“Damn it, woman,” I hissed, forced to use one knee to hold down her arm while I continued the good fight before snagging her other. Once I had both wrists in one hand, I leaned over her. “You are going to learn to obey me.”
She acted like she was going to spit and I threw my finger across her mouth, causing her to laugh.
“Don’t do it. Don’t even think about it.”
“Or what?” The two little words were biting, so much so I laughed. A man in my position shouldn’t laugh but damn it, the woman made me crazy. Out of my mind nutso.
Which was likely why my cock was at full attention and aching as much as the injury and my watering eyes. “Lady, you’re one of the most incorrigible women I’ve ever met. I’ve been shot at, stabbed, punched, chased, been forced to do the chasing, and had to push aside a thousand dollar a glass scotch so you’ll excuse me if I’m not in the mood for your temper tantrum.”
I yanked out a scarf, winding it around her wrists.
“You’renot in the mood? Temper tantrum? Oh, I’ve yet to throw any kind of temper tantrums, but when I do, there won’t be a single moment where you can deny what I’m telling you. My day hasn’t been any better. And I assure you that after being shot at, chased, hunted, tackled, kidnapped, and told that my life as I know it is over, this day, which started out fairly decently has turned to shit.”
She stopped fighting while spewing venom and maybe she didn’t understand that with the daylight streaming in through the window, her face was illuminated by a golden halo.
“Do you know what’s worse?” she asked.
“What?” I was curious how far this would go.
“To find out the man you developed feelings for is a complete asshole.”
When her wrists were sufficiently tied, I cupped her face and lowered my head, cutting off any additional words with my lips. The kiss was rough and hard, my tongue claiming hers. She didn’t move at first, her entire body stiff. But within seconds, as she’d done with every other moment of intimacy shared, she yielded to my power over her.
Or maybe she was faking it. I enjoyed the few seconds and when I pulled away, I grinned. “Well, think of it this way. You didn’t need to wait until the third date to figure out all my imperfections.” With my grip still on her jaw, I yanked the other scarf into my hand, quickly wrapping it across her mouth and tying it behind her head.
Her reaction was instant and helped me comprehend she was mad as a wet hen.
“Be right back. Don’t go anywhere.” I moved off the bed, checking to ensure she hadn’t moved before heading into the bathroom. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Today had been absolute shit.
I splashed water into my eyes several times, finally lifting my head and staring at my reflection. After everything, I had to laugh. Not a single enemy had ever placed me in this position.
And I wasn’t talking about the Ghost.
Grabbing a towel, I watched as my features hardened.
After tossing the terrycloth aside, I leaned over the counter, also hating that I couldn’t put all the pieces together. A single noise brought a smile. Perhaps she had no understanding that I had a clear shot of the bed and could tell she was almost off the side.
I sighed. What in the hell was it going to take with her?
There was one option I’d handle here. The rest would need to wait. With a quick search in her bathroom, including opening the drawers, I found what I needed. As I held up the brush, I smirked. Perfect.
Some women needed to be tamed. She was one of them.
Vivian glared at me with wide eyes, yet they grew into another wave of defiance even as I pulled her wrist, thumping down on the bed.
“I can see we need to begin a new chapter together, Vivian. One that provides up with a level playing field on which trust can be built.”
She muttered and hissed and the gag wasn’t thick enough to hide the words she spewed. I had to admit that she was extremely colorful in her terminology. This was a woman after my own black heart. “Ne…ve,” she managed.
“Yes, we are because the alternative you won’t like. You’re curious what that means?” I asked before holding up and twirling the brush.
This time, her eyes narrowed. Another litany of colorful, muffled adjectives flowed.
“Yes, it is what you think it is. Old-fashioned corporal punishment.” I tossed the implement onto the bed before untying her scrub bottoms. “Did you know that in some parts of the world, corporal punishment is still used in various office situations?”
The single snort she offered was perhaps the most adorable sound to date.
“It’s true. You should see how they handle it in Russia. Now, I promise I won’t be so harsh. This time.” When I yanked down her scrubs, she wiggled in my hold. Her entire body froze when I slipped my fingers under the thin elastic of her lacy thong.
