Take the Heat

He looked offended. “I don’t harm innocent people. I know what you must think of me, but I’m not a monster. I have killed men, yes, but only in the due course of my business. All of these men lived in my world and knew its rules. While it may appear lawless to outsiders, there are many guidelines you never break. Killing without provocation and harming women and children are unacceptable.”

Oh, lucky me, I got taken hostage by the sensitive psychopath.

Sounded like a lot of bullshit justification to me, but he seemed sincere about his twisted moral code of sorts. I guessed for now I’d just be grateful I hadn’t landed on his shit list. “How do you propose to solve this problem?”

“I could keep you tied up, but that is inconvenient. I don’t think it’s the right tone for our relationship.”

Color me confused. “Um, Royal, we don’t have a relationship. Unless you mean the hostage/kidnapper kind of bond.”

“Ah, that’s where you are wrong. It’s just brand-new and needs to be nurtured, so I don’t want to break the trust by manhandling you.”

He laid his arm across the back of the couch, directly behind my head, and I shifted, moving closer to the edge of my seat. “I think the trust is already broken by the kidnapping.”

He smiled. “I told you, you are my guest. Not a hostage.”

“You say tomato; I say hostage.” I shrugged. “So what is your solution?”

“Well, I don’t want to drug you either. It really isn’t good to have that many sedatives coursing through that delicious body of yours at one time.”

I let the delicious comment slide. “And? Spill it. I’m getting older here.” He seemed to be dragging his metaphorical feet on this one.

“The only option I see is stripping you down until you’re bare,” he said, his voice slipping to a darker register. “That way you won’t be tempted to make a run for it.”

I could feel the sexual tension curl between us once more, and I tried like hell to tamp it down. Ignore it. “Come again?” He’d clearly lost his mind.

“It is the best solution. It won’t harm you. The weather will be your jailor, not me. You wouldn’t make it more than a few minutes without frostbite. So, if you don’t mind,” he said, gesturing to my clothing.

“Hmm. Funnily enough? I do mind stripping off my clothing in front of a strange man. I’m not taking my clothes off.” I wrapped my arms around my chest and glowered at him.

His face went frighteningly calm. Like it had been when he’d shot me up with a sedative. This was going to happen whether I wanted it to or not. “Yes, Ivy. You are.”

“Said the date rapist,” I rejoined.

He sighed. “You saw my file. I have not stooped to raping a woman, and I never will. However, I will drug you again, and that will be that, if you so choose.”

I didn’t let it go or back down. “Didn’t you make the creepy comment about wanting my hands on you while we were driving?”

“That comment wasn’t creepy. It was flirtatious,” he countered. “And what’s more? You thought so too. I saw the blush on your cheeks. Besides, I said I wanted your hands on me. I didn’t threaten to put my hands on you.”

He had an answer for everything.

He sighed. “I had hoped you would choose the most rational option. You would rather the drugs again?”

“No!” I could see there was no way out of this. I had less of a chance of escaping if I was knocked unconscious. “Where are your two goons?”

He chuckled. “My associates have gone elsewhere to disappear for a while. It is just the two of us, Ivy. I promise.”

That was somewhat better. “Let’s say, for a moment, that I do take off my clothes. You understand that is not some sort of invitation, right?” I slapped my coffee cup on the table and stood, staring down at him with what I hoped was an intimidating expression. “You come near me, and I am going to go Thunderdome on your ass. One of us won’t survive, and my money is on you. Got it?” I snapped.

My threat seemed to amuse him. “I understand. Of course, that is predicated on you not wanting my attentions, but I promise to not come near until you ask me to.”

“Yeah, well, don’t count on it, buddy.” I turned around and undid my button-down shirt. Then I unbuckled the belt on my khakis, along with the fly. With horror I realized that while I had dressed for work, I hadn’t completely changed out of my date attire. I still wore a pretty pink lace bra and matching bikini panties beneath my clothes. I wasn’t sure if I actually wanted to sleep with the teacher I’d gone out with, but I had given myself the option when I got dressed.

I hesitated for a moment, and then something wicked occurred to me.

He wanted me. Really wanted me. I could practically feel his craving. Ten years without a woman. Ten years.

He watched me undress. Missing nothing. This might be a way to escape. If I put on a little show, it would shake his control and throw him off guard. I might be able to escape then. I toed off my shoes, let my pants slide to the floor and turned to face him, crossing my arms over myself, wrapping my shirt teasingly around my body.