Beautiful Seduction

Cassidy’s eyes opened wide, the same hatred as before remaining, although the quiver of her lower lip indicated she hadn’t expected me to retaliate. I found that interesting. She truly didn’t understand what she’d stepped in the middle of.

“I did nothing wrong,” she insisted.

“You invaded my private space. Did you not see the word ‘private’ on the door? I’m well aware of your credentials, Ms. Reporter. Your work provided you with firsthand knowledge of who I am and what kind of life I’ve led. Yet you made it your mission to ignore any rationality, not just stumbling into a dangerous situation but forcing your way into it. In my mind, that requires harsh punishment. Get to your feet.”

She took several deep breaths, shaking her head. “Did you ever stop to think maybe I wanted nothing more than to see you again before I left town? Huh? Of course you didn’t. I was just some floozy to you. How stupid I was in actually believing for one second you gave a damn.” She jerked to her feet, crowding my space, lifting her head until her long, lovely neck was exposed to the beast who’d ravaged her. Her fearlessness was admirable but, in my mind, reckless.

“Remove your clothes.” I backed away, refusing to succumb to her lilted voice or the heavy weight that came along with her statement. “So you know, floozies are meant for one-night stands, never to be seen again.”

“Isn’t that what you did?”

I grabbed her wrist, dropping my head until I was able to whisper in her ear. “If that was the case, I would have left you there to face the man who accosted you on the dancefloor. Instead, I made certain he would never hurt you. Now. Undress or I will do it for you, which will require you to remain naked for the remainder of our adventure together. Is that what you’d prefer?”

“Bastard.”

At least she understood I was serious. She pushed her hands against my chest, immediately moving further away then turning around. Her body shook as she reached for the hem of her dress. The fact a hard ache remained in my chest continued to trouble me. Why had she become so special to me, a beautiful creature that I couldn’t shove aside as I normally would?

I backed away, giving her privacy, which was something she wouldn’t be allowed again, slowly unfastening my belt. At this point, it was vital for her to not only comprehend but accept that she was no longer in control of her life.

Why was it I felt guilt, an emotion that rarely if ever entered my system? Exhaling, I yanked on the thick leather strap, almost tearing it from my belt loops.

When she stood fully naked, I took several deep breaths. No other woman had ever affected me this way. That alone kept the jagged edge in my system. I wanted nothing more than to drag her onto my lap, shoving my cock so deep inside she was forced to scream out my name. However, this was no time for some jaded thought of romance. This was about forcing her compliance.

I wrapped my hand around her hair, pulling her toward the table bolted to the aircraft floor. The surface would prove useful for far more than just sharing a meal.

This was the true beginning of our new life together.

A crooked smile crossed my face at the thought. Keeping her would prove to be dangerous, but I was forced to face the fact I could never her go. She wasn’t just the light spilling into my soul. She’d become the air I needed to breathe, the drug that I could never live without.

As I shoved her across the surface, the single guttural sound she made was likely her attempt to reach my heart. She had a way of dragging at my conscience, trying to pull out emotions that no longer existed. I reminded myself this was necessary in order to keep her in line and alive.

When I rubbed my fingertips down her spine, she bristled, smashing her fists against the table. Then she curled her fingers around both edges, her breathing ragged.

I wasted no time, bringing the belt down twice, exhaling as her body shuddered. The fact I kept reminding myself she deserved the harsh punishment pissed me off. When had I ever second guessed one of my decisions? I brought the strap down four times in a row, savoring the swishing sound the leather made as it coursed through the air.

Moaning, she pressed her hands against the surface, throwing me a look over her shoulder. While the same flash of anger I’d seen before remained, the fire in her eyes was unmistakable, the electricity soaring.

“I hate you,” she whispered.

“So you’ve indicated.”

She dragged her tongue across her lips and pressed her cheek against the table. Reaching out, I brushed my fingers across the small of her back, her body trembling from my touch.

The adrenaline rush jetting through me slammed against the firestorm of need, almost allowing me to lose focus. That wasn’t going to happen. I rubbed my fingers across the grain, relishing the scent of the fine Corinthian leather. Then I delivered another six, one coming right after the other.

My cock was so fucking hard the pain was biting.

Fisting my hand, I rolled my knuckles across her bottom, reveling in the explosive heat. So much of me wanted her to wear my marks as a reminder that she belonged to me. That didn’t just make me a bad man.

That made me a monster.

What surprised me was that she was wet, so much so her pussy lips were swollen, glistening from the intensity of her desire that rivaled mine. My vision was suddenly cloudy, the lurid, filthy thoughts shifting through my mind strangely providing clarity. The beast inside of me had already marked her.

I slipped my hand between her legs, swirling the tip of my index finger around her clit. She threw her head over her shoulder, the expression on her face amusing.

As if she could deny her desire, the way I made her feel.

“You’re enjoying this,” I stated, the actuality simple in my mind.