“Yes. This is just about owing my father and nothing else?” Great. Now I sounded haughty all over again, which wasn’t my intention. However, I did want to push for answers, maybe breaking him free of the shell he’d placed himself in.

  “Protecting you is important to me, Delaney. It’s also about respecting a long-standing friendship, a camaraderie that I’ve shared with no one else, including my brother. I was asked to protect you and that’s what I plan on doing. It would kill him if anything happened to you.”

  “And you?”

  He opened his mouth to answer then filled it with liquor. “As I said, I am taking this very seriously.”

  “You make it sound like a job.” I was the one creating tension, but his frankness hurt more than I cared to admit, even to myself. Maybe I was forcing his hand, trying to figure out what we shared. If anything. I was more confused than I wanted to admit. Because of his actions. Because of my feelings. Because of the heightened level of danger.

  “It’s the most important responsibility I’ve ever accepted, Delaney. I won’t fuck it up no matter how I feel.”

  “Meaning we can’t be lovers.” The sadness in my tone was ridiculous.

  “Meaning I’m your protector.”

  The silence was as horrific as the anxiety building deep within. “I guess given you murdered a man for me, I should feel honored. Thank you for protecting me, Francois. And thank you for sharing Sadie with me. She’s so… special.” I turned away before he saw my tears. I had no right to feel sad. I shouldn’t be anything but grateful he was in my life if for no other reason than he’d provided me with a chance to continue on. I pressed my hand to my mouth; fearful sobs would give me away. I wasn’t as strong as he believed me to be.

  I did believe in stupid fairytales, hopes and dreams that I’d had for as long as I could remember.

  “What do you think this is doing to me?” he asked, his voice sounding distant.

  “Meaning what?”

  “You. This. Close proximity?” Now he was growling. “What do you think seeing you again, touching you, kissing you has done to me?”

  I had no idea what to say, but the way my pulse was racing and the clamminess drifting across my skin was a clear indication of how I felt about him. I was falling hopelessly in love with someone who couldn’t stand the thought of being loved.

  “Answer me!” he fought to say, the strain in his deep baritone evident.

  “I don’t know. I guess I’d hoped you couldn’t resist me. But I do understand why you’re distant. My behavior had been childish. Selfish. I’ll ensure I don’t get in your way or break your rules. I’ve learned my lesson.”

  The thumping of Sadie’s tail was all I could hear for a few seconds. When he said nothing, I folded my arms and headed for the doorway. At least in the lovely room he’d had Cecily make up for me, he wouldn’t be able to hear me cry.

  “Come here.”

  There wasn’t just a demand in the two words but something much darker, as if he’d broken free from chains holding him.

  “It’s okay. I’ll stay in my room.”

  “I said. Come. Here. Now. Do not make me say it again.”

  I spun around, trying not to react to the dramatic change in his expression, his nostrils flaring like a wild animal and his chest heaving. “What do you want?” I found myself walking closer, unable to feel my feet. “What? Just tell me.”

  His grip on the thick glass was nothing like the one he used on my arm, jerking me forward, knocking the breath from both of us. “Everything. I won’t let you go, Delaney. You are mine. The fire you started will never be extinguished. God help us both for what we’re about to do.”

  CHAPTER 17

  Delaney

  Everything.

  The single word held such a powerful meaning that I was awestruck. Yet when he powered back the remainder of his drink, tossing the glass aside as if it meant nothing to him, I started quivering in his hold. He didn’t care if I had time to process the raw emotions around his statement or the meaning.

  He crushed his mouth over mine with such ferocity, I couldn’t think clearly. And in truth, I didn’t want to any longer. All the pent-up feelings, the dark emotions and fear came rushing forward in that moment, the horror of what we were facing no longer mattering.

  If only for a little while.

  The taste of him was electrifying, shooting tingles through every muscle. He drank from my mouth as if he was a man dying of thirst, stuck in the middle of the Sahara Desert. And I clung to him as if he was my lifeline. I longed to rip off every inch of clothing, pressing our heated bodies together, but he would never allow me to be in charge even for a moment.

