Chapter 27

Colette shoved to her feet. Landon's arms tightened around her briefly, arresting her movement, but then he let her go.

The calm of a moment ago was slowly burning away. It had felt unexpectedly good to finally tell someone what happened. She hadn't spoken to anyone about what she'd been through. She'd known that no one would come rescue her, because no one knew her plan, though her forger had known vaguely where she was going.

Wife. Damien was still calling her his wife. The idea made her skin crawl.

"No one is giving you back to him." Landon's statement was firm.

She turned, backing away from him, though her body screamed at her to go back to him. To curl against him. "No? What if it saves other people's lives? Shouldn't I be willing to suffer if I can stop him from hurting others?"

"No." Rolf shook his head. "It's our job to find information and evidence, not yours to put your life in danger to acquired it. Paid informants are one thing. A civilian should never be used like this."

Colette kept looking at Landon, something cold and cruel rising in her. "But I'm not a civilian, am I? I'm a person of interest in multiple investigations. You made sure of that, made sure everyone at your office knew what you thought of me."

Landon shoved to his feet. "That's not fucking fair, Colette, and you know it."

No, it wasn't, but she was scared and lashing out. The very fact that she was desperate to go to him made her push away harder.

"Will you do it, Landon?" she taunted. "Will you turn me over to Damien and?—"

"It's not going to fucking matter, because I'm going to kill him," Landon snarled.

Colette stared at him. Logically she knew the statement was hyperbole, as it had been last time. He didn't mean it. He couldn't.

"I'll kill him rather than let him hurt you again." Landon's voice was softer now, but no less resolute.

"Please do not plan a murder in my hearing," Rolf said with a sigh.

"You can't kill him," she said.

"Are you doubting my skills or my willingness?"

Colette was at a loss for words, because he sounded…like he meant it.

Landon was serious. He'd kill to protect her.

He loved her.

Colette jammed her fingers against her mouth, stifling the sob. He loved her, maybe as much as she loved him.

Some small part of her had been sure that once he, or anyone, knew what she'd been through, they'd look at her different. That pity would wipe out any other feelings, because how could someone love or respect anyone as foolish as her?

"I'll look through the case file." Rolf stood. "See if there's an indication one way or the other if this is just personal, or if Damien knows you took information."

"Give me the details for your cloud server." Andrei too pushed to his feet. "I'll go through it."

Colette blinked, shocked at the help they were offering. "I…thank you. Thank you both."

She rattled off the information to Andrei, who typed it into his phone. Rolf had already headed for the door to the spiral staircase. Andrei followed him a moment later.

The door closed, leaving her alone with Landon.

Colette walked past stages with bondage equipment and clusters of couches and chairs to the windows. Everything was gray—the sky, the buildings. It felt almost monochromatic.

Landon's footsteps echoed in the vast, empty space as he came up behind her.

"I should have told you," she said, surprising herself. "I should have told you everything."

"Why didn't you?"

"I was scared."

"Of Damien?"

"Of you. Scared that you might do the same thing Agent…Novak?"

"Novak," he confirmed.

"That you'd propose using me as bait like he is. I thought if anyone knew that it was personal for Damien, the temptation to leverage that would be too much to resist."

"You don't trust me."

"I don't trust Interpol. Not really."

"I would never have proposed using you like that."

"Really? It makes logical sense. And what if you set it up to where you were sure I was safe? What about then?" Colette let out a bitter laugh. "The fact that he's calling me his wife only makes it worse. I can see why Novak would want to use me as bait." She rubbed her arms with her palms. "But that's not what he's proposing, is it?"

Landon didn't say anything.

"No point in hiding it. I heard you. He doesn't want to use me as bait. Bait is something you dangle and pull back, but he would let the fish swallow me whole."

"Colette…"

"How would it work exactly? Am I supposed to just walk back in and say I changed my mind? Do I have to marry him?"

"Stop, Colette. It won't happen?—"

"Answer the question, Landon. What does the agent in charge want me to do?"

Landon sighed. "His plan was to arrange for one of the bounty hunters to find you. You'd be fitted with a subcutaneous tracker and a state of the art recording implant first."

"Tag me like I'm a wild animal then let a hunter capture me and take me away." Finally, she turned to face him. "I'm going to leave. You understand that, yes?"

Landon shoulders were tight. "You mean you're going to run. Don't."

"I can't stay. If it's not this plan, it will be something else. I gambled that what I had was enough that you would arrest him, but if it's not, I'm not safe.

"Run where, Colette? And for how long?"

To South America, and for as long as it took, though she didn't tell him that.

"You don't need to leave," Landon's voice rumbled dangerously. "I won't let him?—"

"Because you're going to murder Damien?" She shook her head. "That's not who you are."

"It is when it comes to you." He took a step, until only centimeters separated them. His dark eyes bore into hers. "I told you before, I'd burn the world if you asked."

"I'm not worth the stain murder would leave on your soul." She blinked, and felt a tear slide down her cheek.

Landon cupped her face with one hand. The expression on his face…she didn't have a word for that emotion. "Yes. You are."

His gaze slid down to her lips and she held her breath. Hoping. But he waited, only touching her cheek.

She'd told him not to touch her, and hadn't rescinded the order. Technically he'd touched her several times, but a hand on her cheek or a hug weren't what she'd meant by "touch" and she was sure he knew it.

He was—mostly—respecting her boundaries, but staying close to her, and offering her the comfort of his body against hers when she needed it.

