Chapter 11
Riley had made an unexpected move in my game. With each passing day, I was finding Riley to be anything but predictable, like I’d first thought. She hadn’t reported the incident, hadn’t even called the building manager to have her locks changed. No, she’d let me continue playing.
She’d left town on Sunday, the act leaving me baffled. The flowers I’d left for her had given her a mixed reaction, and I could see her battling with her need to like them and hate them. I’d watched as she pulled out a phone and sat it on her table, staring blankly at it. It wasn’t the one she used daily, which had me curious. But then she left, running to her car and driving off. I couldn’t follow, but I had a tracker on her phone, so I’d waited all morning, my nerves fraught that she was so far from me. I could see that she’d stopped in Creekwood, but not where or why. It had killed me knowing she wasn’t close.
But then she’d returned, as if she hadn’t been gone all day. I’d left her another gift, her reaction still not what I’d expected. I’d almost lost it when she left her apartment, walking the dark streets by herself, but when she’d gone into the bar, I was livid. Stuck outside, waiting in the shadows for her, visions of other men hitting on her had consumed me. My rage and envy had grown with every passing minute. Den had buzzed my phone multiple times, scolding me for leaving my men on edge the entire time. They had strict orders to keep their distance when I was watching Riley, and even stricter orders to keep their mouths shut about it.
The experience had left me so out of control, so aching to rush in there after her, that I’d considered stopping my game. This wasn’t necessary; I had her where I wanted her. She would easily spread her legs for me, but patience was what set me apart from everyone else and something that had earned me my reputation. I didn’t rush in. I took my time, making my enemies squirm, watching their nerves grow. Waiting days, months, sometimes even years before enacting my revenge. But when I struck, I struck hard.
I wouldn’t rush this, and I would play with Riley, continue stalking her, coming into her life faceless and unknown until I broke her, and I would continue taunting her in everyday life, until she was so desperate for me that she was begging. I’d have her both ways, vulnerable and nervous, obedient and wanting.
But the invitation she’d left me last night had almost knocked me over. I knew she had a side to her that was more than she showed; she was Mason’s sister. But I was beginning to see that it was a side that made her even more tempting to me.
Tie me up, touch me, taste me.
The words resounded through my head as I watched her get ready for bed. I was finding it hard to be patient with how sexy and inviting she looked. Her tank top reached just to where her tiny panties sat. She had her legs crossed and in her hand she held the black silk blindfold I’d left her to find when she returned home from work. The note that accompanied it was still on her kitchen table—I’ll follow your bidding, but you obey my one rule. Wear this and don’t remove it.
The scarves were on her bedside table, loose and ready for what I had in mind and from her placement of them, exactly what she had in mind. My desire flared thinking of it, the anticipation of seeing her place the blindfold, killing me. The tightness in my fists was extreme when she brought it to her eyes and tied it. Her movements had me mesmerized and so enraptured that my cock nearly jumped through my pants.
I remained hidden in the apartment next door until she laid down and the signs of sleep finally revealed themselves. Patiently, I waited longer, hearing Ava come down the hall at two, then giving it another good thirty minutes before I made my way to Riley’s. Slipping my key in her door, I tried to calm the rapid beating of my heart. I stood in the dim lighting, listening to her soft breathing, before I stepped closer to her. She’d kicked the blankets off, her shirt riding up her stomach, her bare skin calling to me. I reached for the scarves, then delicately touched her, waiting to see if she’d wake. When she didn’t, I guided her wrist up, tying a scarf around it and weaving it through the slats in the headboard before doing the same with her other wrist.
Shit, I couldn’t believe I was doing this, but I needed to touch her, and it was the ideal time to torment her. Torment seemed an odd word for the pleasure I was about to give her. I lowered her panties, hissing as I dragged them over her ankles and she moaned, her legs spreading beautifully for me. My heart was pounding frantically with anticipation. I was almost salivating, my need to taste her was so great. There was something dangerously naughty about this, something almost wrong until I reminded myself that she’d given me permission. She had dictated the rules, and I planned to follow them, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t enjoy every minute.
When she still hadn’t woken, I secured her ankles, then slid between her legs, pushing her thighs further apart and hearing her breathing change. The light was too low to see any details, but her fragrance was intoxicating. I sank my tongue into her, her moan loud as I stifled mine. Slipping my finger into her, I tongued her clit, trying my best to ignore the urge to just take her. It was strong, but I wouldn’t cross the line she’d drawn. This was about pleasuring her. I’d fuck her when she was willing, and I was sure from our interaction in the elevator and the way she’d breathed my name in her sleep that it wouldn’t be long before I had my cock buried in her.
