“Collateral, huh? But where’s the fun in that?” His mouth twisted into a smirk that both terrified me and turned me on in a way a man hadn’t before. “I like taking what I earned, Noah. In these circumstances, I earned you.”
He cupped my jaw, thumb sliding over my cheek, and then he captured my mouth in a hard kiss that should have repulsed me. I hated men like Alton, sharks in the water searching for blood, yet I didn’t rip myself away. I let him devour me, his tongue shoving between my lips and taking what he claimed belonged to him. And I enjoyed it, even if I forced myself not to kiss him back.
When he stepped away, both our chests heaved, and I sucked in a deep breath to steady myself. His hair sparkled under the sunlight, looking redder than it had in the house, and I couldn’t tear my gaze from it or his face. Apparently red was my favorite color.
“Come.” He spun on his heel, his shiny black shoes scuffing the stones as he strutted toward the double doors, which opened for him. A tiny lady there bowed at him as she pulled one door open wider. When he realized I wasn’t following, he glanced over his shoulder at me. “Noah, when I give you an order I expect it to be followed. Do you want to see your brother and sisters homeless? That’s what will happen if you don’t obey me.”
Something hot and angry twisted in my gut, the first resentment I’d truly felt since I’d arrived at my parents’. The feelings should have showed up earlier, but the shock was finally wearing off, which left behind this sickening feeling. I was beingblackmailed. Alton had to know what my siblings meant to me, and I was trapped, unable to do anything but abide by his orders.
One foot in front of the other, and then I reached him, a lump forming in my throat when I finally did. I couldn’t have said anything if I’d wanted to. Alton’s brown eyes glinted, a touch of knowing there in his stare, and he curled his fingers around my elbow, forcing me into the entranceway.
The inside of the mansion was as overwhelming as the outside. The ceiling soared overhead and a split staircase curved onto the second floor. Pendant lights hung low with glittering silver and fluorescent illumination, and beautiful designs were carved into the metal. The handrails of the stairs were a deep mahogany, thick and rich, and I could already imagine the smoothness beneath my palm. A hallway ran off to my right. Behind the staircase the rest of the first floor spread out. Arched doorways led into different rooms, and oil paintings were draped on royal blue walls.
Alton guided me up the left side of the staircase to the second floor. We went left down a long hallway and passed one door after another. Finally we reached a door close to the end on the right that looked no different from any of the others, except it had a painting next to it of a lively farm with a bright burgundy house in the center. He opened the door and shoved me forward hard enough that I nearly fell to my hands and knees.
Everything inside was red, gold, and black, passionate colors that both hurt the eyes and drew me deeper into the room. The bed was made up in dark crimson with gold trim, the bedposts were black wood, and the carpet was the same shade of red. In the corner was a nook with two single armchairs that looked out bay windows onto a long expanse of green grass.
Directly in front of the bed were three doors; one I assumed led to a bathroom, but one of the others was open, giving me a peek of a massive closet. A variety of suits hung on hangers, and to my surprise there were varying colors. I’d pegged him as someone who wore black most of the time—like his heart.
“This is my bedroom, Noah.” Alton’s voice startled me. I’d forgotten he was here while I was busy admiring the design of the room. “And you’ll be staying with me.”
I winced, not because the thought scared me, but because I hadn’t told him the truth yet, the one where I wasn’t experienced in anything other than blow jobs. Would he back off if I told him? Did Iwanthim to? I couldn’t remember the last time excitement stirred inside me. Maybe it had never happened. I certainly couldn’t remember a time when I actually wanted to give myself up to a man.
“In your bed?” I held my breath and didn’t turn, even when I felt his heat against my back. His hands settled on my hips and he leaned in, breath whispering across my ear.
“Yes. In my bed. Every night.”
A shiver worked its way down my spine and I inhaled sharply, my nostrils filling with his cool scent. His palms felt heavy on my skin, even with the layer of clothing between us, and I felt the sudden urge to escape before I did something unreasonable like spin around and taste his lips, which was stupid because I’d kissed attractive men before. He was no different than any of them. Not to mention thiswasblackmail, no matter how anyone looked at it. Good-looking or not, I wasn’t falling for his bullshit.
I slapped at his wrists and spun on my heels, chin raised. “I want my lawyer to peruse that contract.”
His eyebrows rose. “Your parents have already talked to your lawyer.”
It felt like he was bluffing, but he was good and I couldn’t tell for certain. “That’s theirs, not mine.”
“Do you have one?”
I swallowed around the lump that formed in my throat. “I can find one.”
He laughed and the low sound was cruel but also genuine, and heat pooled in the pit of my stomach. “Little mouse, if your parents’ lawyer couldn’t find a loophole, no oneyouhire will, either. Besides, you already signed on the dotted line, and we both know it isn’t some contract keeping you here. You will listen to every word I say because of all the terrible things I can do to Edison and the rest of your family—with orwithoutthe law on my side.” He took a step back, and I felt like I could breathe again. “I’ll show you around the house. I think you’ll enjoy it.”
Alton didn’t wait for me before he exited the room again, but like a good puppet, I followed. We headed back down the hallway.
“This house has thirteen bedrooms, ten bathrooms, a golf course, a movie theater, and a jetty, to name a few high points. You will never get bored while you stay with me, and you can choose to do what you want when I don’t ask for you. However, when I demand your presence, you will be there.” He descended the stairs and walked toward the back of the house with me hot on his heels.
I kept my mouth shut until he opened the glass doors that led into the outdoor area, which included lounge chairs situated in front of a pristine rectangular pool. There was a roof over the water that seemed like it might be just for this time of the year. The support posts appeared to be the type that could be removed, and I suspected the whole structure could be put into storage. Underneath the covering were silver electric patio heaters, which made the air near the pool balmy enough that those weird heat lines that were sometimes visible on the sidewalk during summer radiated into the air. To the left was a polished black-cherry bar with five stools. During the warm months of the year, the greenery surrounding the perimeter would probably be vibrant and beautiful.
“Fuck.” The word slipped out before I could stop it.
Alton chuckled and turned toward me, his intense gaze skating down my body in a way that made it feel like he was touching me instead. “Do you swim, Noah?”
“Yes. I mean, it’s been a while since I’ve had a good swim.”
Someone opened the doors, and I peeked over my shoulder at an elderly maid who slowly made her way through with a couple of towels and some swim briefs slung over her arm. She passed them to Alton before disappearing again.
“Here.” He held out a stark blue pair with a wave design printed on them. “Let’s go for a swim. The pool’s heated. You’ll be comfortable. I like to be outside.”
I took the swim briefs from him and held them between two fingers, frowning. “You want me to get dressed in these?”
