Chapter 20
Catherine
“Find out who that man is. I don’t care what skeletons you need to unearth. Do it.”
His voice boomed throughout the downstairs, powerful enough to create prickles all across my skin.
I held my arms, staring at the doorway, remembering the harsh words he said to the man he’d killed as well as the excitement I’d felt from him saving me. The decency inside me was gone.
When he threw me a quick look, his chest heaving, I was as locked in the moment as I would be in a concrete prison.
Alexander could see what no one else could see.
A darkness in me begging to be freed.
My heart thudded with an intense craving as the predator barked out orders standing only a few feet away.
I looked away on purpose, struggling in my mind with what the stranger had told me.
He wasn’t anyone I recognized. Home? What the hell did he mean by home?
My mother was living in another state, finally happy again.
She certain didn’t act as if she needed me in her life.
So much of me wanted to tell Alexander what he’d said, but I knew exactly what the powerful man would do.
He’d hunt down all those responsible, using the violence he so coveted. Maybe this was a puzzle I needed to solve myself. Nothing made any sense. How in the hell could I do that when I doubted Alexander would allow me out of his sight?
I closed my eyes, controlling my breathing as I tried to weed through the muck, my anger growing exponentially.
I was also forced to accept I’d wanted the man who’d hurt me to die.
God. I no longer recognized myself. The question Alexander had asked about how far I’d go to protect someone I loved weighed heavily, a boulder threatening to drag me under.
And yet the need for Alexander only continued to grow like a flower in the spring given water, nurtured and loved.
I laughed to myself, sipping the drink he’d placed in my hand almost as soon as we’d returned to his house.
He’d said little during the drive, his anger turning into a quiet, more deadly rage.
After the incident, there’d been no question about us staying any longer.
I was cradled next to him with several of his men surrounding us as if we were rock stars needing protection from a throng of hungry, screaming women.
Once inside the car, Alexander had driven in excess of ninety miles an hour, weaving past every car on the interstate with the entourage struggling to keep up.
He’d narrowly avoided two crashes, dozens of horns honking and tires squealing heard over the wail of heavy metal music he’d pumped into the cab of his sports car.
I’d been breathless the entire time, gripping the dashboard while every inch of my body had tingled from both the stress of what I’d just experienced and the excitement of being with him.
In the very world he’d tried to shield me from.
The cherry had been popped, my sense of duty starting to fade even though the killing remained fresh in my mind.
Yet could the death be classified so harshly? I wasn’t certain. The man had attacked me. Alexander had come to my rescue. Would any court in the land defy the truth?
Yes, they would.
He’d be tried and convicted long before facing a jury because of the other murder charge.
That I was firmly convinced he hadn’t committed.
Now more so than ever with the threat I’d received.
By whom? I’d yet to tell Alexander for fear he’d rip the city apart.
There was no way of knowing who the man had worked for.
I’d overheard at least one of the men talking about being unable to find identification or a vehicle.
If he’d purchased a drink, there were doubts he’d used a credit card.
“Get the men on the streets and keep them there until you find something. Understood?” I heard Alexander’s booming voice all the way from where I stood pacing in the living room in my bare feet.
At least one of the men muttered something that I couldn’t hear. What did it matter? I was cold and antsy, still unable to process the experience. When I heard footsteps, I stopped moving, almost fearful of what Alexander would do now.
He was so unpredictable, ready to explode. As soon as he stormed into the room, I knew he’d yet to calm down. His features were locked, stone cold and furious. Yet his eyes swept down to my feet, his chest rising and falling.
“Alexander.”
“My angel.”
Every time he called me his angel, I quivered while heat built in my core.
I found myself taking a step closer, admiring the man.
He looked even more formidable. The dark material of his shirt was unable to completely mask the blood, the cut on his upper lip drawing my attention.
Even his once pristine hair was a mess, but he didn’t give a shit.
“You can’t go around beating up or killing anyone who touches me.” With my fingers shaking, I lowered the glass onto the table so I wouldn’t drop it. I’d never felt so unnerved or uncertain of what I should do.
