Chapter 16

Jenna

Ihadn’t laughed so hard or so often in years.

Elena had a way of making what I was going through seem almost like a vacation or as if we were already family. It was strange and powerful in softening the anger. Would it last? Could I put what he’d done in a neat shelf on some box? I couldn’t be certain of that.

“This one is a subtle yet powerful merlot,” Elena said as she poured a small amount in a glass.

I lifted it, swirling the deep, beautiful color, inhaling the scents of raspberry and cinnamon. When I dipped my tongue into the warm liquid, I instantly tingled. Her face held eagerness to hear what I had to say. It was the fifth wine of the Diamondis wineries I’d tried. “This one is perfect. I think it’s my favorite.”

She clapped her hands together. “I’m glad you think so.”

“This is incredible.” She’d driven me through the vineyards themselves before heading to the most impressive tasting facility I’d ever seen. It wasn’t just a room where wine tastings were done. It was the complete package, people longing to rent the facility for weddings, celebrations, and holiday events. There were cabanas with firepits and complete kitchens, cozy areas with leather sofas and chairs by huge fireplaces made of stone.

The commercial kitchen was state of the art, the gift shop was adorable. It was the kind of cozy shop where you could find the perfect gift from candles to handblown glass, stuffed animals to silk scarves, and they were all from local artisans.

The main tasting room had cathedral ceilings and the most incredible music coming from unseen speakers. There was room for a band on the outdoor covered stage, and festive lights hung everywhere in trees and on railings. The place was packed, the small room we were in constantly being invaded by customers. I’d loved every minute of being here. The environment, the scents, the music, and the company. Let alone the wine was the best I’d ever tasted.

“I’m so glad you like this. This is our recent gold medal win and something I am so proud of,” Elena said with such delight in her voice.

“You should be.”

Her phone buzzed for the third time. She’d placed it on the small bar top surface, allowing me to see not only the person now texting but the time as well. Uh-oh. We’d been gone all day and Stavros was none too happy.

Where the FUCK are you?

The angry lettering said it all, the tone similar to what I’d heard the first night. Elena cursed in Greek under her breath but pulled the open bottle of wine away.

“Don’t look now but the party pooper wants you back at the house. Maybe he has something special in mind.”

“I doubt it. I’m certain he wants to punish me. Again.”

She looked at me with side eyes and grinned. “Now it’s official. He adores you. Soon, we’ll be looking at wedding dresses.”

“Oh, I know better. I would never marry a man like him. I’m not into bad boys.”

“Then tell me. What kind of boys are you into?”

As she grabbed my glass, placing it in the small sink and heading around from the other side of the bar, her grin was just as infectious as before.

“I need to think about that.”

“Okay. You can tell me while my men drive you home.”

“Home. Remember, it’s not my home.”

“Uh-huh. Since he’s never brought anyone there before, it’s your home.” She shoved her phone into her pocket, and I followed her out to the SUV, the two soldiers right there to open our doors. Being chauffeured around everywhere was something I could likely get used to.

Just as I was ready to climb inside, I noticed what appeared to be the same man I could swear I’d seen before leaning against the building, staring at us intently. When I finally sat down, she noticed my gaze just before Bruno closed the door after me.

“What are you looking at?” she asked, leaning over slightly.

“Do you know who that is?” I glanced in her direction.

“Who are you talking about?”

I looked again and he was gone. Groaning, I shook my head. “I think all the discussion about safety has given me the heebie-jeebies.”

“If you noticed something, tell me. I’ll have one of my men check it out.”

“You have maybe three hundred people milling around on the grounds. I’m just being foolish.”

She gave me an odd look but nodded. “If you’re certain?”

Jarvis climbed into the driver’s seat, immediately starting the engine. “Is there something wrong, Miss Diamondis?”

“I’m not sure, Jarvis,” she answered.

“No. I was being silly. Let’s get back before Stavros has a cow.”

She laughed. “Maybe you do know him a little better than I thought you did.”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“There has to be something you like about my brother.”

I bit my lower lip, the various sultry images of him popping into my mind creating another warm flush.

And not just across my cheeks. My pussy was throbbing, my panties damp and it happened every time his name was even mentioned. Was it possible I liked him a lot more than I wanted to admit? Oh, I was in such trouble. With myself. My convictions. What convictions?

