasperating. “Needing money for food and rent is not trivial for most people. Not everyone is wealthy. So, I can’t accept your help. I don’t want your help. You expect more from me than I am willing to give.”

He shrugged his shoulders and smirked. “I did warn you that I was demanding and would expect your full attention.”

He had me there. “That’s exactly why I can’t accept your help. I’ll think of something. Needing money and running away from a dangerous man is not exactly new to me.”

The tremor in my voice as well as my words must have tipped him off. He tilted his head to the side and his face turned serious. “Are you running from something, Angel? Has someone hurt you?”

I looked away quickly. “No, I just need the money. Like I said earlier, if you weren’t listening, some of us in the real world find it difficult to pay our bills.”

The car came to a stop outside a large skyscraper. “Where are we?”

“This is where you will be staying, at least until I deem it safe for you to be elsewhere.”

The driver came around and opened the door for us. Mr. Delaney gave me a boost from his lap and then followed behind me.

“An office building?”

He chuckled. “There is a penthouse on the 21 st floor. I hope you will find it adequate.”

We walked through the glass doors into the building and two security guards at the front desk jumped to attention.

“Good evening, Mr. Delaney.”

“Good evening, Craig, Brian.”

We continued walking to the elevator, he took a card from inside his coat and swiped it. The elevator doors closed, and we began moving up to the 21 st floor.

“Let me try to explain this to you again. Apparently, you are having difficulty understanding me. I have rent to pay. If I don’t have a job, I will lose my apartment, and I can’t just move without giving notice to my landlord. Besides, I have things at my apartment that I need. I wasn’t thinking when I left for my interview this morning that I would not be returning. I don’t have time for this.”

“I will deal with your landlord and hire a moving company to pack your things. Any more concerns?”

I put my hands on my hips. “I need to tell my friends where I am. I don’t want them to worry about me.”

“The same friends from the club that allowed you to disappear with a man you didn’t know? The friends that never bothered to look for you when you didn’t return? If so, you don’t need them.”

I clenched my teeth tighter, hoping he would notice my frustration. “I have other friends.”

The elevator stopped and the doors opened directly into the luxurious penthouse. He held his arm out for me to enter first. The only sound was the echo of my heels clicking across the marble floors. My eyes widened as I took in the expansive rooms before me. I shouldn’t be surprised that a man like him would have access to such luxury, but after living in a small one-bedroom apartment that was just barely large enough for me and the few things I owned, this seemed like a mansion, and I suppose it was.

I stopped and watched as he walked farther into the room, his steps slowed as he removed the jacket he had been wearing and casually draped it across the back of the leather sofa. The interior and furnishings were reminiscent of his office. Everything was black or white, with dark color schemes, leather, sparkling crystal chandeliers, and cold expensive tile and marble.

“Shall I give you a tour?”

My feet felt heavy, but I managed to cross the room to where he was waiting for me.

“There is a large kitchen equipped with everything you could need, well…except food. If you make a list, I will have someone do the shopping for you.”

I looked around at the extra-large professional kitchen with shiny stainless-steel appliances that appeared to have never been used. “I can do my own shopping.”

“You won’t have time for things like that. As I mentioned before, you no longer have to worry about trivial matters. I will take care of you.”

He stepped closer and I got a whiff of his cologne and perhaps a touch of brandy.

“There is coffee here and the bakery down the street delivers. They do have the best cinnamon rolls in the city.”

He gripped my elbow softly before letting his fingers slide down my arm to take my hand and then pulled me through to the dining room where a large table for eight dominated the space. A crystal chandelier hung above it with an ostentatious fresh flower arrangement as the centerpiece.

“Feel free to order any flowers you like. The florist in the building changes them out weekly. If you have a preference, simply let me know.” He continued pulling me forward. “There are two bedrooms and two bathrooms.”

We stepped into one of the bedrooms. There was a king-size bed along the wall with a thick white down comforter and at least a dozen pillows.

“This is to be your room. Through those doors is a large closet where you will find the purchases you made today. The bathroom is on the opposite side, and I feel you will find it more than adequate. I had it stocked with products and what I felt you may need, but of course, you need only make a list if there is anything else you wish for.”

