Lust & Lies Box Set-Sexual Awakenings, Excess, Predator & Prey

“It’s a southern accent. You know…we talk this way. You aren’t new to this.” I stood as he threw enough money on the table to pay for the meals of everyone dining. Chris would be over the moon. I was under the bus where I’d thrown myself and was now being guided by the elbow out of the restaurant.

“You seem to have more people living inside you than I can care for, Taylor Ellison,” he chided as he guided me down the stairs.

“I can walk,” I barked as he pushed me up against the side of the wood building the minute we reached the landing.

“Fuck, woman, just give up. I want to fuck you, and you want to fuck me. Your pussy is on fire right now and this”—he pressed his hard dick into me as I moved my hands to his shoulders—“is in need of that mouth.”

“Go to hell.” I pushed away from him and turned to head for the waiting SUV.

I was furious with myself for revealing so much. This man wasn’t interested in me in the least. He wanted a fuck and I wanted…What did I want?

I didn’t want to be involved but I damn sure didn’t want to be ignored, or feel it when I made polite conversation. I heard another sigh behind me.

“You want me to care, or you do not? Make your choice, Taylor Ellison. I grow tired of your fits. I have fucked you only once and from what I can see you may no longer be worth the trouble.”

I saw red as I turned and lunged at him, the whiskey a perfect excuse for me to lose my ever-loving mind. “You son of a bitch,” I shrieked as I pounded at his chest with my fist. “Who in the hell do you think you are! Forget this whole situation, and to hell with you.” I turned on my wedged heel and fell flat on my indignant ass. Daniello howled behind me as I whimpered at the pain in my ankle. I pulled myself up with no help from him and limped to the SUV where Rocco opened the door without any emotion on his face. Daniello followed behind me with a snide comment.

“Rocco, you must find a red hair south woman and give her whiskey. That is an order!” He laughed loudly and clapped his back before he climbed in behind me. I felt the pain in my chest as I tried hard to stifle my laugh and glared out the window.

Fuck, it was me and completely me.

I’d shied away from every single thing Daniello had done to show affection and responded only to the sexual advances. I had to own that. I didn’t need him to care, but in a small way, I wanted him to. The truth serum had shown that to him and to me.

His laughing slowed as I remained trained on the world passing by us. “I don’t need love, Daniello. I don’t.”

“I know,” he said, agreeing with me. “You are not that kind of woman. But every woman deserves appreciation.”

“And respect,” I added, pulling my leg up slightly to inspect my ankle. “What I’m trying to say is…”

“When you talk you want me to hear you,” he said simply.

I nodded.

“I have not missed a word,” he assured me.

I felt a small amount of emotion break in my throat at his words and hid it by clearing it and giving him an embarrassed smile.

“I guess you know why I stick to wine,” I offered quickly.

“You will drink whiskey with me.” The car stopped before I had a chance to ask if he was serious. For such a bad man, his sense of perverse humor seemed to be intact.

I asked as much as we entered my condo. “What kind of bad things do you do?”

He paused mid-stride in my living room, his back to me as I realized instantly I’d gone too far.

I felt the shift in the air as Daniello sharply turned on me, his features simmering.

Taking a few tentative steps forward, I took a leap. “I own part of a legitimate business and have no interest in seeing all the hard work I’ve done disappear due to guilt by association. Can you guarantee your work won’t interfere with my life in any way and won’t jeopardize my company?”

His answer was quick. “No.”

“Personally or professionally?”

“Professionally seems…unlikely. Personally depends on you.”

I tilted my head with more questions.

“Taylor, I will not give you more. We have already discussed this.” He turned away from me then walked to the kitchen, searching the cabinets. He pulled out a bottle and placed two pills on the counter, pushing them toward me and filling a glass full of water from the dispenser.