“He’s the sexiest man I’ve ever seen and the best kisser there is. I’m certain of that. When he saved my life that night, forcing me to remove the bullet from his shoulder and acting all badass before he gave me ten thousand dollars for my trouble, he kissed me. I mean he really kissed me. It was at that moment for the very first time in my life my knees were knocking and I was breathless. You know all those couples in erotic romance novels, the author talks about vibrant stars floating or shooting in front of the girl’s eyes?”

Elena didn’t say a word. She just stared at me with wide eyes, the setting sun highlighting her shock and awe.

I giggled, which wasn’t like me either. “Well, I had them. And let me tell you they weren’t just vibrant. They were neon in color. Bright orange and fuchsia, passion purples and cobalt blue. And chartreuse. I was so floored I stood in the same place after he’d left me alone for almost thirty minutes. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe or think. It was crazy. Just crazy. And I had fantasies about him that night. I mean whoa, baby, that kind of dark and filthy fantasy that would make even the hardcore romance reader blush and swoon. They’d also reach for their vibrator, which is exactly what I did, but it wasn’t satisfactory at all. How could it be? He wasn’t there with me. Touching me. Tasting me. Teasing me. But I tell you what, when I woke up that morning from what little sleep I’d had, I was hot and wet all over.”

The silence in the SUV was deafening. Until one of the goons up front cleared their throat and I wanted to crawl under one of the seats and stay there.

“And I vomited from the mouth just a little bit. Oops.”

She was the one fanning her face this time, both men shifting uncomfortably. As Elena sat back in her seat, I dropped my face into my hands, unable to keep from laughing.

“That was… amazing. I tell you this. You two have it bad for each other. Bad. My God. I need to open a window.”

And she did.

While I remained mortified and she took up the silence by jabbering about various things, all I could think about was the dozens of comments she’d made about her brother. She was right in that I hadn’t really asked him any questions. I hadn’t wanted to try to get into his mind or find out what he liked to eat, although he’d told me pizza. I bit my lower lip to keep from laughing.

Maybe I could like the man after all.

A couple of minutes later, Jarvis pulled into the driveway, taking his time heading toward the house. Twilight had settled in, darkness soon to follow. It seemed every light had been turned on outside, including the backyard. I was able to see a warm glow coming from around one side.

“He’s pissed. Just be prepared,” Elena said as soon as the SUV’s engine was cut.

“He can get over it.” I didn’t wait for the door to be opened for me. While I didn’t want to fight with the man, I wasn’t going to allow him to bully me either. We’d played it safe. I hadn’t tried to run. We’d been protected the entire time. For him to act like I had a curfew was ridiculous.

And unacceptable.

“We’ll get the bags, Miss Diamondis,” Bruno said, his eyebrows lifted in amusement as he looked at me. “It was fun getting to know you, Miss Kilborne.”

“Thank you, Bruno. For everything.” I wasn’t certain of any of my actions any longer. I rose onto my tiptoes, giving him a kiss on the cheek. While he seemed shocked and flattered, the moment I pulled away, I noticed Stavros was standing just outside the open door directly under one of the lights.

And man, I’d never seem him so pissed; the steam was billowing like it was coming from a dragon.

Elena caught what I was looking at and whistled.

I was ready to issue a nasty retort when he turned on his heel and walked inside, slamming the door after him.

“Did I happen to mention he can be a little moody? Just a tad bit?” She pinched her thumb and index finger together and I snorted in response.

“Well, he can get over it real quick.” I planted my hand on my hip and headed toward the door.

“I’m going with you. It’s my fault.”

“Nothing is your fault, Elena. You were asked to take me shopping. You did that and much more. Handling your brother is something I need to do on my own. Okay?”

She groaned from beside me. “I’ll help the boys with the bags. We’ll leave them just inside. Maybe you can call me and we’ll have lunch soon.”

“I would if he hadn’t smashed my phone.”

“You’re kidding?” She seemed appalled.

“Well, to be fair, I was attempting to call the police.”

She pressed her hand over her mouth, unable to hold back laughter. “Priceless. Just priceless.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“You need a phone in case of emergencies. I’ll talk to him.”

I pulled her into a hug, which seemed like the most natural thing in the world to do. “I can handle your brother. Really. I can.”

“I know you can. Remember what I said. He’s been through shit in his life. He worries. Just trust me on that.”