She twitched, and I heard her gasp as she woke, freezing momentarily as if she’d forgotten our arrangement.
“Shhh, baby girl,” I mumbled against her skin to muffle my voice. “Just say the word and I’ll stop.”
I flicked my tongue over her clit.
“What’s the word?” she asked in a raspy voice that made my balls ache.
“Yet. Now be a good girl and come for me.”
Her groan was deep, and I sank my tongue back into her.
“But you’re supposed to be a bad guy,” she moaned.
“I’m the baddest there is, but I won’t take what you don’t offer. I will, however, rip that climax from you.” Tired of disguising my voice and needing to taste her more, I pushed my finger deep into her and sucked her clit, her body lurching as she threw her head back.
She relaxed, her legs quivering beautifully. I smoothed my hand up her stomach, the tremble of her muscles reminding me that my own nerves threatened to betray the controlled demeanor I was exuding. Murder, deception, and torture were things that came naturally to me, but stalking, and whatever this was, was new. Something I would never have done with anyone, but Riley had me so out of sorts, my craving for her so intense that I needed this taste of her, or my control would break and my game would end. I pushed her shirt up, caressing her breast, her nipple firming at my touch. This was torture; my dick was throbbing so badly I thought it might rip through my pants to get to her. She smelled as delectable as she tasted and I glided my tongue up her stomach, feeling another quiver of her muscles tinged with nerves. Purposely, I kept myself above her, not touching my body to hers, my hands and mouth all I would allow myself for fear of not being able to uphold her request if I pressed against her skin.
Drawing my tongue around her nipple, I cupped her breast, hearing her long sigh and the shake within it. The sound was like a siren’s call that I was finding hard to resist. I dragged my teeth along her nipple, her sigh morphing to a deep moan that set my body on fire.
“Fuck,” I muttered, my voice so hoarse I knew she wouldn’t recognize it. She tensed, a quiet whimper falling from her lip. It was a sound that I wanted to hear repeatedly, and it nestled into my consciousness, fixing its claws in me like a mark of ownership I didn’t understand.
Dropping back down between her legs, I gripped her thighs, needing to feel her come undone for me and knowing I needed to be quick, no matter how I wanted to make this last, otherwise, I’d lose control and ravage her the way my cock was urging me to.
I flicked my tongue against her clit, her back arching beautifully. Her thighs quivered again as I slid my finger back into her and pushed my tongue over her clit. I couldn’t get enough of the way they trembled and the power my every move seemed to have over her body. She lifted slightly, my finger sinking further and eliciting a low moan from her. Shit, she was about to destroy me. I kept my finger there, wishing it were me filling her instead. My craving for her had peaked, and I was one moan away from giving up my game. Bringing it back out, I brushed my thumb over her clit and sank my tongue back into her, trying to restrain my groan as her thighs pushed against me. Her loud cry lit an inferno in me, and I fought the urge to free my cock and fuck her. But this wasn’t about me, and I’d made her a promise. I didn’t want to hurt her or frighten her by breaking that promise, no matter how much this was hurting me. When that change in my mentality had occurred, I wasn’t sure. I should have been inducing fear and not moans. I shouldn’t have cared if I was hurting her or frightening her. That had been my intent from the start. But this had turned into something more. This was now about her and the pleasure I wanted to bring her. I was about to tear the climax from her, and the thought was enough to make me lose it. I drove two fingers into her, taunting her clit with my tongue and twisting my fingers just right so that I hit a spot that tore a raw cry from her. She pushed against my face as she broke, her body convulsing around me.
She was glorious, and I licked until she was whimpering. Giving her one last flick against her clit, I lifted myself, resisting the urge to free my cock and thrust it into her.
“Good girl, that was beautiful,” I murmured, licking my fingers loud enough for her to hear before loosening her one hand. I turned and walked out, knowing she wouldn’t see me in the dark and that I’d be out of sight by the time she freed herself.