As I moved around the room, looking at the designer style closet and enormous bathroom, I wondered what he would call grand. The closet alone could be an extra bedroom and the bathroom looked like one of those you would see in a fantasy home show.

“My bedroom is across the hall.” There was an underlying sensuality to his words that captivated me and caused me to feel a little warmer.

He didn’t ask me to follow him, but I got the feeling it was expected. When we stepped into the master suite, I couldn’t stop the sharp intake of breath. It was much larger and decidedly more masculine. The bed was along the side of the windows. There was a fireplace on the opposite wall. The bathroom had a huge whirlpool tub, and the shower was big enough and designed for more than one person. As I looked around, I started to get an uneasy feeling in my stomach.

“How long do you expect me to be here? I mean, the clothes I purchased today are already in the closet, which leads me to believe that you had every intention of moving me in before the incident tonight.”

He removed his tie and threw it on the bed. “What better place for you to be than here with me? When you accepted the job I offered, I did tell you that I was demanding. But after the incident tonight. I feel it is the only way for me to make certain you are protected, and I’m not going to lie, having you at my disposal both day and night is a rather exhilarating prospect.”

My eyes narrowed as I watched him begin to unbutton his shirt, the hint of a tattoo on his chest peeking through. I found it difficult to pull my eyes away. I finally broke free of the trance I had voluntarily slipped into and found my voice again.

“Like I said earlier, I quit. I don’t want the job. Contract or no contract. And as far as you doing this as some kind gesture just to keep me safe, I don’t believe you. And I don’t need protection. I am not connected to you or your friends. I am a nobody. Someone who was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. So, you can keep your money and your protection, I don’t need it. And I am certainly not moving in with you. The farther away from you I can get, the better off I will be. You may have everyone else jumping through hoops to do your bidding, but I’m not going to be one of them. I am going back to my apartment.”

I turned, half expecting him to physically stop me, and walked back to the elevator. Surprised when I didn’t hear his footsteps coming behind me. Once the doors closed, I felt a sense of relief and finally let out the breath I was holding. The man was controlling and arrogant, but those coffee brown eyes and crooked smile still made me weak in the knees. I had to put some distance between us so that I could think clearly.

When the elevator stopped and the doors opened, I took a step out but was surprised to see the two security guards from earlier blocking my path. I tried to move around them, but they effectively stepped in my way, stopping me from going any farther.

“Miss Rogers, I’m afraid you can’t leave.”

I stepped forward and once again tried to get past them. “Get the hell out of my way! What do you mean I can’t leave?”

“Mr. Delaney asks that you return upstairs.”

“Mr. Delaney can fuck off, and so can you. I am going home, and you are going to get out of the way.”

I tried to push through them, and one of the men grabbed my arm. He twisted it back in some sort of submission hold, causing me to cry out.

“Please, Miss Rogers, we don’t want to hurt you.”

I heard the clink of handcuffs and when the man holding me reached for my other arm, I started fighting harder. There was no way I would get away if they managed to get the cuffs on me.

My head jerked up at the sound of the elevator doors opening, and I hoped it would be someone who would intervene on my behalf, but disappointment made my heart sink when I saw who was walking toward me. His face, hard and severe, held no hint of the teasing tone he had taken with me earlier. He was pissed, and I shivered when his eyes raked over me and then back to the men holding me.

“Take your hands off of her now, or I will kill both of you.”

He didn’t yell, but there was a chill to his voice that was frightening. The two men who had managed to get the cuffs on me immediately released their hold and took a step backward.

“She wouldn’t listen, Mr. Delaney. If we hadn’t detained her, she would have left the building.”

I stepped back into the elevator as my captor moved between me and the two security guards. His rage making the two men standing before him quake in their shoes.

“I told you to keep her from leaving the building. I never gave you permission to touch her. If you ever put a hand on her again, I’ll kill you both. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, Mr. Delaney.”

Their faces both paled, fear evident in their eyes. I should feel sorry for them, but I didn’t. If they hadn’t been following their boss’ orders, I would have had a chance of getting away.

Mr. Delaney continued holding them with his cold stare before turning toward me, but his face did not soften. “That was stupid, Bri.”

