But I couldn’t.

  I simply wanted to peel away her layers of complexity.

  Every part of me itched to pull her close, but it wasn’t the right time. Not yet. But soon.

  Genevieve’s body was still trembling and she remained where she was. Her long strands of hair cascaded over her shoulders, which allowed me a better view of the marks crisscrossing her bottom. They would fade within a day. I’d gone easy on her on purpose. Her skin was too delicate to destroy and doing so hadn’t been my intent.

  She was too…

  Even in my ruthlessness, I’d never been the kind of man to enjoy hurting a woman. Another reason I’d kept them at arm’s length.

  “Release Marco. Now!” She’d suddenly found her voice, turning toward me, venom in her sapphire eyes.

  “You are in no position to demand anything.”

  “We had a deal. Honor it.” Whatever shame she’d felt before had vanished. She was doing her best to become comfortable in her nakedness.

  Meanwhile, I was anything but comfortable. My cock had remained fully aroused the entire time I’d disciplined her. My balls were still aching. “First, you call off your men.”

  She kept her glare for a full ten seconds before rolling her eyes and laughing. “You’re like a little boy fearful of the big, bad she-wolf.”

  “Fascinating analogy, but I think it’s you who feel the fear.” I took long strides toward the table where I’d placed her purse, yanking it into my hand. I’d already taken her weapon, which I wasn’t surprised she’d been carrying, but I’d left her phone inside. By now, her commander and his team were likely headed in our direction.

  While I didn’t mind urban warfare, tonight I had no interest in losing time with aspects of business when I could savor so many rounds of pleasure.

  She remained where she was as I walked toward her.

  “Call your man. Tell him to back down.”

  Fortunately, she didn’t bother asking what would happen if she didn’t. She’d gotten the message loud and clear. “And what else should I tell him?”

  “That you’ll be staying the night but will be brought back safe and sound in the morning.”

  As she snatched the phone from my hand, our fingers touched and I was delighted the same heightened level of electricity forged a path down the length of my arm. My attraction to her was a continuous flow of need.

  The lady was smart, savvy and cunning, remaining in front of me as she dialed her commander, Emiliano Sanchez. I’d learned a little more about him since my last encounter with her, including he’d been her single bodyguard during her years in New York. Her father had trusted the man more than any other. That meant Emiliano had significant influence over her.

  I’d need to keep that in mind.

  “Emiliano. No, I’m fine,” she said as she tilted her pretty little head. Goddamn, in her defiance I craved her even more. “Yes, you’re right. I’m with the prick of the year, but don’t worry, I can handle him. We’re just discussing business.”

  I laughed and returned to my drink. Did she have any idea the vile things I wanted to do to her?

  “No, not tonight. I’m going to be Mr. Torres’ guest for the evening. Stop worrying.” She managed to laugh as if she didn’t have a care in the world. Acting in front of me I could completely understand, but with her most trusted man? That gave me an idea that I wasn’t the only one captivated by the connection we shared.

  “Yes, Marco is with me, but he’ll be returning home shortly. Do not engage with the people who drop him off. Make certain both he and Bella stay safe. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.” She ended the call and immediately walked toward me.

  Was there anything sexier than a woman in high heels and nothing else? I thought not.

  “Here. Take it,” she told me.

  She’d added a caveat in that if I didn’t send Marco home tonight, which I honestly hadn’t planned on doing, Emiliano would send a couple dozen men to break them both free.

  “Well played,” I told her.

  Her smile was laced with just as much mischief as rebellion.

  I shoved her phone into my pocket, retrieving mine and immediately dialing Kruz.

  “Yes, sir?”

  “Take our guest home. Make certain nothing happens to him.”

  “What if we’re ambushed?” he asked.

  “You won’t be.”

  “Whatever you say.” Kruz chuckled. “I’ll report when we return.”

  “Fine. I might be otherwise engaged.” I didn’t wait to hear his answer although I managed to catch his laughter.