  As flashing lights formed in my periphery of vision, I allowed myself to swoon in his hold. When he finally broke the sweet moment of passion, I whimpered immediately, the loss of his lips almost too much to bear. He rubbed his thumb across my lips roughly, his chest rising and falling.

  “Hear me, Delaney. I’m going to taste and take what I want, beautiful doll. I’m fed up with waiting. I’m not a patient man.”

  “Don’t be,” I told him.

  “This is your last chance to walk away from me. This will destroy your father. There will be no friendship. It will strain your relationship.”

  “I know.” My whisper was breathless, the slight tremor giving him pause. “This is my life, Francois. No one, including my father can make the choice for me.”

  “After this, you belong to me. Do you hear what I’m telling you?”

  Francois’ eyes remained unblinking, the powerful and piercing manner breath-stealing. “Yes, sir. I don’t want to walk away.”

  He threw his head back for a few seconds and when he lowered it again, the color of his irises had changed. “Then so be it.”

  He was a man obsessed, which is what I’d always known him to be. He parted my lips with ease, taking what he wanted, thrusting the tip of his tongue towards the back of my throat. I was so tightly pressed against him that I could feel his ragged heartbeat, could sense the rush of adrenaline that was fueling the bolts of electricity. Nothing had adequately prepared me for the feeling of letting go, of being with him in a carnal way free of lies and pretense. Just the two of us and no one else.

  It was life altering, leaving me aching all over, shivering in his hold. He was more dominating than before, rolling his hand down my back, kneading my bottom before taking a handful. As he lifted me onto my toes, I swept my arms around his neck, tangling my fingers in his hair. It was strange that I was marveling in the softness of his thick curls, the way his hair tickled my fingers.

  My heart continued fluttering as quickly as the butterfly wings were in my stomach, the kiss much more powerful than any I’d shared with him. Maybe that’s because we both felt free of the chains used as anchors, keeping us from dealing with the intensity of our feelings.

  Wants. Needs.

  Every raw emotion was welding together, tightly woven like the way our bodies molded together. Where one began and the other ended I was at a loss to explain. And in truth I didn’t care. The taste of him was amazing, the moment explosive, lights flickering all around us.

  “I want you,” I managed, praying he wouldn’t change his mind.

  “Oh, God, woman. I crave you more than I have anyone.”

  When he picked me completely off the floor, I could tell I was swooning, no longer able to feel my arms or legs. He crushed his mouth over mine for a second time, his actions even more deliberate than before. He continued sweeping his tongue back and forth, every other breathing sound he made a husky growl. Francois was more beast than man and I loved every bit of his brutal actions.

  When our lips parted, I darted my tongue out, sliding it all the way around his mouth as I reached for his shirt. He allowed me to yank it from its tight confines before issuing the kind of deep, guttural sound that sent vibrations dancing into every muscle, every blood cell. This wasn’t just about being electrified, on fire from his searing touch. This moment and the explosive nature of our passion was about a continuation of our toxic need, one that would never allow us to be free.

  But I didn’t want to be free of the man. I needed to drink in his essence, to bask in the insanity of our togetherness. And to forget anything but the two of us together.

  He pushed me away, cocking his head and allowing his fiery gaze to fall to my feet. Then he gripped the front of my shirt with both hands, ripping it with ease, tearing it from my body. I was certain he would have a heart attack from the way his chest was rising and falling, his entire face contorted.

  “You’re mine. Do you know that?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is that what you want?” he muttered in his gravelly voice as he cupped both my breasts, immediately flicking his thumbs back and forth across my aching nipples.

  “God, yes.” I struggled to reach for him again, finally doing the same thing to him, ripping the buttons from his bloody shirt. There was something even filthier about the knowledge that he’d killed for me. The rush of adrenaline was powered by the knowledge, the need for him intensifying tenfold. What did that make me? A monster alongside him?