Returning to the spare apartment, I dropped to my seat, licking my fingers again and stroking my raging hard-on through my pants. My body was shaking with excitement, my cock painfully rebelling because I hadn’t satisfied it with the beauty whose body had writhed to my touch. Riley was still lying on the bed, her breathing hard. I could see the rise and fall of her chest, and the weakened state I’d left her in. After a few minutes, she untied herself and removed the mask. The bliss on her face was intense enough for me to see even as far as she was from the camera. Not bothering to put her underwear back on, she pulled the blankets up and snuggled under them, her smile lighting the room.
I sat there for a long time, calming myself and regaining my control. Tonight had been a stepping point, and now that I’d tasted her, I knew there was no turning back.
Standing at my office window,I watched Riley make her way up the street. She had pulled her ebony hair into a tight ponytail, but the wind still fought to free it, just like my fingers wanted to do. I’d upped my game, enjoying her smile a little too much when I left her my small gifts. She was so beautiful when she was unguarded that it almost hurt to look at her. The need I had for her had grown to an obsessive craving, one I was having difficulty controlling now that I’d handed her the power and let her dictate the next move. Tasting her had almost destroyed me. I could still feel her coming against my mouth, taste her essence, smell her fragrance, and it was driving me mad. I wanted more, and that need rebelled against my need for control. This was my game, one I was slowly losing.
As I lost sight of Riley, my phone buzzed.
“Speak,” I said.
“I found out where she went,” Alec said. I’d tasked him with finding the mystery of her disappearance over the weekend.
“Where.”
“She stopped in a mall. Cameras show her shopping and eating lunch.”
“That’s it? All the stores we have in the city, and she drove hours away to Creekwood. There must be something else. Did she meet someone?” Envy gripped me and I clenched my jaw.
“No, she was alone. I pulled footage from the parking lot, though. She made a phone call. It wasn’t long, but whoever she spoke to, it was emotional. It looked like she was crying before she got in the car and left.”
That was confounding and the idea that she was in pain bothered me on an entirely irrational level.
“Thanks, Alec. Let me know if you find anything more.”
“I did.”
Smirking, I said, “Of course you did. That’s why I keep you around. What did you find?”
“Our guy on Brinks reported he took a heated phone call that same day around the same time as Riley was in Creekwood. He was on site with one of his developers when he stopped the conversation short and took a call. He was screaming into his phone at whoever was on the other end, and by the time he finished, he looked upset. Called the meeting off and stormed away. His men moved out immediately.”
“Let me guess. They went to Creekwood?” I asked, wondering what exactly had gone down between Riley and her brother. I hadn’t started keeping tabs on him until she arrived in town. I needed to know if he was stepping foot in my city.
“Exactly.”
What the fuck was going on? There was something I was missing, and it was driving me mad.
“Anything more?”
“No, that’s all I found out.”
“You did good, Alec. Keep your men on Mason and let me know if he moves again.”
“Will do, boss.”
There was more to Riley Brinks than I thought, and I was ready to discover her secrets.
I walked to my desk and paged Sherry. “Send Miss Brinks up.”
Waiting patiently as I looked out at the snow, I thought through my options. I wanted the game to move to the next level, but a part of me wanted to continue seeing her unguarded smiles, to play with her secretly like I had the prior night. That meant I needed patience. I wanted my control back, however, and now was the time to take it back. I wasn’t ready to give her everything, but I was ready to play more.
I heard her slowly open the door. “You wanted to see me?” she asked in that seductive drawl that made my balls tighten.
“Sit, Miss Brinks.” I continued staring at the street but could hear that she’d chosen to sit in the seat in front of my desk. “On the desk.”
She made a slight noise similar to a cry, and I could sense her confusion. I still didn’t turn to her yet, needing to maintain my control. I wanted her on edge and keeping my back to her ensured she would be.
“Did I not make myself clear?”
“I…no…I mean, yes, you did.”
I smiled at her uncertainty and listened as she rose and sat on my desk before I turned. The breath fled me like it did every time I looked at her. Her hair was still windblown. Strands sat loose around her temple and her neck, and I had the urge to walk over and wrap one around my finger. To feel the softness of it.
Walking over to her, I stepped into her space, smelling the subtle scent of her perfume. Her green eyes were wide with anticipation. Her skirt had slipped up, exposing more of her thigh, and I studied her reaction as I stepped closer and rested my hand on it. Her lips parted, her breaths growing shorter as I smoothed my hand along her skin.
“There’s a rule I have for my employees, Miss Brinks.”
“Yes,” she said rather breathlessly.
“No dating.”
