AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Is he keeping me a prisoner?” I shriek in his face—or rather against his chest–but that doesn’t make him budge a single inch. He looks a bit sorry for me, but that’s it.
“Why buy me all these expensive clothes if I can’t wear them anywhere?” I mumble to myself as I walk back into the penthouse and fling my new Prada purse onto the couch.
Black is my power color. Unlike Mia Rogers-Soon-To-Be-Santori, I don’t look good in flashy clothes and pretentious brands. I’ve always been a somber presence and made a point of keeping my facial expression rather pinched, keeping people at arm’s length. Men only dared come on to me after I’d had a drink or two, and a smile cracked the severity of my face. Somehow, the creeps were always the boldest.
This gets me thinking about what Mia said regarding us attracting psychos. She, Addie, and I might seem very different on the outside, but there’s a core streak that seems to run through all three of us–a relentless focus on what we want or what we love. Addie is the romantic among us. The girl who dreamed of becoming a ballerina, shining on stage like Ana Pavlova–and she was ambitious about it. Mia was always adamant about building a career in the media and exposing crooks, while I’ve always been obsessed with becoming self-reliant and self-sufficient. I suppose that tends to happen when you grow up with emotionally absent parents who treat you like a necessary prop and only show you affection at charity events or parties, where they have to put up a show.
But it’s easy to forget about all of that when you have a library the size of Zayne’s at your disposal. Soon, I discover much more to explore than my own grim thoughts in the wealth of books about the hidden history of the world, some of them translations of old, original works from ancient times. But the most valuable thing is that it gives me an idea of Zayne’s interests and a sense of his brilliant mind. By the time he comes home, all I want is to dive into it.
He said reading got him through some dark times in his life...
So, during dinner, I assault him with questions about the books and the auctions where he won them, the talk bleeding deep into the night. We end up in front of the fireplace, the city lights twinkling beyond the window, and I discover another one of Zayne’s talents–keeping me riveted with stories about the secrets of the world, while avoiding all talk about himself. A week later, I still don’t know anything about his upbringing, his parents, or if he has any siblings. No man has ever had this effect on me, keeping my mind enthralled the way he does, but every night I fall asleep with a surge of desperation that I haven’t actually managed to garner any worthwhile information on him.
Seems like my only hope resides with Mariana, but the housekeeper isn’t as approachable anymore, and I think that’s because Zayne cautioned her. She’s been staying out of my way, and every time we run into each other all she gives me is a curt smile before she scurries away. I can’t help but wonder whether she got scolded for mentioning Kelly to me.
I haven’t asked Zayne about her, and I think that’s because I’m afraid of the answer, even though the idea of her keeps me tossing and turning at night. Every morning, when we have breakfast together, the question is on the tip of my tongue, searing like poison, begging me to spit it at him.
And, every day, Zayne masterfully leads me away from the subject. So far, he and I have produced an inventory of all Joseph’s businesses, ranging from the banks he ran to the underground network of men’s clubs where they drugged and used all those girls.
Fate must really enjoy fucking me dry in the ass because it turns out Zayne is a huge help where Joseph’s darkest dealings are involved. The things he shares with me always leave me open-mouthed and wanting more.
“Wow,” I breathe, balancing a glass of red wine on my knee, my feet curled under me on the sofa. Only now do I notice that I haven’t taken a single sip because I’m so riveted on our conversation. “I spent a whole year trying to dig up that kind of information about Joseph. I even infiltrated a club once. I got close to one of his dealers, hoping to find a trail I could follow to the rest of his organization. But things got tangled.” Then, after a short pause, and only because I believe it’s fair, “Thank you.”
Zayne’s mouth curls up in a smile that takes my breath away. He’s relaxing on the other side of the sofa after a hard day’s work, loosening his tie and making himself more comfortable.
“I’m glad you’re starting to see the hidden benefits of our alliance.”
I try to keep my focus on his face and not drop my eyes to the upper part of his chest that is now visible through his loosened buttons. Usually, he keeps to black t-shirts or long-sleeved shirts at home, which doesn’t ease my drooling by much, considering the way the material hugs the athletic shape of his body, but whenever I see his skin my blood quickens. I try to remember how sore he left my body last time, how my pussy felt battered for days.
Which brings us to the next puzzle.
He hasn’t even tried to touch me since he brought me here, which is frustrating. I can barely keep my thighs from squirming whenever we have a private moment like this, but maybe I should be glad. Maybe he’s had enough of me and will let me go after all when this is over. I should want this, I should encourage camaraderie instead of lust, and yet all I can think about is whether Kelly sucked his dick better than I did.
“Who is Kelly?”
If Zayne is surprised to hear the name, he doesn’t show it.
“I thought we weren’t going to question each other about our pasts.”
“My body hurt for days after you questioned me about mine.”
He smirks darkly, and current runs all through my body. “And you’d like to return in kind?”
“I’d like to know what other girls you brought to the penthouse.”
No, you don’t. You don’t!
Zayne leans forward, his stare doing wild things to me.
“You know what I’ve never done? Taken a woman to my bedroom. Can I interest you in a unique experience?”
“You’re making fun of me,” I manage, though my voice is trembling.
“I’m teasing you.” Then, darker, “But I’ll make good on it if you’re game.”
My brain scrambles to make sense of his words while I stare at him. Is this him being charming, seeking my consent for sex?
“You and I have been spending a lot of time together these past few days. Doesn’t that tell you anything?” he says, his voice a river of seduction. The twinkle in his blue eyes changes into something deeper, into that unwavering gaze that arrests me. That unblinking stare that makes me feel like the center of the universe for an apex predator.