  Genevieve didn’t make a move to grab her dress, heading toward her drink instead. I knew this was just her continued attempt at controlling me in a method best used by women. However, her fully aroused nipples and the fragrant scent of her desire was a dead giveaway how much she craved my touch. She threw back her drink and I did the same.

  Her smile was wry and she carefully lowered the glass onto my desk, taking a few seconds to swirl the bottom across the wooden surface. I wasn’t in the mood to play coy, merely placing the glass on the table where I’d left it before.

  When she moved closer, I wasn’t surprised. Yet when she inched so close our lips were almost touching, I had to admit I was taken aback. Perhaps she had no understanding she was playing a dangerous game with me. If she truly believed she could use seduction as a weapon, my reputation hadn’t reached the United States.

  Before I realized what I was doing, I had my fingers wrapped around her long neck. Her gasp was slight, her eyes lit up like torches.

  “I’m no gentleman, Genevieve, but I won’t allow anything to happen to you or your family.”

  “As long as I abide by your rules and those of a tainted alliance.”

  “Precisely,” I half whispered and lowered my head, brushing my lips across hers.

  She mewed and immediately used both hands to rip open my shirt. “We’ll see about that.” The moment she placed her fingers against my chest, a deep growl erupted from my throat.

  We continued toying with each other, opening our mouths and allowing our lips to barely touch. When I pushed my thumb under her chin until she was forced to lift her head, she dragged her tongue across her lips.

  I also wasn’t gentle in capturing her mouth. I shifted my hand until I held the back of her neck, tugging her as close to my body as possible.

  She ground her hips back and forth, the friction created pushing every boundary and what little decency I had left. I thrust my tongue inside, swishing it back and forth across hers.

  The way she arched her back, jerking my shirt from my trousers pushed the beast inside of me to the surface. My patience was already waning, my desire to take this slowly tossed away. If this was a game to her, she’d soon learn her actions were a mistake.

  I would take what I wanted.

  I tangled my fingers in her hair, roughly yanking her head and breaking the kiss. She panted, an instant sly smile crossing her face as she ripped the bottom buttons from my shirt. After raking the material over my shoulders, running her hands down my arms until it dropped to the floor, she pressed her hand between us.

  The way she grabbed my thick bulge was meant to be painful, but I reveled in the awakening of every sense in my body.

  Her laugh was as seductive as her actions and I reached down, grabbing her welted ass with my palm. Every sound she issued as I squeezed her rounded flesh pushed me even further away from being able to take my time. The pleasure from just kissing and touching her was unnerving, but I’d had my fill of being toyed with.

  I lifted her off the floor, instantly carrying her toward my desk. The momentum was enough the heels fell from her delicate feet. When I eased her down onto the desk, she peered up at me with a sudden realization this wasn’t about playing a game any longer.

  Her eyes darted back and forth and I expected her to try to bolt, but she spread her legs instead, the offering making my mouth water. Her pussy lips were already swollen, the inside of both legs glistening from uncontrollable desire.

  I yanked her legs even further apart before gathering them into my arms. Her breathless sounds made my actions that much more uncontrollable.

  Genevieve blinked at me with a dazed look in her eyes, but that was short lived. As soon as I pulled her bottom off the desk and further into my arms, I could tell by the look she was fighting her urges.

  “Relax, my good girl. This won’t hurt a bit.” I bent over until I was able to drag the tip of my tongue around her clit.

  She flinched and threw her arms out, trembling just as she’d done before. Her nipples seemed to harden even more with my intense stare and it was impossible to take my eyes off her. She was far too beautiful, more innocent than I generally cared for, but that was another reason the woman was so different.

  So special.

  I sucked on her clit as she undulated, slowly moving her head from side to side. She wanted to smile, to moan in pleasure, but was doing everything in her power to keep from making a single sound.

  Oddly enough, I wanted her to scream out my name and would fuck her until she satisfied my ridiculous urge. I pulled away, controlling myself for a little while longer. I wanted to make her putty in my hands. That would take time. My own version of seduction.

