She’s out of time. But she seems oblivious to the fact we’ve parked in front of my house. Wide brown eyes glue to mine with terror from my comment. Misinterpreting who’s in danger. Or maybe not, since I don’t know if I can control myself with her much longer.
Fritz opens the door and panic paralyzes her, keeping her pinned to the cushion. I slide out and offer her my hand, pretending I have manners for her sake. Maybe even patience. “Let’s finish our conversation inside.”
Agreement comes only in the form of her wrapping her fingers around mine and allowing me to slip her out of the SUV. When her shoes touch the gray brick pavers, I hastily lead her through the front door, past the guards who have their own tasks to focus on while I focus on her. Unwilling to give her any chance to change her mind, I curl my arm around her waist and enjoy the subtle scent of flowers wafting from her smooth skin.
She stops in the foyer, and I’d have to manhandle her to keep her moving. I don’t want to do that...yet.
“Please Mr. Klein. I need to know what I can do to get us out of this mess.”
Not us but him. Although she doesn’t seem to understand the difference. I like having her all to myself. I like having her nervous. I like having her beholden to me. “Well I already have plenty of wait staff and housekeeping. That only leaves dancers…”
Leaving her hanging with the ultimatum, I stride to the wet bar in my office and pour myself a bourbon. No sense in offering her one because I’m pretty sure she’ll decline the booze even though I know she can definitely use some alcohol to relax her.
“I can’t do that.”
The rim of my glass hides my smile. “You can’t or you won’t.”
She thinks that over while I swallow a long drink. My cell pings with a message from Wolf. They’ve found Tanner, and he’s hanging out waiting for me. A chuckle crosses my lips from my best friend’s sick sense of humor. The asshole who likes to threaten women is now dangling in my dungeon and probably shitting himself with the realization he crossed me when he wasn’t even on my radar. Stupid idiot bastard. I’ll deal with him later. Right now all of my attention remains on her. A great way to end a shitty day. “Let’s see if you can or not.”
I drop down to the sofa and slouch back against the pillow, detached and relaxed since I don’t have anything to be anxious about. I twirl my finger encouraging her to show me her skills. Nothing. All I receive in return from my request is her twitching and swaying. Probably questioning if I would chase her down if she tries to flee. Of which the answer is resoundingly yes. “I guess you don’t really want to help your brother…”
We both know I’m a complete and utter asshole. Yet, the insinuation works and she drops her hands to her sides. Pleading to me with her dark eyes rather than with her words. “There’s no music.”
Her stall tactic doesn’t work on me either. “Then I guess you better sing too.”
With a nod and a deep shuddering breath, she turns around. Maybe deciding that facing the fireplace will be easier than facing me. I’ll let her hide for a minute but I want to see her face as much as I want to see her tits and pussy.
The cardigan slowly slides down her back a few inches, giving me a glimpse of her light blue tee shirt underneath. Jesus this is fucking pathetic. But she lifts her head and finally a song escapes her mouth, shocking me how impressive her rich voice is from her tiny form until the lyrics hit me like a punch.
“Sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when…”
What in the fucking fuck with that song? Who the fuck sings a child’s lullaby when fucking stripping? I’m off the couch and on her in a heartbeat. Yanking her head back by the strands of her short black hair, I cage her throat against my forearm. Not enough force to hurt her but enough to scare the truth out of her. “What the fuck are you doing?”
She screams in absolute terror, but I give her a shake and squeeze her neck tighter. If she wants to breathe, then she has to talk. I give an inch so she can reply. “Who are you?”
“Tu-Tulip Rose!”
Tulip? What the fuck kind of name is Tulip? “What do you want from me? Who sent you?”
Only her nails clawing against my wrist answer me back. She’s fucking with me. This is all an act. Her wholesome appearance and stupid name and desire to help her brother are just part of her scheme.
I let her go, and she draws in all the oxygen she can gasp, cut short by me spinning her around and gathering the collar of her thin tee in my huge hands. Another shriek pierces my eardrums when I rip the fabric down her torso, snap the clasp between her tits to release her bra, and run my fingers over her rib cage and around her back. Nothing.
The wire must be in her panties. Fuck maybe in her pussy or even her ass. I fist the waistband of her pants and underwear dragging them down to her ankles that I push apart so I can see between her legs. She grabs me to keep from falling but I ignore her dainty hand on my shoulder. Too intent to complete my mission. Too intent to find the proof. Too intent to confirm I’m right.
Still nothing. Except her sobbing quietly. The biggest tears I’ve ever seen roll down her scorching cheeks as she tries to cover her heaving breasts and smooth pussy. She’s breathtakingly gorgeous, and I’m a god damn fucking bastard.
I step back, driving my fingers through my hair. Rarely am I wrong or ashamed, but in this moment, behaving this way with her, I don’t think I’ve ever felt worse in my entire thirty-two years. I never, ever apologize to anyone for any reason. But I owe her this. Actually I owe her so much more than this. “I’m sorry.”
Still petrified and bewildered, she doesn’t speak or move. Probably thinking I’m the one trying to trick her now. Her fragile body convulses from panic and her gaze stalks my every movement preparing herself for the lunatic to return. He’s not going to, but before I prove it to her, there’s something I have to know first. “Why that song? What made you sing that song?”
I step closer and her elegant hands flip up, attempting to stop me. Ironic that Wolf did the same thing earlier in the off chance he needed to shield me from her unwanted advances when she’s the one who needs protection from mine.
“It’s...it’s all I could think of. I was so frightened…my mind...went blank. I just wanted…” Another sob bubbles in her mouth, and more watery trails streak down her pink skin. “I just wanted to get it over with.”
“Don’t cry.” Stupid thing to command as if anyone could stop crying on demand. I shrug off my jacket and hold up the coat in front of her to show her I mean her no harm. At least not anymore. Careful and cautious, I gently wrap the black material around her hunched shoulders. I bend over even more slowly and draw her capris up her quivering legs, along with her simple beige panties that obviously don’t contain anything but her innocence. “I fucked up. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Talking to myself almost as much as her, I feel like I need to explain. When usually I never explain, I just do. “You just caught me off guard with that song.”
She wraps my jacket tighter around her, almost comical how the cashmere engulfs her willowy frame if either of us was in the mood to laugh.
“My mom used to sing it to me when I was little. I guess since I know all the words, it popped into my head.”