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He folds his arms across his chest and gazes down at me, looking powerful and in control. “And if they do?”
I blow out a breath. “I would be mortified.”
He almost seems affronted by my statement. “Mortified to be seen with me?”
“Yes!” I whisper harshly. “I mean, no. I mean...I don’t want to be seen kissing you in the middle of XVerse.” Geez, I bungled that.
His eyes narrow. “Why not?”
“I just...don’t typically go around kissing men in public, that’s all.”
Not the entire truth, but he doesn’t need to know that. If I ever secure a job here, I don’t want people thinking I fucked my way in. Especially since I’m thinking about backing out of this whole sordid arrangement. The less people know, the better.
“Madeline, you’re mine. And everyone will know it, sooner or later.”
“Yeah, about that,” I hedge. This isn’t exactly the time or place, but I can see he’s going to press the issue. Doesn’t look like it can wait until tomorrow. “Since we’re still within the grace period, I think it’d be best if we…reevaluate this whole thing.” He visibly stiffens, his entire body turning hard as granite. He shoves his hands into his pockets and bows his head, as though trying to rein in his reaction. Suddenly I can’t breath and my heart is racing as I witness his fight for control. I’m almost afraid of the result. After endless moments, he finally looks back up at me, his eyes meeting mine. There’s an intensity in his gaze that’s utterly captivating, and despite all my thoughts of backing out, it turns me on.
When he speaks, his voice is even and controlled. “We aren’t reevaluating anything, Madeline. If you want to speak further about this, we’ll do so in private.”
I lift my chin. “Fine. I can do that.”
With a hand at my back, he guides me across the warehouse through a double door and down a long hallway. To the left is another door. He quickly keys in a code on the security lock, opens it, and ushers me inside.
The room is completely dark. There are no windows, no lights. But before I can ask where we are, he pulls out his phone and presses an app open. The room instantly comes to life—blue lights glint from beneath the clear tile floor, giving the room a surreal otherworldly look. Two massive screens, now blank, are mounted on the far wall, and several rows of desks and computers fill the room. He moved down the slope of the room toward a large table as I gawk at the displays.
Then I spin around to face him. “Is this a Mission Control room?”
He nods once, his expression solemn. It’s clear the tour is over. I have a feeling he has something much more lascivious in mind. “Come here,” he commands.
With hesitant, shaky steps, I obey.
Once I’m within his reach, he places a finger beneath my chin and lifts my face up, forcing my eyes to meet his. A shiver moves through me. That cold, hard look in his eyes tells me he hasn’t forgotten what we are about to discuss.
Might as well get it out in the open. “Evan, this isn’t working…. I think it’s best if we don’t continue with it.” Then I reach up and unhook the necklace, holding it out to him. “Here, I can’t keep this.”
Nausea gathers in my stomach when I imagine his next mistress wearing it.
He ignores the proffered necklace, his eyes still fastened on mine. “You said you’d obey me,” he says quietly. But there’s something in his eyes, a spark of flame that makes cold fear clamp around my throat.
“In the heat of the moment, I did. But we also signed a contract that gave me a grace period.”
He takes the necklace from my hand and places it back around my neck, hooking the clasp. Though it’s only been off of me for less than a minute, it feels cold. I frown, unable to process this. He’s absolutely refusing to take no for an answer.
“We’re not through until I say we are.”
Chapter 20
Beautiful Agony
We’re not through until I say we are.
His crisp words settle in my stomach, and I swallow. “That’s not what the contract says,” I counter.
“Fuck the contract.” His tone is hard, clipped, verging on angry. “Only I can give you what you need.”
Before I can answer, he pulls me into a rough, passionate kiss. His tongue pushes into my mouth and takes control. Like before, it overwhelms me, sweeps me under. His tongue and lips dominate mine, and I’m pierced to the core with want. His hand slides up to the back of my head, holding me in place even as my hands move up to press against his chest.
“Evan—” I murmur against his mouth but he smothers the protest. I can feel his body hardening against mine and my own responding, fire in my belly, hollow, aching desire in my core. I don’t just want him. I need him.