  I swiped my tongue all the way down her pussy before pressing my lips against her thigh. When I darted my tongue across her skin, she finally allowed me a single whimper. The taste of her was extremely sweet, so much so I could easily concentrate on licking every inch of her body.

  But my cock wouldn’t be able to tolerate it.

  I lifted her leg up even further, trailing a wet path with my tongue to her knee. I noticed she was watching everything I was doing, but this time her eyes were unreadable. When I bit her inner thigh, she pushed up from my desk, panting a little more.

  My cock and balls were now being pinched, the tension in my body the worst it had ever been. I bit down on her other thigh until she finally cried out in discomfort before driving my tongue past her swollen folds.

  The taste was even sweeter than I’d thought, her juice coating my tongue. While I enjoyed fucking, there was an added filth to savoring the taste of a woman’s pussy. Feasting was one of my greatest joys.

  Genevieve arched her back as I lifted her hips up by several inches. She laughed softly, slapping one hand on the desk as I licked her slowly. Softly. Still savoring. Still watching.

  “Oh…” she muttered and cinched her eyes shut. I wasn’t about to give up yet, even though the throbbing in my groin was becoming painful.

  I buried my face into her wetness, using my fingers to keep her lips wide open. Her face was flushed, the slight redness matching the rosy warmth on her punished bottom. Did that make me a horrible man I wanted to keep both that way?

  I rolled my thumb around her clit while I licked her more roughly. She was slowly entering the throes of passion and I sensed she was fighting it every step of the way. She might be a damn good actress, but she could never fool me.

  When I pinched her clit, her body responded. Pleasure and pain. The perfect aphrodisiac. My lovely guest slammed into a wave, the climax forcing a string of moans from her lips.

  I lapped every drop, never allowing my eyes to blink or look away. She was even more beautiful when she orgasmed. By the time she came down from her sweet wave, I was beyond famished.

  The only thought I now had on my mind was fucking her, driving my hardened cock as deeply inside her as possible. Would that make her any easier to handle? Probably not, but at least I could say I’d gotten to know her better and vice versa. A grin slipped across my face as I lowered her legs to the floor.

  She turned her head to the side, taking gasping breaths as her hand fluttered to her chest. Her nipples were an even rosier color highlighted by the recessed LED lights. As I backed away, I wiped my mouth, the lingering taste reminding me of my favorite fruit. Peaches.

  As I began to unfasten my belt, she turned her head once again. Trepidation remained in her eyes, but the lust was even stronger.

  I wasn’t interested in wasting any time with pretenses. I stripped off my clothes quickly, returning to the same position.

  When I reached for her legs, she didn’t give me the opportunity. She lifted them on her own, arching her back at the same time. She looked like a vision, a goddess in heat. Even her painted toes were pointed, her skin shimmering in the light. I wanted to take a picture to keep with me at all times.

  Instead, I’d have the real thing night after night if I so chose.

  I wrapped my hand around the base of my cock, rubbing the tip up and down her slickened pussy. She pressed her palms against the desk, lifting her body by several additional inches. If she felt discomfort, she certainly didn’t act that way. Now her entire face was on fire, her swollen lips pursed as I pushed the tip of my cock just inside.

  When I hesitated, she laughed. “What are you waiting for? Permission?”

  “You should know better already than to challenge me. Since when do I ever need permission to do anything I want?” I thrust the entire length inside and she threw her head back. Her whimpers were bolder than before, more audible and the sound had a push-pull effect on the sadistic side of me.

  I pulled out, waiting for a few seconds before plunging into her again. Every woman was different, but as her muscles stretched to accommodate my width, she purposely clamped them like a tight vise. She was still toying with me, acting as if she had more control.

  Just being able to dig my nails into her luscious skin was invigorating. My pulse was high, the rush of adrenaline keeping me on a jagged edge. I rolled onto the balls of my feet, driving harder and faster. The sweet music of skin being pounded against skin was irresistible.

