I have to leave the room and let her get ready for work, so I force myself to tip her chin back, kiss her briefly, then pat her naked bottom. “I’ll leave you alone to get ready while I shower in the other bathroom this morning. We’ll leave at the usual time.”
She sighs. “I thought I’d drive myself.”
I lift a brow, loving how she reacts every time I do so. “Why would you think that?”
She looks down. “Because I need the time to transition. Otherwise, I’ll end up walking into my office straddling both worlds like yesterday. You’ll dominate me in the car, and I’ll end up hot and bothered and little when I get there.”
“Then I guess we better leave a few minutes earlier than usual so you’ll have a chance to regroup before you start working.”
“Colt…”
I lift her chin again. “Not debatable, Eve. Don’t mention it again. It’s not safe. You’re not leaving my side until I’m certain you’re no longer in danger. That means, wherever you go, I take you. No exceptions.”
“But, you could follow me like you did the first day,” she hedges.
I grip her chin harder, not letting her look away. “Things changed. Did you forget a man was stalking you at lunch the other day? He’s not just hanging around your apartment, Eve. He’s watching your office.”
She swallows.
“He’s more than twice your size. You think you could take him on in the parking lot and get away?”
“No.” Her voice is soft.
“Then don’t challenge me on this issue again, understood?”
“Yeah.”
I dip lower, meet her gaze, and lift that brow that makes her shudder.
“Yes, Sir.” She gives me that gorgeous tremble as she submits to me, and her nipples are hard little points.
“Surely you understand the concept of human trafficking. I don’t need to spell it out for you. If someone succeeds in kidnapping you and selling you as a commodity, your life is over. They aren’t planning to sell you to someone local, Eve. The plan is to sell you to the Middle East. Do you get that? You won’t even understand a word anyone is speaking.” I’m scaring the hell out of her, and that’s my intention. She’s not taking this situation seriously enough.
She’s shaking as she looks down, chagrined.
“So, no. You may not drive yourself anywhere. We’ll leave ten minutes earlier so you have extra time. Are we done with this argument?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good girl.” I release her and point toward her closet. “Get ready.”
An hour later when I pull up outside her building, I grab her hand before she can open the door and climb down. “Do you have any plans to leave the office today?”
“No. I’ll order lunch in.”
I nod. “Good. Text me if you change your mind so I can escort you.”
She sighs. “Okay.” Her voice comes out a bit whiny.
“Are you sassing me again today?”
She fidgets. That’s her little taking over her adult. I know the signs. I shouldn’t have pushed her like this again today. I know she’s going to struggle to shake her little off when she gets out of the car. But I have two reasons for being so demanding. One, her life is truly at stake, so I need her to do as I tell her. And two, God forgive me, but I love a flustered submissive Eve.
She shakes her head. “No, Sir. I won’t leave the building. I promise.”
“Good girl. Have a great day. I’ll see you at six unless you need to change anything.” I slide my hand up to cup her face and lean close, kissing her lips before sitting back. I probably shouldn’t have. It was too risky. Someone might have seen us.
But—and I might go to hell for this too—I don’t care. I’d kind of like someone to see us. I’d kind of like for her to claim me as her man in front of her coworkers. Damn the consequences.
She’s beyond flustered as she exits the SUV, and I kick myself as I watch her walk away. I do not own her. Telling her coworkers she has a boyfriend is a horrible idea. How is she going to undo that when my job is done? In theory, that could be any day. People would have whiplash if they thought she was dating someone and then I disappeared.
I really need a head exam.
As I watch the confident, professional woman I just kissed walk toward the building, I can’t help but compare her to the little I dominated last night. The woman disappearing in front of me is wearing a thong under the pencil skirt. My gaze travels down her legs to the heels that take my breath away. So different from the barefoot little she’d been last night wearing cute lavender cotton panties with hearts on them and a twirl dress. I smile at the memory of her spinning around in the kitchen so fast I thought she would fall on her butt. The smile on her face. The innocence. So carefree. Both of those personas appeal to me. Equally. It’s a lot to process.
Chapter 16
Evelyn
“You’re holding out on me.” The teasing voice belongs to Lacy, and I spin around from the coffee pot to meet her gaze.
I’m not completely level-headed yet this morning. I was hoping not to run into anyone until I at least had my first cup of coffee. Arriving early hasn’t done me a bit of good because apparently, Lacy is early today too.
Her eyes are dancing.
I frown. “What am I holding out on you about?” I