“No, I was stupid for ever going to that interview and even more so for accepting an offer from a man like you.” I turned around and showed him the handcuffs. “Is there nothing in an HR handbook for your ‘organization’ that says handcuffs are not meant to be used in the workplace?”

His left eyebrow arched upward. “Do you need a reminder, sweetheart? You quit. You don’t work for me anymore, but if it will make you feel better, you can file a complaint.”

He pushed me backward, swiped his card, and again the elevator slowly took us to his penthouse on the 21 st floor. When the doors opened, he gripped my elbow, led me over to the sofa and shoved me down on it.

“Would you like a drink?”

“I would like for you to take these cuffs off.”

He walked over to the bar, poured a glass of some kind of amber-colored liquor, and strolled back to sit by me on the sofa. I watched as he took a sip of his drink and then casually leaned back as if he were about to read a book or watch a movie. As if everything that had happened tonight was just normal day-to-day stuff.

“You can’t keep me here.”

He took another sip of his drink before answering. “Darling, you have no idea what I can do. You are here because I wish you to be, and you will stay for as long as I want you. Regardless, this is the safest place for you.” His voice was soft but alarming and held the certainty of a man who was never deprived of anything.

I blew out a heavy breath, knowing that arguing with him would get me nowhere. “Please, take the cuffs off. They are too tight and cutting into my wrists.” I saw a spark of concern in his eyes before he pushed me forward, and I heard metal clicking and then the cuffs were released from my wrists. I immediately began rubbing the red marks left behind on my skin from the restraints while staring at the man sitting beside me.

He picked up the glass and took another drink. “The man I was meeting with tonight was Nickolai Volkoff. I don’t expect you to know who he is or what he does, but he is one of the most dangerous men in the country. When he saw you tonight, he wanted you.”

“He wanted me?”

His lips turned up slightly in a mocking grin. “That was the reason for the dramatic display when I got you out of the room. Nickolai is the leader of the Volkoff Bratva. He usually takes what he wants.”

My eyes rolled. “Unlike you?” From the slight grin he gave me I knew my sarcasm had not been missed. Then I shook my head in confusion. “Why would he want me?”

His brow furrowed as he studied me. “It amazes me that a woman that looks like you can’t see your sex appeal. That you can’t recognize the desire men have in their eyes when they look over your body.” He stood up and walked to the other side of the room, then turned to face me, his hands in his pockets as he leaned back against the wall. “Nik might not have been the original target tonight outside the club, and until I know for certain who was behind the attack and the reason for it, you will stay here with me where I can protect you.”

“Why do I need protection? I don’t know him, and if I’m honest, I don’t know you either. I don’t know anything. So, if I am not the target and not in any way connected to either of you, why would you insist that I stay here, against my will, no less? I am beginning to think that you are using that as an excuse to keep me here.”

His smile held no humor. “Darling, I don’t need an excuse. Like I said before, if I want you to be here, that is where you will be, and you will stay until I say you can leave. There aren’t many who would oppose me. Do I make myself clear, Angel? You have nothing to fear as you are under my protection, but don’t try running from me again, Bri. I have already allowed you to test my patience to its limits.”

I met his eyes without flinching. “You expect me to just accept all of this? To allow you to keep me here against my wishes?”

He grinned as if he thought the defiance in my tone was a subtle challenge, and he liked it. “Is it truly against your will? Last night at the club you seemed willing enough, and I would bet money that with a little bit of coercion on my part, you would be willing right now.”

I wanted to slap his smug face. “Last night was a mistake.” My voice was soft, and I looked away from the intensity in his eyes.

“No.” He crossed the room quickly, gripped my chin, and turned my face back to his. “Last night was not a mistake, Bri. It was destiny. You walked into my club, into my life, and from the moment I saw you, I knew you were supposed to be mine. I was hoping for an easier transition for you, but as it is, your entrance into my world, into my life, will not be as simple as I would have hoped.”

I tried to pull my eyes from his, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t. “What kind of man are you? What kind of life do you lead?”

I watched his eyes darken and instantly wondered if the question angered him.

Regardless of the icy expression on his face, I continued probing for answers. “I know you are in business with the Russian mob, and I suspect you are involved in other criminal enterprises. But taking me and keeping me here when I have so clearly stated that I want no part of this, is asinine. What kind of a man even thinks this is acceptable?”