Or of the future.
“So you keep telling me.”
“And I’ll continue until you finally listen to me.”
He seemed almost amused at what I’d said, as if I was giving him an order. He took a step closer, the predator now stalking his prey. “Is that so?”
Yet so did I, refusing to fall into his game of cat and mouse. “Yes. Promise me.”
The way his eyes narrowed, hooded while darkening as the hunger built, pulled me forward by another step.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.” While his words might be considered toxic to some, they were just a part of the devilish dance played over and over again. That man was far too charismatic.
“Why not?”
His nostrils flared as he took purposeful steps closer until he was only inches away. “Because then I’d be lying. And the last thing I will do is lie to you. That much I will promise.”
“I can take care of myself and don’t tell me not in your world.”
“But it’s the truth. Did you recognize him?”
“No.” That much was the truth.
“Did he say anything to you?”
I hesitated, which caused him to narrow his eyes. “He called me a bitch and said you were no prince.”
His laugh was bitter. “He was right about that last part. I’m sorry you were exposed to the seedier side of my existence. That will never happen again.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep. I know enough about this world you keep claiming I shouldn’t know about to realize I’m a weakness. Which you don’t need.”
He took a deep breath as if surprised I had an idea about what he was dealing with. “Maybe so, but I will not let you go.”
“Alexander.”
“Don’t say it, my angel. I won’t because I can’t. You are mine. Whether you want to believe it or not, we are connected in a way that even you can’t deny.”
“I never said I wanted to. I just… This isn’t my life. You don’t need to worry about whether or not some crazed idiot tries to hurt me. I just need to walk away.”
“You know I’ll find you.”
His words not only inflamed the situation, the statement and the realization he wasn’t lying created more of the very type of need he was talking about. God help me, but I didn’t want this to end.
We were now only inches away. There was such a powerful pull that left me completely incapable of thinking clearly any longer. Just being around him brought far too many emotions and needs I couldn’t control.
“Come here, my angel.”
“Why?”
“Because I commanded you.”
“You don’t own me, Alexander.” I backed away by two feet, cognizant I was about to run out of real estate.
Very casually he walked closer, stopping just short of where I could reach out and touch him.
“Are you certain about that, my angel?”
At this point I wasn’t certain of anything. “Yes.”
“I said. Come here. Don’t make me tell you again.”
The way he beckoned me with the deepness of his voice was enthralling, but I wasn’t ready to concede he owned me. As soon as I shook my head, he crowded my space, his power taking my breath away. He backed me against the wall, taking my chin between his thumb and forefinger.
There was a distinct light in his eyes, an entirely different need that managed to complicate things even more. This crazy thing between us had surpassed desire or even some wild obsession.
This was much more about something felt deep in the heart, a powerful yet ruthless bitch of a need that would forever keep us entwined. Locked together in a dance with the devil.
“I’m growing weary of your disobedience.” The slight smile on his face brought one to mine.
“Oh, yeah?” I whispered as I slipped my hand under his shirt, searing my skin and his by the light touch.
He sucked in his breath, tilting his head. “Yes.” The word was little more than a breathless hiss.
“Then why don’t you do something about it?”
The electric buzz increased and he dug his fingers into my skin, very slowly allowing the hint of a smile. “How many times do I need to tell you to be careful what you wish for?
“What makes you so special, angel? Why is it that I can’t get you out of my mind? Why is it all I want to do is to fuck you long and hard, taking hours to explore every inch of your body? Tell me that. Answer me why.”
His firm grip remained, almost to the point of hurting, but I just didn’t care. I rose onto my tiptoes, tilting my head in a dare to kiss me. “Because I’m the only person who can calm the beast.” I believed that with all my heart.
“Goddamn you.” He crushed his lips over mine, shifting his hand until he was holding the back of my neck. I fisted his shirt with my other hand, tugging on the hem until it was freed from his jeans.
The ache for him was increasing with every passing second, my pussy clenching and releasing. He swept his tongue inside my mouth, exploring while his hunger only continued to increase.