As he continued his pace, he began stating his demands for tomorrow.
“Breakfast is served every day at 9:00 a.m., lunchis at noon, and dinner is at 5:30 p.m. I would embed those times inyour head if I were you. I’d hate for you to forget. I will notalways be there to join you. I’m a very busy man and will not bearound very often, but that doesn’t mean the rules don’t apply, soremember them. However, for the next week, I will try to be here asoften as I can.”
Don’t try too hard, I almost said.
“I will be leaving at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow and will beback around 3:00 p.m. I have scheduled a manicure and pedicure foryou, as well as a haircut at 1:00 p.m. Make sure you are ready forthem. Do you have any questions?”
A mani and pedi? Why? I wanted to ask but didn’t feel the need to invoke his angeragain.
“No.”
“Good. When I get home, I will give you a full tourof the estate. You are to remain in your room until I return.Understand?”
I would have to stay in my room for the entire time?Well, tomorrow was going to be a fun-filled day.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
By this time, we had reached the patio, and hepulled the glass door aside so we could walk through. When wefinally stopped in front of my bedroom door, he paused and placedhis hands on my shoulders and a shiver crept down my spine,goosebumps forming down my bare arms. I stared into his dark blueeyes as they pierced through my resolve, and I could feel myselfmelting under his gaze.
“Before we say good night,” he began, “I wantsomething from you.”
Oh,joy …
“What?” I asked.
“A good night kiss.” He smirked.
Poker face out the door, my lips curled into adisgusted scowl, and his eyes immediately lit up with warning. I felt my guard come up as Iinstinctively put my left foot back and turned my right side tohim, my defensive stance coming alive.
He noticed and took an intimidating step toward me,but I didn’t budge. Darren towered over me, an intense look on hisface as he challenged me to refuse him.
“You have two choices,” he said low and menacing.“You give me what I asked for and you can go to sleep withoutissue. You deny me, and I’ll fuck you nice and hard right here onthis floor until I’m good and satisfied. So what’s it going tobe?”
I released an irritated sigh. I always loved theoptions he gave me.
“You have until the count of three to make adecision,” he warned. “Before I make it for you. One …”
I felt my heart rate spike as a small twinge of fearshocked through my veins.
His eyes narrowed. “Two …”
I leaped towardhim, cutting off the “three” that was about to leave his mouth. Ireached on my tiptoes and quickly forced my lips to his. Luckily, he saw my lunge and met me halfway so I could complete hisrequest.
I kissed him hard, violently, and hatefully, as if Iwas trying to assault his mouth with my lips. He responded with thesame amount of aggression, his hand coming up against the small ofmy back, forcing me against his hard body while his other hand gripped my ass.
I wanted him to know I hated him and I never wantedhim to second-guess that, ever. He already hadn’t cared when I saidthe words out loud, but I hoped my physical reactions could providemore clarification.
Our lips moved together while I shot my tongue intohis mouth, me being the one taking this time, but I didn’t get veryfar with that. Adrenaline spiked as both of his hands reached down,cupping my ass and lifting me to straddle his hips. He pressed meroughly against the wall, and I instinctively wrapped my arms andlegs around him, holding on as we competed against each other formost aggressive kisser. Heat rose in my body as his thumbs tracedalong my rib cage and he released my mouth to further assault myneck and throat with his lips. I couldn’t help but tip my head backand give him the access he was looking for while his erection pressed into my pelvis.
His five o’clock shadow scratched my skin as henuzzled into me, sending little waves of pleasure through my body,and I shuddered under his touch. My hands traveled along hisshoulders and back of their own accord, feeling the hard musclethat hid underneath his shirt and jacket. He was raw power allwrapped up in a gorgeous package. The thought that a man like thishad this much of an interest in me was exhilarating, but he wasstill the enemy and I would never forget that.
Darren finally released me, pulling me from his bodyand allowing me to slide down and stand on my own two feet. Hispalms rested against the wall on either side of my head while bothof us tried to catch our breath. Our chests heaved up and down aswe stared at each other, the electricity in the air palpable withlust. A feral hunger registered in his eyes as he stared down atme, and I felt myself shudder a little inside as terror began tofill me. Would he keep his word now that I had given him what hewanted?
“Go,” he suddenly growled, his breath stillerratic.
“Huh?” I replied huskily.
“Go … now, before I rip you apart.”
I felt myself jump in surprise as I quickly duckedunder his arm and slipped past him as fast as I could. I could feelhis eyes on me as I turned the knob to my bedroom and glanced athim one last time. His eyes were looming with a lustful hunger ashe watched me, and I didn’t wait another second before practicallysprinting into my room and shutting the door behind me.
What the fuck just happened? My blood was pumping,my heart was racing, and I even felt a little light headed. And Iwas fucking wet.
Fuck.
I paced the room, running my hands through my hairas I tried to get a grip on myself, but as I did, images of the dayflashed through my head. The auction, the drive here, Darren’srules, my reflection, dinner, the docks, and