He finished off his drink and then moved to stand in front of me. “I will tell you the kind of man I am. When I saw you walk into my club last night, I knew I wanted you before I even stepped forward and offered to take you upstairs. You looked out of place, like you were lost, as if an innocent angel had walked through the wrong door. I have not been innocent for a long time, Bri, if I have ever been innocent at all, and I felt the need to pull you into the darkness with me, even if my doing so steals that innocence away from you. So, you can see little angel, there is nowhere you can run to escape me; this is my city. I control almost everything that goes on here. Trying to leave is just foolish and will only make me angry. You should enjoy what I can give you and be happy for the protection I offer. Because as long as you are with me, no one would dare touch you.”

His words left me speechless. My hands trembled as I pressed back against the sofa, trying to put as much distance between us as possible. “You said you wouldn’t hurt me.” My voice was barely audible, almost a shaky whisper.

His hand cupped my cheek, his touch soft. “Darling, I am indeed the monster you perceive me to be, but I meant what I said, I will not hurt you. I will, however, have you in my bed.”

Even though the man scared the shit out of me, I still felt my anger building inside me. He thinks he can snap his fingers and get whatever he wants, but I was not going to give in that easily. And to be honest, I was pissed at myself for feeling desire whenever he mentioned having me in his bed or the longing that pulsed through me at his touch.

“I disagree. You may control this city and you may have a plethora of people willing to do your bidding, but I am not one of them. So, I will play your little game until you give up and decide to let me go. I assure you there is easier prey out there for you to hunt.”

He moved back to the bar and refilled his glass before walking across the room and handing it to me.

“Oh, I am aware that there are other women who would easily fall into my bed. Who would be much more appreciative of the offer you have received, but where is the challenge in that? The fact that you continue to deny the obvious attraction and desire you have intrigues me. And I like a good challenge.”

I rolled my eyes at his arrogance. “You would think that, but there is nothing you can do to make me want you, to want this. Now, if we are finished, I would like to go to my room.”

He blocked my path and when I went to move around him, he gripped my arm and pulled me closer. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Do you think that after the little stunt you pulled earlier, I would allow you to have the freedom of your own room? That offer has been rescinded, sweetheart. You will stay with me.”

I jerked my arm back, trying to free myself from his grip. “If you think that is going to happen, then you are not nearly as smart as I thought.”

His hand shot out and gripped my chin, not enough to hurt, but it got my attention. “I have given you more leeway than I have given to anyone before, but don’t try to take advantage of my leniency.” He looked over to where he had tossed the discarded handcuffs. My eyes followed his and I lunged for them, but he was faster. He gripped my arm and pulled me closer to him before dangling them in front of my face. “Since you are planning on fighting your arrangements, I suppose these will come in handy.”

My eyes narrowed and I tried to pull away. “Let me go.”

“Never.”

He leaned closer and let his fingers brush my hair away from the side of my neck before he leaned over and pressed a small kiss just below my ear, making me tremble slightly. What the hell was wrong with me? Even after everything he has done, I can’t stop my body from reacting to his touch. His fingers dipped lower and grazed the side of my breast, causing me to suck in a breath. Then before I could protest, he tossed me over his shoulder and carried me down the hallway to his bedroom. I shrieked, but there was no one to hear me, and even if they did, this was his building, and I knew no one would dare to challenge him.

I thrashed around, pummeling his back with my fists, earning a rather hard smack to my ass, causing me to suck in a deep breath of air.

“If you don’t stop moving around so much, I’m going to drop you.”

“Go to hell! I hate you!”

“Now is that any way for us to start a new relationship?”

He tossed me on the bed, momentarily stealing my breath, and quickly moved over me, gripping one hand over my head and snapping the handcuffs over my wrist before securing the other cuff to the headboard. I kicked at him and pulled, trying to free myself, but he simply gave me that one-sided grin that made him look like sin itself, which in turn made my anger intensify.

His gaze lingered on me with seductive intensity. “If you would stop fighting long enough, you might take a minute to appreciate how we could take this situation and turn it into something much more pleasurable.”

