I knew London was eager to speak her mind.
“That woman is horrible.”
I shrugged. “She’s not that bad when she likes you.”
“Does she insult all of your clients like that?”
When I thought about it, I smiled. “Actually, yeah.”
“And that’s okay?” she asked incredulously.
Ariel had a lot of valuable qualities that couldn’t be replaced. “She’s the best at what she does. That’s all I can say.”
“And what is that, exactly?”
I never told her about my other company. “She pretty much runs my scotch business. I just oversee a few things here and there.”
“Wait…you make scotch?” she asked in surprise. The realization slowly dawned on her, probably thinking about all the times she caught me drinking the amber liquid throughout the day. “I guess it makes sense.”
“It’s my clean money, how I launder all my other cash.”
She nodded like she understood. “And she works with your intelligence stuff too?”
“Yeah. She does a lot.”
London sighed when she realized there was no way to get rid of her nemesis. “I haven’t done anything to earn her hatred. She’s pretty cruel.”
“It’s nothing personal. She doesn’t like people she doesn’t know.”
“Well, she didn’t know everyone at one point.”
“And honestly, she still doesn’t like me now.”
London actually chuckled. “Can’t blame her…”
I liked seeing her smile—for me. It was an expression she hardly wore, like a rain cloud in the desert. “Give it time. She’ll come around.” I examined the cotton ball stuck to her arm, knowing within twenty-four hours I could have her the way I wanted. “Looks like you’re ready to go.”
Her smile dropped instantly.
I knew she was at war with herself. Her body craved mine, especially after the exquisite orgasms I gave her. But her mind couldn’t accept the attraction, not under the inhumane circumstance. She would always see me as the man who imprisoned her, a dictator.
But that was all about to change soon enough.
13
London
He came to bed late that night again, finishing up work downstairs with Ariel and the rest of his crew. I didn’t bother to pretend to be asleep this time. He walked inside and undid his tie, his eyes finding mine. Seductively, he removed every single item of clothing and dropped them on the floor. First, it was the tie and then it was the collared shirt. He undid his belt and bent it in his hands, testing the tightness. Then he dropped his slacks.
I eyed his near-naked body and felt repulsed by my immediate arousal. For a criminal, he had soft and flawless skin. The muscles coiled and moved every time he shifted, his power obvious in his build. He wasn’t bulky like Dunbar, but his long and lean look implied he was strong—but also fast.
He kicked off his shoes and socks then grabbed the brim of his boxers next.
I knew I shouldn’t look. I wasn’t sure why I was looking in the first place.
His brown eyes held a vibrant desire and confidence that was borderline arrogant. He pulled them down his waist until his hard cock appeared, the head swollen and a darker shade than the rest of his length. Nine inches of man emerged from his trimmed balls. He kicked the boxers aside then came to the bed, knowing he had my full attention.
He got into bed beside me and rested one arm underneath his head. The sheets bunched up to his waist, only the outline of his hard cock noticeable. Without trying, he looked like every woman’s dream. Masculine, powerful, and sexy. He was sleeping inside a castle that was passed on to him through his noble blood. He really was a king.
He turned his head and looked at me, his five o’clock shadow thicker than it was that morning. “Like what you see, Lovely?”
I didn’t bother lying anymore. It was obvious how attracted I was to him. But no matter how strong my needs were, I wasn’t going to go down that road. I had too much respect for myself, and my desire for freedom had never faltered. I couldn’t succumb to something so carnal and forget what was important. I may not be able to stop him from seducing me, but I could make sure I wasn’t making the first move. “I’m tired…” I yawned and turned over, trying to forget about the aching throb between my legs.
He turned off the bedside lamp and chuckled. “Whatever you say, Lovely. But very soon, you’ll be giving me exactly what I want.”
My heart quickened at his words. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’ll see in the morning.” He fell silent, refusing to give up any more information.
I didn’t take his threats lightly. He had power, money, and authority. He could make a lot of things happen—anything. I didn’t know what he was going to pull in the morning, but I had to make sure I wasn’t around to find out.