  Genevieve lolled her head to the side, panting as her chest rose and fell. I was brutal with her, enjoying the way her body responded as I fucked her. There were dancing prickles on her skin, every muscle as tense as mine had become.

  She didn’t expect my actions when I dropped over her, once again crushing her body with mine. I jerked her arms over her head, intertwining our fingers. Now we rocked together. Even our labored breathing was in unison.

  There were no words said, no admittance of anything, just brutal, raw fucking. As I pounded into her, I sensed another moment of rapture was sliding into her system.

  “Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh.” She pursed her lips shut as the wave swept over her. I couldn’t help but pull back, studying her beautiful face. She was truly exquisite.

  My body was reacting to hers, the need intensifying. As soon as she crested the swell, I sensed there would be no way I could stop even if I wanted to.

  A single bead of sweat dripped off my face and as I erupted deep inside her tight pussy, her tongue captured the bead. The action was almost too simple. Too sweet.

  And way too tempting.

  For now, she was my guest, but soon she’d be my prisoner in both business and in pleasure.

  There could be nothing else.

  CHAPTER 14

  Genevieve

  As I slipped up from a strange dream, the warmth of being under soft covers tried to drag me back into a deep slumber. Yet something told me to open my eyes. As soon as I did, I was mortified to see that the sun was shining in through very thinly cracked blinds.

  A feeling of horror swept through me and I jerked up, blinking a few times, but it was difficult to focus. The covers slipped down and I realized from a single shiver my breasts were exposed. I grabbed at the sheets before hearing slow and steady breathing. I turned my head and cringed. The dream hadn’t been strange. It had been twisted. Sick.

  Maybe somewhere deep in my psyche as I slept I hadn’t given myself to a monster. No, it wasn’t about giving or taking. What I’d shared with the bastard had been partially about dancing around a game of chess and…

  And the other part was too disgusting to think about.

  We’d been so drawn to each other that we’d caved under our bodies’ betrayal. That wasn’t entirely true either. Jago would probably fuck any woman who offered themselves to him and I was certain he had. But me? What was my excuse? Trauma? Fear? A horrible week? What?

  I’d never forgive myself.

  I glanced around the room, taking in the plush and richly colored atmosphere. This was definitely his bedroom with dark wood tones on a huge king-sized bed, the black comforter matching the accent colors in the pictures on the walls. The artwork was evocative, far too seductive to be studying while waking up next to the enemy.

  My eyes fell to the weapon on the nightstand on his side of the bed. For a few fleeting seconds, I thought about taking it and trying to sneak out of the house. Then another brutal dose of reality sank in. I wouldn’t get down the driveway before I was captured and brought back. Seeing the gun was the reminder I needed that what had happened the night before hadn’t been smart.

  Gah. What had I been thinking?

  The scent of the man lingered everywhere, staining my skin. I pulled strands of hair to my nose and grimaced.

  A bottle of wine was still on the table next to the huge leather chair, only a small amount remaining in the bottom while the two crystal stems were stained with red. We’d consumed an entire bottle of wine.

  There’d been so much tension between us, so many sparks and I’d done my best to ignore them. I’d failed. Furious, I dropped my head into my hand, shifting across the soft sheet. The instant wash of discomfort reminded me of the harsh punishment.

  Even that had ultimately made me wet.

  Hungry.

  No, I’d been famished.

  I laughed softly and covered my mouth with my hand, reliving the rest of the night. He’d carried me to bed, bringing the wine moments later. There’d been no discussion at first. He’d opened the bottle, offered me a glass, and had crawled into bed. Barely five minutes later and he’d fucked me again.

  My pussy was sore, but the ache was warm, the insides of my thighs still sticky. I looked over at him, hating myself all over again for basking in his stunning good looks. The sheets had fallen to the point where the deeply carved V in his chiseled pecs shifted all the way to his massive thighs.