Chapter 16
Josette
Who in their right mind made a deal with the devil?
Then again, what kind of monstrous devil played Frisbee with an enthusiastic, drooling, incessantly licking wildebeest then suggested bringing him out to dinner?
I honestly wasn’t certain. The man was confusing.
He’d been waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs, checking his watch as if I’d been late. I’d made certain I hadn’t been, knowing even the smallest infraction would result in harsh punishment.
When he’d felt my presence and turned, his entire body had stiffened, the flare of his nostrils more pronounced than before. They way he’d scrutinized me had left me feeling anxious. Self-conscious. Then he’d called me beautiful and I’d felt myself floating.
I’d seen him in several suits, but as he stood in sleek ebony attire, his crisp white shirt accented with diamond cufflinks and a silk tie the color of a luminous garnet, I’d trembled.
When we’d left, he’d issued a distinctive growl.
One of desire.
One of darkness.
One of ownership.
The lingering attraction was too much for my mind to bear, my temples aching. As hard as I’d tried, I remained unable to fight off the attraction. The yin and yang of his personality was so confusing, the ache deep inside much worse.
With all his sophistication, his obvious education, he was nothing but a dangerous wolf in well-tailored suits.
Yet I wasn’t afraid of him. Sitting next to him inside his sports car with Indiana as happy as could be in the tiny backseat, his head resting on the console between the seats, seemed perfectly normal.
However, with a quick look in the side mirrors, I was reminded what we were doing and the deal I’d entered was anything but normal. Why? Because there were two huge black SUVs following us. I’d seen the outline of the weapons the four men carried even though they’d tried to hide their guns from me.
Even stranger was that Sinclair wasn’t bothered in the least. He was used to being protected, barely glancing in the rearview mirror.
Everything he’d said to me continued to play out in my mind, the words and his insistence on both my obedience and his possession of me as abnormal as anything I’d read, heard, or experienced. The strangest part about sitting here with him wasn’t that I didn’t fear him, but that I hungered for him.
After everything, a single touch created a firestorm of need deep within. I’d tried to shake it when taking a shower. But he’d not only had my clothes brought up, he’d had them hung in the closet and placed in the drawers. As if I belonged in his house.
In his life.
That just wasn’t acceptable, but here I sat, curious as to where we were going.
Somehow, I had a feeling he wouldn’t tell me as he didn’t seem to want to share other aspects of his life. However, we as human beings had entered this deal. If he wanted my honesty, he would need to be truthful as well.
My nipples ached, the hard points caressed by the thin material of the dress, my panties already damp. No man had had this kind of effect over me. His scent was also entirely different tonight, musky and exotic, the surge of masculinity so sexy. So inviting.
Every casual glance he offered was merely an unscrupulous promise of what I could expect from the evening. And from him whenever he wanted. Full control over me.
I glanced into the backseat, trying to ignore his possessive stare.
Yet he was far too oppressive, keeping me tingling.
At least my fur baby was snoozing happily, completely unaware or uncaring that he was in the presence of a barbaric beast. I bit back a smile, fearful Sinclair could read minds.
Watching them play Frisbee together had been amazing, so very… Normal.
“You’re wet for me, Josette. Your scent is far too enticing.” Every look he offered left me aching deep inside.
When he rubbed his hand along the inside of my thigh, an audible shudder left my mouth. I involuntarily parted my legs, taking several shallow breaths. He slipped a single finger under my thong, sliding it up and down the length of my pussy. Why couldn’t I have any control around him?
“Very wet,” he murmured then pulled his hand away, rubbing the tip of his finger across the seam of my mouth. As with my legs, I parted my lips without being asked. “Lick away your cream. I want you to know exactly how wet you are.”
I did as I was told, leaning forward and dragging my tongue the length of his finger. He had a way of pulling me into his intense hunger, a world of sadistic needs. His desires weren’t about romance but control, yet I found it terribly exciting.
He seemed satisfied a few seconds later, returning his hand to the steering wheel. “Remove your panties for me, Josette.”
“What?”
“I said. Remove. Your. Panties.”
His command was surprising, but certainly not shocking coming from a man like Sinclair.
