FORTY-NINE

August

I wasn't going to lie that her words didn't haunt me. Perhaps that made me even more of a scoundrel than I knew myself to be. After all, I'd had the thoughts myself in the throes of passion. The word itself was foreign to me, existing only in fairytales and romance books. I took a swig of my whiskey, staring out at the sun just cresting over the horizon. I'd left her alone in my bed, her naked body barely covered by the soft sheets.

The thought of her would always make my cock hard, my balls swollen. This morning was no exception, but the sleepless night was a reminder why I shouldn't get too close.

Danger.

I posed a threat to her even in my home. In my bed. My instinct told me that my life was a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment. My love for her meant I should send her away, reneging on the deal I'd made. I snorted at the thought. How many times had I mentioned the concept of consequences to her? If I sent her away, I'd be forced to deal with Drummand directly. Perhaps I should anyway. There were far too many secrets swirling around the man. If I'd underestimated his power, my father's hold on the city would find itself in the crosshairs of the federal statutes.

Sighing, I took another sip, turning my head to glare at the open bottle. Drinking wasn't going to solve anything. Besides, the liquor tasted bitter, almost burning my tongue. Selling your soul to the devil certainly had ramifications. A hostile laugh pulsed from my throat. Was this the beginnings of remorse? Had the beauty calmed my need for vengeance?

No way. No. Fucking. Way.

The house remained quiet, no late-night phone calls or reports of additional explosions, but I knew it was only a matter of time. God, I wanted her. I was almost ready to give up everything I thought I'd ever cared about to find the very reality she'd painted. If only...

Binding her until she had no idea when or if I'd return had been the beast dwelling within. Touching and devouring her, my mind and body ripe with passion had been something I'd never experienced.

And I wanted more.

However, there was still a sharp knife in my gut, a wrenching of my heart, making me incapable of providing the level of additional conversation or even compassion that I knew Sasha needed. I wasn't a man prone to bouts of depression or even sadness. On this early morning, I had both.

I finished the drink, glancing one last time at the sunrise. At least I would take the opportunity to enjoy the morning. Chuckling, I slid the glass across my desk. Why not the entire day? I was a businessman after all. I could choose to leave my work and indulge in normal behavior.

Whatever the hell that meant.

My steps were heavy as I walked up the stairs, trying to even find the right words to say to her. I could deny I'd heard the comment altogether or simply tell her that love wasn't possible. Not in my world and not even in hers. The door was still slightly ajar, exactly the way I'd left it. The pulled blinds created an eerie series of shadows in the room, giving me one hell of an uncomfortable feeling. My enemies could easily find a way into the house, no matter how secure the facility.

If they wanted in, they would find a way, bypassing the security system after killing off my soldiers. The thought would forever remain in the back of my mind. The moment I walked in, a cold chill slithered down my spine. She wasn't here.

Anger infused with fear as I yanked the sheets, finding no evidence. There was no blood, no obvious signs of struggle, but I knew something was off. I raced to her room first, throwing open the door. She hadn't been inside in hours. Dread filled in the open holes and I raced back into the bedroom, heading for the dresser. The asshole couldn't have gotten too far.

The light under the bathroom door was a clear reminder of why she shouldn't be here. I'd determined the worst immediately, instead of checking the variables. Jesus. F. Christ. I was losing my shit. I opened the door and seeing her form in the shower, her long and lean body in silhouette, my cock rose to full attention. Even my skin was prickled at the thought of taking her again.

Losing the robe, I moved to the shower door, quietly clicking it open. She didn't respond, her face turned away.

She was crying.

As the cooler air wafted in, she jerked, gasping and turning to face the intruder, her lovely eyes open wide. There was such sadness in them, but a smile crossed her face. Then a look of lust prevailed. "I woke up and you were gone."

"I didn't go far." My words seemed stilted, but she didn't seem to notice. At this point, nothing mattered but being with her. I crowded her space, yanking her toward me until her breasts were crushed against my chest. I rubbed my hands down her head, smoothing her long, wet hair then fisting the soft strands. "God, I want you."

"You just had me." Her voice echoed in the dense space, the lilt crowding into every blood cell, filling my cock.

"Not enough. Never fucking enough." I captured her mouth, holding her in place as I allowed her to explore the dark recesses. The taste of her would always be sweet, no matter the bitterness of the world around us. After a few seconds, I pushed her against the cool marble, delighting in the way her hands caressed my shoulder and arms, her fingers dancing across my skin. I palmed the wall, pushing hard against her, grinding until she moaned into the kiss.

She seemed so tiny and frail, but I knew the woman was stronger than I would ever be. The kiss became a frantic moment, full of passion and longing. Our tongues entwined, teeth gnashing together as we drank our fill of each other.