“I wish I knew what that was.”

“Maybe he’ll tell you one day. Then you’ll really know that you’ve managed to give him back his broken heart. Now, go.”

She backed away, but I could tell it was with reservations. There was no sense in elongating the situation or exacerbating it either. I headed inside, waiting in the foyer as the two men dropped off the two dozen or so bags, both giving me a nod before closing the door. While I hadn’t seen any armed guards outside, I’d felt them. As if they were waiting in the bushes.

I searched the house, finding him in his office, which I’d yet to be in. He was standing in front of a set of French doors, and I could tell by the reflection he had a drink in his hand. I wasn’t entirely certain what to say to start the conversation but there was no doubt he knew I was close. Everyone would know given the crackle of electricity that rolled like waves of untethered live electrical lines.

I braved the tension, walking further inside.

“I can tell you’re angry,” I said.

“You bet. You are to follow the goddamn rules! Before dark. Not an hour afterwards. Before.”

Jesus Christ. The man could get under my skin faster than anyone alive. I hadn’t intended on getting angry with him. What would be the point. But I found myself furious that he was immediately attacking me when nothing had happened.

“Well, I didn’t have control over the situation,” I retorted.

“Like fuck you didn’t. You did this on purpose. You want to push every button. My God. To think I placed my trust in you.”

“Trust? We’re actually having a conversation about trust right now? Why are you so goddamn angry in the first place? Because I was having fun for a change? I did what you asked. I didn’t try and run, which is why you made certain your sister had guards with her. I was certain they had handcuffs waiting if I tried. They were right there by our sides at all times.”

“That might not have been good enough!”

He was more exasperated than I’d seen him before, almost irrational. As if he was keeping something from me.

“Did you tell them to punish me if I was a bad girl too?”

He exhaled then turned around, his body shaking. Since he’d been so calm and collected when he killed two men, I wasn’t certain he had but so much emotion inside of him.

Boy, was I wrong.

However, his overzealous nastiness only pushed me to the edge. He continued fuming, the heat and fire unlike anything I’d experienced with anyone, and I had the capability of making the Pope angry.

“You have no clue what could have happened. None.” He jammed his finger into the surface of his desk with such ferocity, I was certain he’d broken it.

The tension was thick enough I wasn’t certain it could be cut with a chef’s knife.

“Why does that matter to you, Stavros? Seriously. Huh? Why? Is it because I’m just some plaything that you need to keep bright and shiny? A lovely pet to collar and leash, to stroke when you deem her a good girl. Or maybe this is about me being your possession and making you look bad with your friends, family, and brutal soldiers? What? Why do you care so much about me?” I found myself walking closer. “Nothing happened. Nothing, except I had a good time with your sister.”

“It could have.”

“But it didn’t.” We’d both raised our voices and I was certain the room was about to catch fire given our fiery exchange.

“Why weren’t you home earlier?”

His demands were almost laughable. “I didn’t know the crazy curfew was to the minute like I was ten years old.”

“You were to be home early. Early. Before dark. And I told you that if you wanted to be treated like a child, I was happy to provide discipline as necessary.”

“To hell with you. You just forced me to go out of your house. Were you with one of your girlfriends? How did you explain my existence?” Wow. I really wanted to know if he was attached to anyone. Now that shocked the hell out of me.

“I don’t have any goddamn girlfriends.” He pounded his fist on his desk and I laughed. Oh, boy. I was really pushing my luck.

“No? Well, maybe that’s because you’re an ass.”

“Damn it, Jenna. Damn it. Where the fuck did you two go?”

“Jesus Christ. Now, you don’t trust your sister?”

“I don’t trust the monsters who will come after you again. Okay? Okay?”

The flash of electricity was so hot I was terrified we’d both burst into flames.

Five seconds ticked by. Ten. I was furious, so much so I couldn’t see straight.

“Elena took me to her winery because I expressed an interest. I wonder if you’ve done that at all or if you’re so embroiled in being Mr. Bad Ass that you don’t care about your family. At. All.”

There was no doubt in my mind that I’d crossed a huge line, massive one. The fire in his eyes was exactly what I’d seen when he’d pulled the Russian dude off me inside the clinic. If looks could kill, whew. He tossed back the rest of his drink, pitched the glass away, shocking me it didn’t shatter, and took long strides in my direction.