He was simply testing me with the damn deal we’d made.
I was more resilient than he understood.
Even still, a rush of embarrassment flowed through me, although no one could see a single thing past the darkened windows.
He kept his gaze on the front windshield, tapping a single finger on the steering wheel.
I closed my eyes and struggled to obey him, embarrassed that my thong was already damp from my continued longing.
When I managed to do as he asked, he held out his hand, beckoning with his fingers.
My cheeks burned as I placed the lace into his hand, watching as he pulled my panties to his mouth and nose, lifting his head as he inhaled in an exaggerated manner.
“Your scent is quite powerful. Are you hungry, my little liar?” he asked before slipping the panties into his jacket. He turned his head, lifting a single eyebrow. Daring me to defy him.
“Yes.” I knew better than to lie. Somehow, he’d know.
“Mmm… Just as I thought. I need access to your pretty pink pussy at all times. That’s something you’re going to learn.”
I bit my lower lip, squeezing my thighs together. I’d never felt so utterly dirty while tingling all over.
As the lights of Bourbon Street came into view, I shuddered deep inside, shoving aside the inappropriate wave of longing.
Yet thinking about what had happened in my beautiful little store wasn’t any more comforting.
What if he was right and someone was after me?
I’d stopped running after the first year, refusing to allow fear to rule my mind or my decisions.
But by then I’d managed to find some people who could help me create my new life.
That had made everything so much easier.
But there hadn’t been a day I hadn’t at least thought about my past and what would happen if it collided with the present. That would mean there’d be no future.
Another wave of Sinclair’s words and warnings weighed heavily on my mind.
Punished. That meant he would give me another spanking. The concept was barbaric at best, but of course he believed he owned me already.
Over my dead body.
Or his.
“You’re a very complex man,” I blurted out. While it was the truth, I doubted he wanted to hear what I had to say.
“Why do you say that?” The deep resonance of his voice sent chills.
“You went yourself to pick up Indiana, even getting his bed and food. Even his toys. Yet you almost killed one of your own men minutes later. You were surprisingly kind to me, checking on me after your bout with arrogance. Why bother trying to make breakfast? Then kidnapping me. I don’t understand your motives.
Or the two sides you wear so easily like your expensive watch. ”
He laughed. “I assure you if I’d wanted my Capo dead, he would be. And you of all people should know everyone has two sides.”
“I’m an open book, Sinclair. Why strangle a man who works for you, someone who obviously does your bidding without question? What terrible thing did he do to anger you so much?”
For the first time since I’d met him, he appeared uncomfortable. “I had my reasons.”
“That you won’t share with me.”
His look was harsh. “Let’s just say no one disobeys me without facing the consequences.”
It was impossible not to laugh at his words. “I’m curious, Sinclair. Have you always been so dominating? Were you the bully in the playground who couldn’t stand not getting his way?”
My comment seemed to irritate him, but I honestly didn’t care.
“Did Daddy not pay you enough attention? Maybe he didn’t attend your softball or football games. Maybe you grew up needing attention.”
His hand was tightly fisted around the steering wheel.
“What were your parents like, Josette? What kind of world did you grow up in? Were you a pampered princess? Did you have an idealistic life where Mom and Dad came home from work every day? Where they worked hard to provide you with a special room, maybe pink walls and fluffy stuffed animals? An occasional jaunt to the movies and a trip to Disneyworld? Did you enjoy hunting for the perfect Christmas tree together, singing Christmas carols and drinking hot chocolate by the fire as you hung your special stocking? And what about birthdays? Did you have a big cake and candles to blow out, making a wish that you couldn’t care less if it came true?
Was that your life? It must have been since you act as if the world is basically good and with hard work and determination you can beat the odds and forge yet another idealistic life.
A husband and a couple kids, a dog waiting for you at the door every night.
How perfect. Take off your rose-colored glasses, Josette. That’s not reality.”
His words and questions were biting and I could tell by the sneer on his face that he’d experienced just the opposite.
I couldn’t imagine what his life had been like growing up in a criminalized family.
How horrible it must have been. His questions also forced me to examine my childhood, remembering the exact moment when my hopes and dreams had been shattered.