Page 46 of Beguiled

He was the epitome of arrogance even though he was standing there looking almost boyish, an evil grin on his face from his discovery. I was struck once again and in an entirely different way by how handsome he was. How put together after being tossed around and shot at. My mind went to several of the same if not more vivid and highly inappropriate images that plagued me on a daily basis.

No longer.

I just couldn’t hunger for the kind of sin that would drive me into more than just hot water with human resources.

“What do you feed that cat?” he dared ask as if his being in my apartment going through my things was normal. Nothing about tonight had been normal.

I dropped my little baby, rubbing her back before she skittered away. “You aren’t allowed to comment on her weight.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Without thinking, I bypassed the gun to grab the sex toy from his hand, almost dropping it not once but twice before managing to turn it off. The sudden quiet was deafening. This was an even more reprehensible nightmare.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Ensuring you’ll be safe.” Stash’s answer was completely devoid of emotion even while his eyes danced with clear amusement. Standing only inches away from such a dangerous man, I’d never felt so vulnerable in my life. “What part about staying where you were did you not understand?”

“It’s my apartment.”

“Had I not been trained, I could have killed you.”

He had a point there.

“But you didn’t, deciding instead to invade my privacy. You were going through my things.”

“Anyone who has handcuffs dangling from their bed warrants a decent search.”

My immediate reaction was to hug myself, fearful he’d initiate a full body search.

He didn’t.

Was I disappointed? Maybe so. He was staring at me with a curious look on his face.

I hadn’t realized I still had the implement in my hand while backing away until his gaze fell to what I was holding. He wasn’t bothering to hide his delight in my discomfort any longer. Damn the man.

“You’re not going to find some gun-wielding asshole inside my private things.” The words were no sooner spit from my mouth than we both realized how silly my statement was. I looked away, huffing and puffing. It took me a full twenty seconds to find the courage to take a step closer so I could toss the toy back into the drawer, slamming it as soon as I did.

I was shaking all over.

“You don’t know how clever monsters can be.”

“Leave.” I pointed to the door.

“No.”

Hissing, I threw my arm out again. “I said… leave. I will not be held prisoner in my own damn house.”

He took a step closer and I jumped backward. “And I said… no.”

“Then I’ll leave.” I turned slightly.

“If you take a single step outside the door, Saige, so help me God, you will not like what I will do to keep you here. And keep you safe.”

Oh, the nerve of the man plucked every last one of mine. With a snap of my head in his direction, I planted my hands on my hips. “I’m safe. I’m here alone. No one is hiding under the bed so you can leave.”

“Hmmm,” he said while rubbing his jaw. “I’ve yet to check under the bed.”

“Don’t you…” I’d be damned if he didn’t drop to his knees and lift the comforter so he could peer underneath. “Dare.”