I was too stunned to move quickly before he was able to grab both my arms, pulling me up to my toes and so close to him I couldn’t move if I wanted to.

And in truth? I wasn’t certain I did. His scent was already too incredible, the feel of being in his arms amazing.

“Don’t you get it, Jenna? I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“Why? Why? Why? I don’t know why you’re telling me that.”

He cupped the back of my head, his chest heaving. There wasn’t nearly as much anger in his eyes as I’d thought there’d been. “Because I don’t want to lose you. That’s fucking why. You are mine. You belong to me. We belong together.”

There was such burning desire in his voice that I was breathless, unable to say anything in retort.

His hold was tight, so strong, his heated breath exciting me, igniting every nerve in my body. For a few seconds, all we did was stare at each other, both breathing hard. But the moment he crushed his mouth over mine, I was pulled once again into the sweetest vacuum, the kind I never wanted to leave.

It was another one of those incredible moments like you’d see in a movie where the camera panned around the passionate couple in circle after circle until it was spinning out of control. Just like my mind was doing. He tasted of bourbon and cinnamon as he dominated my mouth.

I was lost in the moment, the kiss more passionate than the one I’d described to Elena. He explored every centimeter of my mouth, yanking me against him and grinding his hips back and forth so I knew exactly what he was thinking and what he wanted.

The moment was breathtaking, rattling every thought, all the anger gone. I wanted this man and while it was crazy, lying to myself any longer wasn’t what I wanted to do.

He rolled his hand down my back, cupping my buttocks to tighten his hold even more. Every inch of me was tingling, goosebumps everywhere.

When he finally broke the kiss, we were both gasping for air. He laughed seconds later, shaking his head ever so slowly. “You’re not getting away from me. Not now. Not ever. Don’t you dare try it.”

I was so thrown by what he’d said that I had no snappy comeback. I was certain he was going to whisk me off my feet, taking me to bed. Maybe the best thing to do was to act like I was giving in, acquiescing to his needs. That way, I could more easily form a plan of escape.

I was a good actress. Right?

Okay, so not really but I had to do something. As I tried to make a promise to myself that I would and could lead him on, it struck me that not only was I not that kind of girl but that I actually wanted to get to know him better. Did this have everything to do with spending time with his sister? Another moment of confusion hit me, not that it hadn’t about fifty times in the last couple of days. It was ridiculous to think I could want this under any circumstances.

But…

When he broke the connection, taking two purposeful steps back, an evil look crossing his face, I almost fell forward from shock.

“I hope you purchased something sexy on that long day of yours.” His voice was so husky I was still shaking, but this time from desire and not from anger.

“Maybe.”

“Hmmm. Then get your sexy bottom up those stairs and slip into it. Don’t take too much time because I am one famished man. That’s what happens when the only woman you crave decides to keep you waiting for far. Too. Long. So, here’s the way it’s going to be, sweetheart. You’re going to get dressed and we’re going out. Together. You’re not going to fight me. We’re going to have a nice evening together.” His nostrils flared as he tore his gaze all the way down the length of me.

I was certain I could no longer feel my legs, I was so completely aroused. My nipples ached, my pussy throbbed, and I didn’t want this night to end already.

“And after I wine and dine you, maybe even enjoy a little dancing and champagne, well then, I’m going to ravage every inch of your body but not once. Several times. And if you’re a very good girl, I will continue teaching you about the pleasures of agony and ecstasy. Now, tell me, sweetheart. Is that something you’d like?”

Holy shit. I thought I’d been turned on before, but this was…

“Yes. Oh, my God, yes.”

“Then go before the beast surfaces.”

The look on his face was that of a true savage and I was flushed, butterflies swarming. I backed away, blowing him a kiss on purpose before heading to the doorway, stopping long enough to toss my head over my shoulder. “Where are we going?”

He grinned, this time like some kid. But I could tell he had evil things on his mind. Sinful things. “That’s a surprise.”

“Bad boy.”

“You have no idea.”

As I raced into the foyer, grabbing the bag with that hot little red dress and way too high heels, another epiphany hit me hard.

I was happy. For once I was happy and it seemed so strange that I could say that about being around a family and a man who’d captured me.

And a man who’d save me.

However, I couldn’t get over the feeling that he was the one who needed saving.