Chapter 10 #2
“You’re not in the mood? Temper tantrum?
Oh, I’ve yet to throw any kind of temper tantrums, but when I do, there won’t be a single moment where you can deny what I’m telling you.
My day hasn’t been any better. And I assure you that after being shot at, chased, hunted, tackled, kidnapped, and told that my life as I know it is over, this day, which started out fairly decently has turned to shit. ”
She stopped fighting while spewing venom and maybe she didn’t understand that with the daylight streaming in through the window, her face was illuminated by a golden halo.
“Do you know what’s worse?” she asked.
“What?” I was curious how far this would go.
“To find out the man you developed feelings for is a complete asshole.”
When her wrists were sufficiently tied, I cupped her face and lowered my head, cutting off any additional words with my lips.
The kiss was rough and hard, my tongue claiming hers.
She didn’t move at first, her entire body stiff.
But within seconds, as she’d done with every other moment of intimacy shared, she yielded to my power over her.
Or maybe she was faking it. I enjoyed the few seconds and when I pulled away, I grinned.
“Well, think of it this way. You didn’t need to wait until the third date to figure out all my imperfections.
” With my grip still on her jaw, I yanked the other scarf into my hand, quickly wrapping it across her mouth and tying it behind her head.
Her reaction was instant and helped me comprehend she was mad as a wet hen.
“Be right back. Don’t go anywhere.” I moved off the bed, checking to ensure she hadn’t moved before heading into the bathroom. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Today had been absolute shit.
I splashed water into my eyes several times, finally lifting my head and staring at my reflection. After everything, I had to laugh. Not a single enemy had ever placed me in this position.
And I wasn’t talking about the Ghost.
Grabbing a towel, I watched as my features hardened.
After tossing the terrycloth aside, I leaned over the counter, also hating that I couldn’t put all the pieces together. A single noise brought a smile. Perhaps she had no understanding that I had a clear shot of the bed and could tell she was almost off the side.
I sighed. What in the hell was it going to take with her?
There was one option I’d handle here. The rest would need to wait. With a quick search in her bathroom, including opening the drawers, I found what I needed. As I held up the brush, I smirked. Perfect.
Some women needed to be tamed. She was one of them.
Vivian glared at me with wide eyes, yet they grew into another wave of defiance even as I pulled her wrist, thumping down on the bed.
“I can see we need to begin a new chapter together, Vivian. One that provides up with a level playing field on which trust can be built.”
She muttered and hissed and the gag wasn’t thick enough to hide the words she spewed. I had to admit that she was extremely colorful in her terminology. This was a woman after my own black heart. “Ne…ve,” she managed.
“Yes, we are because the alternative you won’t like. You’re curious what that means?” I asked before holding up and twirling the brush.
This time, her eyes narrowed. Another litany of colorful, muffled adjectives flowed.
“Yes, it is what you think it is. Old-fashioned corporal punishment.” I tossed the implement onto the bed before untying her scrub bottoms. “Did you know that in some parts of the world, corporal punishment is still used in various office situations?”
The single snort she offered was perhaps the most adorable sound to date.
“It’s true. You should see how they handle it in Russia. Now, I promise I won’t be so harsh. This time.” When I yanked down her scrubs, she wiggled in my hold. Her entire body froze when I slipped my fingers under the thin elastic of her lacy thong.
We’d had sex, passionate rough sex that we’d both hungered for. Yet she was enraged that I was daring to touch her in an intimate way. Maybe there was a small part of me that held some sense of being a gentleman left given I initially kept my eyes on hers while sliding the material down her thighs.
But I was a man who was used to getting what he wanted, which was why I couldn’t help myself, my gaze dropping very slowly along the smooth lines of her skin.
The woman was soft in all the right places, hard in those that mattered, and far too enticing in every fluid move her body made.
She was now frozen, the warmth that she’d exuded both on the plane and while enjoying the cat and mouse game now gone.
The reality of who I was had pressed in.
Now I wasn’t so certain I wanted her to think of me as the monster I’d portrayed myself as being.
Wasn’t that just fucking fantastic. I was worrying about what she thought while preparing to spank her for disobeying me.
Hell, for being strong of body and mind to the point she’d almost gotten the better of me.
There could be no denying the truth, even from myself.
Her body swayed as I lowered my eyes to her pussy, her smooth skin on perfect display. Even the sweet curve of her thighs had my mouth watering. In craving yet another taste, I was pushing my own line. Plus, indulging here and now might only place a target on my head.
Damn it. When her panties were around her knees, I took and held a deep breath that did nothing but further the feeling of being lightheaded.
The woman was becoming difficult to ignore.
She didn’t make a single sound as I brushed my fingers along the inside of her legs, taking my time until my mind was a blur.
With a heavy exhale, I shot her another look, this time our eyes locking.
If I didn’t stop now, I wouldn’t be able to yank the beast back into his cage.
But dear God, she was wet, her thong already damp and her pussy lips glistening.
The desire for this woman was stronger than I’d felt in a very long time, even more so than days before.
Maybe because the stakes were higher.
Or maybe because she was right. I’d made her my prisoner.
I yanked her over my lap, immediately grabbing the hairbrush. I wasn’t a gentle man, at least not normally, although I’d been more so around her than with any other woman. But punishment was called for.
It had been a long time since I’d felt this strongly about disciplining a woman. With a man, everything was different. The level of anger. The penance required. The bloodshed. Everything.
With Vivian, I needed compliance, but I also felt protective, which meant I couldn’t allow her to do anything that would aid in getting her killed.
Plus, if I had to admit it to myself, I was enjoying the hell out of requiring her surrender.
Even if there would be hell to pay later.
Maybe that’s what I was hoping for.