I glared at him. “Fuck. You. The only thing that would give me pleasure right now is seeing your heart ripped from your chest.”

He pulled on my wrist again and moved to stand closer to me. “Ooh, violent, I like it.” He chuckled before turning serious again. “Stop fighting the restraints, love. You can’t free yourself and pulling against them will only damage the skin on your wrist.” He picked up my free hand and turned it over to press a kiss on the inside of my wrist before tracing over the lines on my palm. The feel of his warm fingers against my skin instantly made my body grow warmer.

“Has chaining me to your bed been your plan all along?”

He tilted his head to the side as he traced over the curve of my cheek. “Hmm, keep talking like that, love, and you will find out much sooner exactly what plans I have for you.”

He removed his jacket and tossed it on the other side of the bed. “I am going to shower and get ready for bed. If you had been more polite, you could have joined me. As it is, you can sit there and think about what you are missing.”

He whipped his shirt over his head and try as I may, I couldn’t pull my eyes from him. He was so damn sculpted and despite my best efforts, I looked my fill. He removed his pants and stood before me naked. The sight made my throat dry. He was the most magnificent specimen of a man I had ever seen. His cock jutted out hard, thick, and long. Our little altercation must have turned him on, and he was unashamed at showing me the evidence of his desire. I felt the heat building between my thighs and my panties grew damp despite my best efforts to push his image from my mind. I looked away and closed my eyes, hoping to squash the burning fire that had ignited inside me at the sight of him. I took one more peek through my hooded eyelids to see him grip his dick and stroke once before turning his back to me and walking into the bathroom. I heard the shower running and tried to shut out the erotic images that kept popping up in my imagination.

I had to think of something, some way to turn things in my favor…and I had to get out of these damn cuffs. Once he was out of the shower, I had a feeling that he had every intention of continuing what we started the night I met him at the club, and while I had adamantly stated that I would not give into his wants and desires, I wasn’t so confident in my abilities to do so. While the man infuriated me, I didn’t understand the desire that I was feeling, the desire to throw caution to the wind and give in and take what he was offering.

Rogue

Bri’s anger wasn’t unexpected. However, I was disappointed that she tried to run from me and even more so that I didn’t anticipate it. When I called downstairs and told the guards to stop her, I should have been more specific and told them to do so without touching her. The fury I felt when I saw her being manhandled and restrained almost made me lose control. I wanted to kill them when I saw how tightly they were gripping her arms; nobody would touch her but me. And while I was hoping that would be a great deal more touching of her tonight, it seems as if my lost little angel was not as receptive to the idea as I was hoping.

There was no doubt that with some effort, I could make her forget the anger she was feeling. I stared into the bathroom mirror, trying not to think about her lying cuffed to my bed. I had never had a woman that haunted my thoughts like this before. This was new to me. Women had always been forgettable and convenient for the time I had them in my company, but once I grew bored, I found it easy to walk away and never look back.

But not with Bri. I wanted her here with me now. There was an intense need for her to want me. I craved her acceptance of me, all of me, and everything that I am, both man and monster. I turned the shower on and stepped inside, letting the hot water run over me. Pressing my hands against the tile, I lowered my head. My dick was hard as steel, and it ached for relief. It had been many years since I had sought release by my own hand. Never had a need to. There had always been a woman willing to part her legs or open her mouth for me. Whether it was for my money, the power I possess, or simply the allure to danger, I had never been denied the pleasure a woman could give, until now.

Many of the women I had dated were attracted to the sparkle of the parties and society functions that I attended. Being the lady on my arm brought them the attention they craved. Their pictures taken by the many photographers who stalked the events attended by the rich and powerful of Chicago, being on the society pages of the newspapers and magazines as my newest conquest. All of them wanted what I could give them, but none of them could handle the real monster I kept hidden from most of the world. As soon as the slightest beastly part of me came to light, I knew what they would do. That was one of the reasons I never kept a woman for more than one night, none of them had ever made me want to do so until I saw Bri.

Fuck! I wanted her . I turned off the shower and grabbed a towel with every intention of doing my best to make her see the stupidity of her refusing me and the pleasure I was longing to bring her. I wrapped the towel around my waist and had only taken two steps when the buzz of my cell phone broke through the haze of lust in my brain.