But kissing her, when she'd told him not to touch her, was a bridge she knew Landon wouldn't cross.

Like the first time, she would have to be the one to initiate the kiss.

Colette pushed up onto her toes, laced her fingers together behind his head, pulled him down, and kissed him softly.

He held still, until she parted her lips just a little, exhaling against him, the sound a tentative whimper of need.

Landon's arms came around her, lifting even as he pressed her against his chest. He kissed her like she were a princess rather than a thief—a closed-mouthed press of lips that was both firm and tender. Her own lips trembled slightly, her entire body practically vibrating in reaction to the miasma of emotions she'd been through in the past hour.

He moved them back, pressing her against the window, the glass cold against her back. It felt delicious to have the weight and power of his big body against hers. He deepened the kiss, licking the inside of her lower lip. When she parted her teeth, his tongue delved deeper, stroking over hers.

This was what it felt like to be kissed by the man you loved, and who loved you in return.

Colette grabbed fistfuls of the back of his shirt, holding on as the kiss turned possessive, almost savage.

They were both panting when he straightened. She licked her lips, savoring his taste, as she leaned her head back against the window.

"I owe you an apology," he said. "I'm sorry, Colette. I'm so fucking sorry. If another Dom in this club had used their partner's submission to manipulate them, we'd kick their ass out so fucking fast."

"I was so mad at you."

"Was?" He studied her. "Don't forgive me just because talking about the…things…that happened to you before made what I did seem only marginally fucked up."

"I was mad, because I told myself I trusted you. But I realize I only trusted you with my body. I trusted you enough to submit to you. I trusted that as my Dom you'd respect my safeword. But I didn't trust you with the truth. I was sure that if I told you everything, and you decided to use me as bait, nothing I said would change your mind."

"You thought I'd force you to do something dangerous?"

"I did."

"But now you don't?"

"No. I don't."

"That doesn't change that I fucked up last night," he insisted, pressing a gentle finger against her lips when she started to speak. "I didn't consciously plan to question you during the scene. You just…frustrate me. And it felt like if you would just answer a damned question, it wouldn't be so frustrating."

"That's what Andrei said. That I frustrate you."

"Fuck that guy." Landon's lip pulled up in a snarl.

"He's the one who suggested I tie you down and fuck you."

"Always liked that chap. One of my best mates."

Colette laughed in delight, and kept laughing as he hauled her up into his arms. Rather than a bridal carry, Landon hiked her up so her legs were hooked around his waist.

"Forgive me?" he asked softly. "I abused the gift of your submission. I won't ever do it again."

"I forgive you." Colette wrapped her arms around his neck and hiked herself up, yelping as he grabbed her ass to keep her in place.

"Butt hurt?"

"A little."

"Good."

"Bastard," she purred, kissing his cheek and nipping the corner of his mouth.

"No biting unless you want me to bend you over the back of one of these couches."

Moments ago she'd been so terrified it was unthinkable that she'd ever feel anything but fear again. Now desire gripped her with a ferocity that shocked.

Colette tightened her arms, leaned in, and bit his earlobe.

"Ouch."

She tutted. "The Dom can't take a little bite? The couches are closer. That means we get to fuck sooner."

"Oh no love, no topping from the bottom." Landon adjusted his hold, grabbing her thighs and hauling her up.

Colette shrieked and he tossed her over his shoulder, her breasts nearly spilling out of the corset. He started walking across the club with her bouncing on his shoulder.

She braced one hand on his back, and with the other reached down and slapped his ass.

He laughed and carefully guided them through the door into the hall.

"Let's fuck against the wall," she said as he turned the corner towards their rooms. She was more than a little breathless, both from her position and because she was remembering her fantasy from last night.

"I told you last night what I wanted to do to you next."

He had?

Landon opened the door not to either of their bedrooms, but a playroom. He lowered her to her feet, holding her as she found her balance. She glanced around, then looked back at him.

"No bed," he said softly. "No chains."

Her heart stuttered, her throat tight with emotion.

"And if you want this to be vanilla…" He trailed off frowning. "Well, as vanilla as either of us is capable of?—"

Colette laughed softly.

"—tell me now."

Sex last night had been far from "vanilla" but also hadn't been a BDSM scene, despite the restraints.

"I don't want to scene right now," she said softly. "But I want you to take control. I need you to touch me, to make me forget."

"I was planning to touch you. Everywhere."

"And I want you hot." Colette pressed her palm to his hip and inched her fingers up under the hem of his shirt, finding warm, bare skin. "Like you were when I fucked you."

"Do you mean you want my dick hard as a rock? Because we're past that point, love." He grabbed her wrist, guiding her hand to his crotch. He was wearing slacks, and she was able to mold the fabric around him.

"I need you to—" I need you to love me. "I need you," she finished softly.

He gripped her jaw, tipping her face up. He studied her, and she wondered what he could see in her eyes, what secrets she might no longer be able to keep from him.

Did he know she loved him?

"Tonight, you answer every question I ask you, and you obey every command."

"Yes…" She thought about saying Sir, or Master, but those words would shift this moment into a scene, and this was so much more than that.

As if he could hear what she was thinking, he said, "No rules about what you call me. No high protocol. Just you and me."

"That sounds perfect."

His thumb rubbed her lower lip. "If I put my hand in your panties, are you going to be wet?"

"Very."

"Good." His smile was wicked. "But I'm warning you, you're going to have to be a good girl before I fuck you and I let you come."