She glanced through the peephole to see Duncan standing there with a bunch of flowers in his arms. What was he doing? He wasn’t the flowers type. The only gifts he had ever bought her were paddles, floggers and sexy lingerie.
“Duncan,” she greeted him as she opened the door. “What are these for?”
Gerberas, her favorite.
“You tell me,” he growled, forcing her to move back into the room as he stalked inside. “Who are these from? Are they from that bastard, Saxon?”
Laken ignored the stab of disappointment, placing her hands on her hips as she glowered at him. “What are you talking about? Why would Saxon send me flowers?”
“Well, someone did.” He dumped them on the table without a care. “And I want to know who.”
“What business is it of yours?”
“Laken,” he growled in a voice gone deep with command. Swallowing heavily against the urge to kneel at his feet, to soothe him, she reached over to search for a card.
“There’s no card.”
“I know that,” he said impatiently, pacing. “I bet they’re from Saxon.”
She sighed. “I hardly know the man. Why would he give me flowers?”
“Why does he do anything? Why did he give you a membership to his club? Because he wants you, Laken. You’re a challenge to him.”
“Looks like I overestimated the amount of brain cells you have. Saxon has no interest in me.”
Duncan turned, glaring at her. “You’re not to talk to him, understand me? Don’t talk to him, don’t make eye contact with him, don’t go anywhere near that man.”
Anger surged through her and she welcomed the strong emotion.
“What I understand is that you’re acting like a complete idiot. You are not my Dom or my boyfriend. You have no right to dictate who I see. Now, is there a reason you’re here other than to yell at me? Because I’ve got work to do.”
Duncan frowned, his dark eyes stormy and deep. As angry as she was with him, she couldn’t help but respond to his nearness. Her heartbeat grew faster, the heat engulfing her, warming her from the inside out.
“The store is closed.”
“Doesn’t mean I don’t have work to do,” she informed him. “I’ve got Lila’s wedding gown to design. I’m busy, Duncan.”
“You work too hard. You need to take better care of yourself, Laken.”
She moved over to her door, holding it open without a word. Duncan walked over to her, but instead of stepping outside, he leaned down and swiftly took her lips against his.
Laken didn’t have time to move away before arousal rushed through her, stealing her every sense, every ounce of resistance. His lips plundered hers as he slipped his tongue inside her mouth. Laken melted, surrendering to him, her body brush
ing against his as she moved closer.
When he stepped back, she whimpered. She stood there for a long moment, eyes closed as she savored his touch. It took a while before she opened her eyes to see his smug grin.
“Remember that the next time some asshole sends you flowers. You’re mine, Laken Michaels. And don’t forget it.”
“And you’re beginning to sound like a stalker, Duncan Jones. Leave me the hell alone before I get a restraining order against you!” she yelled, slamming the door behind him.
How dare he!
Laken stared at the door, shaking. Damn him. He would not do this to her again. She was over him. Over men. If they weren’t forgetting her and letting her down then they were cheating on her and lying.
No, she wanted nothing to do with men and especially nothing to do with Dom’s.
She paced the room until her temper ebbed, leaving her feeling exhausted.