It felt like approaching a panther.
She had to remind herself that his hands were tied before him, and he could not truly harm her in anyway. And yet the aura he emanated was one heady mix of raw sensuality and lethal danger.
A strange tingle blossomed in her belly. He was scowling very hard. He didn’t seem to be happy that Sydney won. Tough luck! He could date any picking tomorrow night. Tonight, he was Sydney’s, and she was going to take every advantage of having a man with his experience at her command for a night.
“If you’d wait here for me while I arrange payment,” she said to him, not even saying Hello, remember me? You used to call me Fire Head, “I’ll be right back to take you home.”
By the time she returned, there were three women chatting up to him, caressing their hands up his bare, muscled torso while he just stood there, smiling indulgently. A strange sensation overcame Sydney as she watched one of them tease her fingertips across his right nipple piercing, consisting of a barbell slicing right beneath his nipple, with twin diamonds sparkling at each corner.
Sydney held her clutch bag so hard, her hand started hurting. Reaching out to hook her finger into the leather bondage that held his thick wrists together, she didn’t even glance back as she tugged and said, “All right, say goodbye to your little friends now. Time to go.”
He chuckled softly, surprising her, but he docilely followed.
A healthy dose of satisfaction surged through her as all eyes across the room surveyed her in utter awe at her as she led the huge, easily two-hundred pound man—a head taller than she or more at at least six feet five—toward the door.
It was like having a chained lion lazily walking at your side. The sensation was strangely empowering. She felt strong and yet, also, protected and a little scared.
A little flame flickered in her chest as she stole a glance at his profile. He was boredly walking forward, not even looking at her, but his lips were curled in amusement, like she was his very own private clown.
She was glad he was enjoying himself at her expense, because later, she would enjoy herself at his.
She was one-hundred thousand dollars of her inheritance shorter, and she loved Court too much not to give it her best shot.
This asshole was it.
two
Damien leaned back in the passenger seat of an impressively luxurious navy blue and tan Jaguar, unused to being driven by a woman. Oh, well, whatever. It’s not like he would see her again after tonight.
She was a bristly little thing, annoyed because others had been rubbing his chest. She was so tiny, it was like watching a Chihuahua come bark at three German Shepherds. Not very smart of the Chihuahua, of course. Why in the world Damien had found it cute was beyond him.
“I’m sorry I’m so quiet,” she said, stealing a glance at him as she drove. “I’m trying to decide where to begin. Wait—where’s your bondage? Did you take it off?”
He lifted his free hands and wiggled his fingers, delighting in the panic in her voice. Well, hell, what did she think he was going to do? Feel her up?
Her eyebrows furrowed as her gaze darted to him, to the road, then back to him. “I don’t trust you, put it back on.”
Unperturbed, he rammed the leather string into his slacks then leaned back, crossing his hands behind his head. “So tell me. How am I supposed to rock your world? Pay your dinner tonight? Wine and dine you?”
Her knuckles were white as she gripped the steering wheel. “No, thank you, I can pay for my own food.”
He cocked a brow and gave her tiny form a once over, noticing the car was almost driving itself. She was almost inexistent, she was so slim and petite. “Looks like you’ve been scrimping,” he said pointedly.
She shook her head. “Look, this is not going as I planned. Let’s start again.”
“All right. Why don’t we begin with you telling me your name, Minnie.”
“It’s Sydney, genius. Sydney Morgan. Does that ring a bell or do you only remember the women you’ve slept with?”
Her name jolted through him. He cocked a brow and surveyed her profile, taking in a delicate nose, an intelligent forehead, and a nicely rounded chin, and whoa, there, she had a nice mouth. “No shit. Sydney?”
She nodded, lips pursed in distaste, then she steered left at the spotlight. “Hello, Damien. It’s been…what? Ten years?”
“What the hell happened to the red in your hair?”
“I colored it. Being it was so popular with the guys and all.”
He scowled at the verbal slap.