  Or was I the light to his darkness?

  He ripped at my shorts, maneuvering them over my hips, snapping the elastic of my thong and within seconds, I was completely naked. Now a wild feeling of embarrassment washed over me. His men could walk in at any time, yet he didn’t seem concerned in the least.

  “You’ll get everything you need and want. If you’re a good girl.” He pinched my nipples, twisting and plucking them until stars formed in front of my eyes.

  “Oh.” The pain was extraordinary, my mind washing blank, the need to touch him the only possible thing I could handle thinking of. I palmed his chest, kneading his skin, fearful I would fall to the floor.

  He slowly lowered his head, his eyes never leaving me. He laved my right nipple, taking his time to soothe the burn and ache. There was something so extraordinary about his actions, his need to explore every inch of me written all over his face. I was certain the brute would ravage me and that excited me even more.

  As he took the hardened bud between his teeth, biting down until I cried out, he allowed his hand to slide down my stomach between my legs. His fingers easily found my slickened pussy, teasing me relentlessly as I issued several whimpers.

  I was finally forced to grip his arms for fear of collapsing. I threw my head back, laughing, then whimpered as the sensations increased.

  He brushed his lips to my other breast, rolling the tip of his tongue around my areola before sucking. They were so sensitive already that I couldn’t stop quivering. As he slipped his fingers inside, slowly and tenderly pumping, the rhythm perfect, I fell into a state of peaceful bliss. All sound was shoved aside, all complexity of who and what we were in the wind.

  I was vaguely aware he’d started pressing kisses between my breasts then down the length of my stomach. Unable to breathe, I was still tingling all over. I lolled my head to the side, trying to keep my eyes open, desperately longing to watch everything he was doing. It was impossible.

  “My beautiful doll is a bad girl. Aren’t you?” He pinched both nipples again until I cried out, allowing me a taste of his sadistic side.

  “Oh, God. Oh…”

  “Answer me.”

  Was he really asking me that question? “Uh-huh.”

  The sudden crack of his hand against my bottom was jarring, but it sent trickles of juice sliding down the inside of both thighs. The scent of my arousal was as powerful as his actions, both a strong aphrodisiac.

  “You need to be punished every day.” He dropped all the way to the floor, spreading my legs as wide open as possible.

  “Maybe.” I was longer able to recognize my voice. Blinking several times, I gave up on focusing, now gripping his shoulders. I knew I was digging my fingers into him, but there was no other choice. He was doing the same things, pressing his fingers into my bottom as he jerked my hips forward.

  The moment he pressed his lips against my clit, my knees buckled. The man knew how to create madness in my mind and wetness between my legs. He teased me, flicking his tongue around my clit to the point I was bucking against him, panting like a wild animal.

  I sensed he had no intention of allowing me to get off that easily. I was his prisoner in every sense of the word. Every tingling jolt of electricity was magnified, nonexistent bells ringing in my ears. There was something far too sinful about the fact he was mostly dressed and I only wore tennis shoes. I felt like such a bad girl, but it felt oh-so good.

  This was pure freedom, the ability to let go everything I’d ever wanted.

  As soon as Francois finally sucked on my tender bud, I raked my fingers through his hair, tugging with so much power and need I was fearful I’d rip out handfuls. If he minded, he certainly didn’t react, concentrating on driving me to the point of madness.

  When he finally thrust his tongue into my tight channel, I managed to roll onto my toes, struggling to keep hold, arching my back as the pleasure rammed through me.

  “Oh. My. God.” The orgasm was quick and relentless, pushing me to the point of no return. Lights flashed, my hearing toast and my mind completely blank. It was pure ecstasy and something only he’d ever managed to provide.

  He refused to stop there, licking me furiously, growling like the beast he was. I continued to toss my hair back and forth, probably seemingly a crazy person. With every harsh swipe of his tongue, the way he penetrated my very core, I was pushed further into a sweet place of nirvana.

