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“Be careful, my special creature. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you. I’ll stoke the fire and make us both a drink. You can freshen up if you like. The bedroom and bathroom are at the top of the stairs. However, I’d prefer you stay in the dress for now.”
“Are you always this dominating?”
He remained silent as he removed his jacket, immediately easing mine from my shoulders. “Since I was the kid most likely to get beaten up. I had to learn very quickly that only the top dog wins. So, I became a top dog. Survival of the fittest.”
“Interesting. The bullied becomes the bully.”
“It’s not necessary to become a bully in order to be in command, although violence is needed at times when conversing has failed. But never with a woman.”
“Why does it seem that you would prefer if I was afraid of you?”
“You should be.” He turned away from me, moving toward the fire and I held my breath for a few seconds. He was serious. He wanted me to be afraid of him.
Why?
I moved toward the set of stairs, taking my time as I headed to the second floor. He was so certain of himself, acting as if he already owned me. Even if there was a part of me that was flattered by the attention, the money spent on airplane fuel and hiring a chef, the clothes purchased just so I’d feel comfortable here, it all felt far too possessive. As I walked into the bedroom, flicking on the light, the instant I saw the number of shopping bags, not all from the boutique where I’d shopped, the roses and card entered my mind.
Was it possible it was one and the same person? If that was the case, had Gabriel been stalking me for months? Was he some kind of a crazed fan of my surgical work? I’d heard of it before, but I would have remembered if I’d operated on such a fine specimen.
I gritted my teeth, shoving another round of lurid thoughts aside. I had no business acting like a teenager.
Why not? What if this is exactly what the doctor ordered?
Yeah, my little voice could go to hell.
Why was I looking over my shoulder, nervous tension in my stomach? Because I thought he’d be standing there? Would that bother me if he was? Yes. In truth, it would. This was all so much, as if seducing me hadn’t been enough.
Only owning me would be.
I opened a few of the bags, fingering the soft sweaters and two pair of jeans. He’d even thought of snow boots, and they were in my correct size. Was it possible he’d gone to greater lengths to learn more about me than he wanted me to believe? With the internet and search engines, anything was possible. I purchased most of my clothing online late at night. A consummate hacker could find every detail of what I liked, including my food deliveries with ease.
For what purpose?
It was crazy that I hadn’t demanded his last name. Nowadays, learning a person’s name and checking all their social media platforms before accepting a date was responsible.
I’d been reckless, including having unprotected sex.
I shoved the bags aside, unable to pick through any more of them. Although I did want to change out of the dress.
The one he’d selected for me.
The one he’d demanded I wear.
What are you doing, girl? You’ve lost your mind.
I studied the bedroom for a few seconds, the huge king-size bed covered in pillows. Then I took a sharp turn into the bathroom, noticing candles had been strategically placed on the large whirlpool tub and across the counter. I backed out, moving toward the other room on the floor. The door was locked, which made me curious as to what the man was hiding. As I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes, I could swear I’d seen him somewhere before. He wasn’t a patient. I’d remember that. Maybe he’d been in the coffee shop before.
No, my body would have experienced the same reaction.
Why the hell couldn’t I remember it?
I was shaking all over, partially from adrenaline. When that happened, it was usually because my mind was working so hard to find an answer to whatever problem I was confronted with. And in most cases, I suddenly remembered the answer or had an epiphany about how to fix the situation. As I walked downstairs, he was nowhere to be seen. I listened for any sounds, but there was only the ebb and flow of the wind starting to howl outside. That alone creeped me out. I peered around the corner then moved to the entrance to another room.
The kitchen was almost as large as the living room, big enough to be considered a commercial kitchen complete with Viking appliances. The man didn’t spare any expense. There was a bottle of wine and two half-full glasses sitting on the counter, but no sign of him.
Him.
Now I suddenly had trouble reciting his name in my mind?
