“You will respect my privacy.”
I slap at his arm, his chest. God. Does he know how hard he’s squeezing? Does he know I can’t breathe? Can’t make a sound.
It feels like an eternity passes and the edges of my vision begin to darken like an old-fashioned photograph before he finally releases me.
I drop onto the bed.
I gasp for breath, clutching my neck, knowing I’ll have bruises in the shape of his giant hand.
He stares down at me and I stare back, mute.
The rage on his face, it’s a terrifying thing. Like the beast has been let out of the cage. No. Like it’s chewed through the bars in its rage and is on a rampage now. A murderous rampage.
Then, just as quickly as it came, it’s gone.
His expression changes and for a moment, I swear it’s like it wasn’t him just then. Because that man I just saw, I’d never have made a deal with him.
I’d never get in his bed.
No, I’d run like hell from that man.
But then, without a word, he turns his back and stalks away, into the bathroom, locking the door, leaving me trembling on his bed.
12
Hawk
I stand under the shower letting the spray hit me in the face, the water cold as ice.
The look in her eyes. That terrified look. The feel of her delicate neck in my hand. Her hands falling away as I strangled her.
Christ.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
I shake my head, try to clear away the image, but it’s impossible.
No personal effects.
That photo is a personal effect. Am I going to have to lock every drawer?
I switch off the water. I’m fucking freezing now.
I dry off, my mind wandering back to the phone call. Jack telling me the deal didn’t go through. Jack telling me to be careful.
I’m close.
Too close for it all to get fucked up.
I walk back into the bedroom to find her sitting on the bed much like she was yesterday. Like a terrified little girl.
Fuck.
This night has gone straight to hell.
Her gaze is locked on me and she pulls away when I sit on the bed. Bruises are already darkening her neck.
When I reach out to touch her, she flinches.
“I’m not going to hurt you.”
“You already did.”
I grit my teeth, but I accept that. I own it.
“I can’t fight you,” she says. “You’re stronger than me even without trying.”
“Don’t look through my things and you won’t have to worry about it.”
“I wasn’t looking through your things. I wouldn’t. It fell out of the book that was on top of the dresser.”
I switch out the light. Was it? I’m usually more careful with things.
“Lie down and go to sleep.”
She switches the light back on on her side. “What happened? Why did you get so angry?”
This is unexpected.
I give a little snort. “No personal effects, remember?”
“It was a photograph.”
“Shut off the light and go to sleep.” I lie down and turn my back to her.
“Was it the phone call?”
I roll to face her. “Were you eavesdropping too?”
“No. I just came out into the hall after my shower and you sounded pissed. I came right back in here.”
“Good. Don’t eavesdrop.” I roll away again.
“I can’t do this if you turn into this…this…monster when I do something I don’t even know will piss you off!”
I get up, reach over her, eyes boring in to her and switch off the light. “Go. To. Sleep.”
It’s on again before my head hits the pillow.
“No.”
I ignore her, close my eyes. But then she shoves at my shoulder.
“Get up!”
“You’re getting on my nerves, Melissa.”
“I’m sorry to get on your nerves but you scared the crap out of me. You almost killed me, Hawk!”
“I didn’t almost kill you.”
“I couldn’t breathe!”
“It won’t happen again.”
“You’re right about that,” she says with an attempt at putting steel into those words. “Get up.”
I chuckle. It’s funny, this. Her trying to command me.
“I mean it.” She shoves again, harder this time.
“Christ,” I say, turning, grabbing her wrist. “You want me up? I’m up. Now what?”
She tries to pull away but when I don’t let her, she shoves at me with her free arm.
“I thought you said you couldn’t fight me,” I say, taking her other wrist and just catching her knee between my thighs when she goes for my balls.
“You’re used to people jumping when you say jump, but I’m not one of those people.”
“Like hell you’re not. Let me explain something to you.” I rise up, pin her to the bed and loom over her. I watch her eyes as she takes me in. “I own you. For the next thirty days, you are mine. You belong to me.”
“Get off me.”
“The balance of power is tipped in my favor, Melissa. That’s what this is about. That’s what that hefty deposit into your account ensures. You do as I say, not the other way around and you know it.”