“What the fuck do you want?”

There was a short moment of silence and then a deep grunt before he spoke. “You can meet me at the warehouse, or I can come to the penthouse, either way, we need to talk…now.”

“I’ll be at the warehouse in half an hour.”

I walked back into the bedroom and threw the phone on the bed before moving to the closet to get dressed. I knew from the tone of Blaze’s voice that it was something important, but right now even the urge to commit violence was not nearly as strong as my need for her. It angered me that this woman was so embedded under my skin, and I hoped that whatever Blaze had at the warehouse would allow me to work off some of my frustrations because if I didn’t get some sort of relief soon, there would not be anything to keep me from taking what I wanted so desperately.

I walked out of the closet fully dressed to see Bri trying to squeeze her wrist through the cuffs. “I told you that you will hurt yourself if you don’t stop.”

Her eyes flashed fire as she yanked her hand one more time. “I would rather hurt you.”

I smiled as I walked closer to her. “There will be time for that later, I promise, sweetheart.”

Her eyes narrowed as she took in the clothes I was wearing. “Are you going back to the club?”

I sat beside her and was happy to see that she didn’t shrink away in fear. “Why? Will you miss me?”

She rolled her eyes. “Hardly, but surely you aren’t going to leave me here like this.” She tugged on her arm again as if to remind me of her predicament.

“But if I let you free, how can I be certain you will still be here when I get back? My guess is that you will run as soon as possible.” I reached up and gripped her wrist that was cuffed to the bed.

“You can’t be serious! What if there is an emergency…a fire or armed intruders? I would have no way to save myself.”

I laughed at her, which caused her to reach across her body with her free hand and try to hit me. “Fine, I will release you, but it will cost you. If I do you a favor, I will expect one in return.”

“Releasing me from where you have me handcuffed to your bed isn’t exactly a favor. You are only righting a wrong that you inflicted upon me.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Well, if that is how you feel…” I stood from the bed and started walking to the door.

“Wait!” There was a shrill urgency to her voice.

I glanced over my shoulder. “Yes?”

“You win. If you will release me, I promise to not run away.”

I turned back to her and leisurely strolled over to the bed, fighting the urge to push her skirt higher and part her legs so I could taste her. “Not good enough. I can easily make assurances that you won’t be able to leave the building. I want something else.”

Her fierce stare nearly burned and if looks could kill, I would have already burst into flames.

“Fine, what favor do you want?” Her nostrils flared with fury.

“When I return, I want you to share my bed with me. Willingly.”

“Are you insane?” Shock seemed to cause the words to become wedged in her throat.

I turned back toward the door, ignoring her comment.

“Wait!”

There was the urgency again .

“I don’t have time to wait, Bri. I should have already left. The business I must attend to is quite urgent,” I replied impatiently.

“I’m sure you can spare me a minute or two.” Her voice dripped heavy with sarcasm.

I looked at my watch. “You have one minute to convince me.”

“If I agree to share your bed, does that mean you will expect me to…you know.”

I frowned as I took a step closer. “It means that I want you in bed beside me.”

She glanced over at the handcuff on her wrist. “I just don’t want you to get the wrong idea. I do not want to have sex with you.”

My eyebrows had risen as I watched her. “Times up, Angel. I will see you when I get back.”

“I’ll do it! Just please don’t leave me here like this.”

I walked over to the bed, took the key from my pocket, and released her. She rubbed the red and raw marks on her wrist while looking up at me.

“You don’t have to worry, Angel. I would never force myself on you. I simply want to share my bed with you. If anything, other than sleeping occurs, it will be because you want it as much as I do. Perhaps you will even instigate it.”

“Don’t hold your breath.”

I reached out and let my finger glide over her cheek. “Get some rest. I don’t know how long I will be.”

When I walked out of the bedroom, I grinned as I locked the door behind me. I heard her yell my name. While I was willing to release her, I was not stupid enough to give her complete freedom. I knew she would try and find a way to leave the penthouse if I didn’t lock her in the room, but I did get her to agree to share my bed, and I cursed Blaze for disturbing what could have been a very pleasurable evening.