She scrunched her brows, her eyes dipping to my fingers, which were pushing her skirt higher. I loved how she wore no stockings below her boots, even in the cold, but I was curious what she’d look like with a sexy pair of thigh highs and a garter.
“Does that rule not extend to you?” she asked, meeting my eyes.
Lifting my hand, I tipped her chin, brushing my finger down her neck. “No.”
She inhaled so sharply I could see it pained her.
“There are no rules or laws that extend to me, Miss Brinks. I do what I want because I can. And I get what I want because I can.”
“And what do you want?” Her eyes were lush, the green deep with desire, and I fought not to kiss her.
“I want you to keep away from Matt.”
She creased her eyes, drawing back from me.
“Matt?”
“Yes,” I said, stepping back and loving the disappointment in her eyes.
“I haven’t done anything with Matt.”
“No? That’s not the rumor that came from his mouth.” She looked like I’d slapped her. I’d heard the talk from the bastard’s mouth once she turned him down. No one was close enough to her to tell her the truth, so instead they were talking about it behind her back. I should have fired them all. Should have killed the fucker and made him suffer horribly before putting him out of his misery. He’d pay, but I would use his stupidity as leverage.
“What rumor?” There was that guarded look again.
“That he fucked you the night he walked you home.”
Her mouth dropped, and her reaction stung me. “I didn’t sleep with him.”
I crossed my arms as she rose from the desk, the skirt falling to cover that delicate skin.
“I swear, I didn’t. I turned him down when he asked me out.” She chewed her lip, and I could see her emotion changing. “That asshole. I’ll kick his balls so hard he won’t be able to fuck anyone ever again.”
I choked back my laugh. She was a spitfire, and I loved it. I’d only seen her fragile side, but I knew she’d run from Mason and that took nerve. She’d also invited me to play with her, letting her hunter in to taunt his prey, so she wasn’t some frail flower.
I walked over to her, getting so close that she stepped back, the desk pinning her. Memories of her cry of ecstasy returned and the way her body had writhed below my touch, making it almost hard to keep up my charade. I reached out and picked up one of the loose strands of her hair, curling it in my finger like I’d imagined. “So you didn’t sleep with him?”
“No,” she murmured, her anger fading.
“Good. Are you sleeping with anyone else?”
A faint blush started on her cheeks, and I knew exactly why it was there. She remained quiet, and I tipped her chin back up to me. “Answer the question, Miss Brinks. Are you fucking anyone else?”
“Why does it matter?” she dared. “Why is that any of your business?”
I stepped against her, relishing the feel of her body pressing against mine. She exhaled wonderfully, and I slid my hand down her arm.
Leaning close to her ear, I said, “Because you are mine, Riley Brinks. And no other man will touch you.”
She shuddered, her body arching into mine, and I wanted to keep her there, to touch every inch of her and have her come undone for me. But this was a game…one I was failing at miserably. I stepped from her and turned my back, walking to my window.
“I’ll see that Matt packs his things today. That’s all. Miss Brinks.”
She didn’t leave and I could feel her eyes on me.
“That’s all?”
I glanced over at her. “Did I not make myself clear?”
“I…fuck. What if I…”
I turned to her, seeing the look in her eyes. The same one she’d given me in the elevator and on the street. Longing. She wanted me, but the way I was going about this bothered her sense of rightness. Her mystery lover confounded the situation for her because now she had two men she wanted, and I’d just laid claim to her.
“If what?”
She held her head higher. “What if I don’t want to be yours?”
I clenched my jaw, feeling my eyes harden. “Is there someone else I need to worry about, Miss Brinks?”
She stammered before saying, “Riley. It’s Riley. What if there is?”
I fought my need to grin because I knew exactly who that was, and I knew I’d be paying her a visit tonight to taste a little more of my girl. I strode to her, grasping her by the back of the neck and loving the sigh she released. “Then I’ll kill him for daring to touch what’s mine.”
Her mouth fell open, and I could feel the tremble of her nerves. “You can’t kill someone,” she said meekly.
“For you, I would, Riley. For you, I would burn down the world.”
Releasing her, I walked to my desk and grabbed my coat. She continued to stand there, speechless.
“Go back to work, Miss Brinks.”
I strode past her, leaving her there, and made my way from the building. My body was ablaze with my need for her, but I wasn’t ready to act on it yet. I would, however, play tonight. I’d staked my claim, and now it was time to let her know who owned her.