  Another climax rushed up from my toes. This time there was no sound erupting from my mouth, although in my mind I was screaming from the wild pleasure. Every sound he made continued to arouse me, every swipe of his raspy tongue drawing me closer to a precipice, an abyss far below.

  Perhaps I’d always been in love with the man.

  The dark, dangerous predator.

  As the climax built to a crazy point, my body shaking in his hold, he licked fervently until I was extra sensitive. Seconds or maybe minutes later, I was aware he’d risen to his feet, gathering me into his strong arms. As I pressed my hand against his chest, struggling to look him in the eyes, his entire expression had changed, becoming even darker.

  I wasn’t just his lover.

  I was now his possession.

  And I couldn’t be more excited.

  He took purposeful steps out of the room, not saying a single word, his eyes never leaving mine. It was as if the man was searching to ensure I wouldn’t change my mind. Somehow, I knew even if I had, the deal I’d made would last until the end of time. Who was I to want anything other than what had been every girl’s fantasy?

  The bad boy alpha. The dangerous man. The risk taker.

  Someone so utterly passionate about everything he did, he literally took my breath away. Everything about his actions was methodical, purposeful as if in doing this, he was issuing a warning in silence, allowing me one last thought at taking the option. Although I could tell by the possessive look in his eyes that he had no intention of letting me go.

  The constant chills tickling every inch of skin, and the heat building in the depth of my being couldn’t be denied.

  Or explained.

  We were risking more than his friendship with my father and my life.

  We were both risking everything we thought we’d known about each other, the tender hold we’d had on separation versus need. And in my case, I was risking my heart. Was this merely about passion, the need for connection? It didn’t matter. I now belonged to him.

  Francois moved down the hallway like the predator he was, the silence in the house almost deafening. He kicked open his bedroom door, sweeping me inside. Then he tossed me into the center of the bed. Without hesitation, he pushed me down, yanking one tennis shoe off then the other, pitching them halfway across the room.

  Laughter bubbled up from my throat, the salacious action drawing me deeper into the sinful moment.

  Purring, I crawled onto my knees almost instantly, reaching for him as I’d done before. There were no words to be said, no further statements to be made. The music and the words would all be in our actions.

  He shook his head as he backed out of my reach, the slight smirk on his face driving me crazy. I swayed back and forth, undulating my hips on purpose as he slowly eased the torn shirt over his broad shoulders. As he watched me intently, I placed the palms of my hands against my upper chest, flexing my fingers open as I brushed them down to my breasts.

  “Mmm…” he growled, tossing his shirt then reaching for his shoes. His dark eyes were enshrouded with hooded eyelids, his long dark eyelashes skimming across his cheeks as he blinked. The way his chest continued to rise and fall was a clear indication of his needs, desires that would make the moment shared rough.

  And I craved it, every inch of me erupting with fiery heat.

  As he unfastened his trousers, I dragged my tongue across my lips in an exaggerated manner, pinching my nipples between my fingers. The pain was delightful and I threw my head back, rolling my hips forward.

  “Be careful, my sweet doll. I could break you.”

  “I’m not fragile.”

  “You say that now.” Seconds later, he was fully naked, standing at his full height and allowing me to bask in his insanely good looks. How could any man be that gorgeous?

  As my gaze fell down the length of his chest, shifting across the artistic world of ink that he’d had tatted on his skin, he followed my gaze. The lightning bolt was surrounded by vines and scrolls.

  “A symbol of power and strength used by the gods,” he told me, following my lead and rolling the rough pads of his fingers across the design before crawling his hand to his cock.

  “That suits you perfectly.”

  His smirk was darker than before and I could swear it was possible to read his mind, the darkness he was experiencing. I couldn’t stop quivering.

  I inched to the foot of the bed, remaining on my knees, rubbing my hand against my skin as I moved it down further. The moment I shoved it between my legs, fingering my aching mound, he hissed as if angry that I’d touched what belonged to him.