Page 38 of Beguiled

“The fact you took a job in a private fight club might be an indication you’re much more than you appear to be.”

“Like what?” I tossed out. “Some chick who gets off on seeing a man beaten to death?”

“I assure you he wasn’t innocent. However, you had to know what you were getting yourself involved with. There are some very dangerous people in this world.”

“You mean you?”

Now he was getting annoyed. “This isn’t a game.”

“No, it’s not. I had no idea what I was getting in the middle of. I was doing a favor for a friend of mine. She had a date tonight she really wanted to go on and mentioned that her boss wouldn’t take kindly to her not providing a replacement. Now, I know why.” I glanced around me, even looking up at the tall buildings. I was all alone. With this man. With this… far too sexy man. Damn him. “I’m not part of this world, Mr. Chertov. I assure you I won’t be back.”

“Unfortunately, certain things have been taken out of your hands. Now, you can either come with me willingly or I’ll take you with me. It’s your choice, but you are getting in my car and we’re leaving.”

While I’d heard an edge to his voice before, it wasn’t like this. The brusque tone and deep baritone held a different meaning than him being frustrated with a report. Or another employee. What choice did I have? At least I had my phone with me. Unless he was planning on taking it from me.

“Fine. I’ll come with you, but you are not keeping me prisoner. That’s not… acceptable.”

“Acceptable? I guess we will see.” His tailored suit was strained across biceps that were products of his fighting ability. Never mind the rest of him. He motioned toward the end of the alley, waiting until I took the lead.

He still didn’t touch me, but he didn’t need to. I was close to jumping out of my skin.

When we reached the car, he was a gentleman and walked toward the passenger side, opening the door for me. In easing closer to the opening, I was pushed next to him since he wasn’t interested in moving. As had occurred when I’d been inches away after the shooting, the heat between us was excessive.

Enough that I had trouble breathing.

He peered down at me with hooded, wolfish eyes, both appearing as iridescent shimmers in the closest streetlight. Even the moonlight cast a silvery hue to the few gray hairs at his temples.

Tonight he appeared just as I’d thought of him in my dreams.

As a predator.

His muscular chest rose and fell more than I was used to seeing and it wasn’t about exertion. As soon as I climbed in, he waited until I had my seatbelt in place before leaning over. “I believe I need to make this very clear to you, Saige. As of tonight, I own you, at least in the sense of your full loyalty. And I won’t accept anything less.”

He wasn’t interested in hearing what I had to say about his proclamation, closing the door while never taking his eyes off me. Once I was inside and closed off from the rest of the world, the entire experience hit me, a sledgehammer of emotions and thoughts that had me holding my stomach.

In watching him cautiously moving around to the driver’s side, I could tell he’d scanned the area while keeping his hand on his weapon. He stood at the outside corner, pulling out hiscellphone. Within three seconds he was talking to someone. While he wasn’t any more animated in his phone conversations, his expression was full of rage. The lines around his eyes were deeper, his lips pursed, and the thick cords on both sides of his neck were more expressive.

The discussion didn’t last long. He shoved the phone into his jacket pocket and advanced all while continually scanning the street.

By the point he climbed inside, I was fighting laughter instead of tears.

As he started the engine, he tilted his head so he could look me in the eyes. When he raised his eyebrows, I pressed my hand across my mouth to stifle the laughter.

“I guess the assumptions made about you were correct.”

“You have me curious. By whom?”

“All the women I work with. Half think you’re some terrible criminal while the other half believe the dangerous aura you wear is sexy.”

He drove away, pressing down the accelerator and weaving around traffic as if there was no one on the road.

“Did you notice you blew through a red light?” I craned my neck to look over my shoulder, shocked we hadn’t gotten into an accident.

“I have to ensure no one is following us.”

“And?”

“It appears we are in the clear, but I’ll know for certain in a few minutes.”