Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 94076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
I have someone to live for.
I steel myself for a fight, but St. James moves first. He drains his drink and sets it down.
It’s over.
“Congratulations, then. On finding her.”
I freeze, wondering if he’s referencing how long I’ve been searching for her. The only one who knows that is Hamish. His expression gives nothing away, so I respond to the surface statement. “Thank you.”
“I’ll leave you to it. She’s in the private bar. Running up a tab on your credit, I believe.” His smile deepens. It makes him look like a snake. “I’ll have them send her down.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
He pauses at the door, studying the wall of implements at my disposal. He’s thinking of all his preferred ways of meting out punishment. “Enjoy.”
I wait until he shuts the door to sink into the couch. I meant what I said. I’d have said it sooner, except Inara is looking for any excuse to run from me. I’ll wait until I have her tied down. Literally, if need be. We’ve already established that she likes rope.
I rise and head over to the available tools. I don’t have much time. I need to make my plans and prepare for tonight’s scene.
I have a little bird who needs to be taught a lesson.
21
Inara
I’ve just finished my drink when a club attendant arrives to escort me to St. James. I follow them to a private elevator.
While I sat at the bar, my trepidation grew. I kept checking my texts, wondering if Rex would check in. I’m having second thoughts about meeting St. James. Rex won’t like it, not that I care. But any man in business with Rex is sure to have his own agenda. I don’t want to get caught in a power play. Let the lions roar at each other over my head as long as I’m not the poor prey they’re fighting over. That’s a sure way to end up getting torn apart.
The elevator doors close, but instead of rising, we descend to the lowest level, where the playrooms are.
I don’t like this.
The elevator doors open, and I don’t move.
“Last door on the left,” the attendant tells me. “He’s waiting for you.”
Shit fuck. The last door on the left is the same one where I meet Rex.
I don’t like this at all.
I could turn around and leave. Stand St. James up. See if he’ll take my calls and answer my questions over the phone.
But I’m here now. I might as well see it through.
I open the door.
At first glance, there’s no one here. I step further into the room when a familiar scent hits me, and a deep voice swallows me whole.
“Hello, little bird. Did you miss me?”
Rex
She whirls around, eyes flashing. I’ve positioned myself between her and the door, blocking off her escape.
“What are you doing here?” she demands. She’s wearing the coat I sent her. Underneath is a purple top and a tight leather skirt. They’re all clothes I’ve bought her, and I take some pleasure in that.
But she’s worn them to a meeting with St. James, and that I cannot abide.
“Surprised to see me? This is our place, after all.” I advance on her, and she has the good sense to back up. Color flares in her cheeks, and her eyes darken as I crowd close. I can see my reflection in her pupils. I look cold, angry. I’m looking at her like she’s a stranger.
“How did you know—” she bites off her question. “You’re tracking my phone,” she mutters to herself. “Of course you are. How else are you watching me? Is Ivan still following me around? Are there cameras in Hotel Magnifique?”
All of the above. “I watch over you by any means necessary.”
“Because you’re a fucking stalker.”
I seize the lapels of the coat I gave her so she’d be warm in the frozen nights of my city. She tenses but lets me peel the coat off her shoulders, revealing bare skin. I force the coat down to her elbows so it pins her arms by her sides. Her chest rises and falls rapidly, responding to the bondage.
“Yes. I am. And you’ve been very naughty, little bird. Are you ready to submit to your punishment?”
“Never.” She wriggles, and I let her shuck off the coat, if only to enjoy the jiggle of her breasts in the tight top.
The sweater top she’s wearing is cut to leave her shoulders bare but has a mock neck that looks like a choker attached to the bodice with a metal ring. I had it designed this way. It’s one step removed from being a collar with an O-ring. She needs to get used to wearing something snug around her throat.
She’ll look good in my collar. She’ll have to earn it, of course, but she will. Soon.
“You look beautiful.”
“What, your spies didn’t report what I was wearing?”