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Break her.
But it had to be real.
I’d wanted to do that to her all those years ago, but in my mind, I’d believed I would tire of her. Now I knew better.
As I headed to the marina, I threw a look at her. She was leaning against the door, resting her head in her hand. She’d said very little after leaving the jewelry store, but I noticed she’d selected one of the bracelets I’d purchased for her. It was perfect on her small wrist. I took a deep breath, realizing she was fragile, vulnerable in several ways. Given my father’s initial reaction to her, I could only imagine how the rest of the family would feel.
When I pulled into a parking spot, she eased to the edge of her seat. “Are we going on a cruise?”
Her tone had shifted, back to holding a defiant edge. That alone was very telling. The excitement and desire she’d shown had been real.
“We are.”
“I don’t like boats,” she said, obviously embarrassed.
“I assure you I won’t let you slip away.”
“I’m afraid I’ll get seasick.”
“You’ll have to trust me,” I said as I cut the engine.
“Trust?” She turned her head slowly. “If you honestly think I could ever trust you then you’re even more deranged than I thought.”
She was balls to the walls with everything she did. That enticed me even more. “I guess we will see.”
“I’m not going.”
I leaned over, pinching her chin and yanking it toward me. “You have no choice in the matter.”
“You’re going to leave me out there.” The hint of fear was full blown, tears forming in her eyes.
“I meant what I said, Jade. If I’d intended on killing you, I wouldn’t purchase gifts or spend any time with you. I’m not a romantic man and while I may be a sadistic monster, I don’t get my jollies from tossing women overboard a perfectly good yacht. Come with me. I will keep you safe.”
She chewed on her lower lip, blinking several times before opening the door and climbing out. As I walked around the front, she barely looked at me, keeping her eyes pinned on the Sea Ray in front of us.
“How big is that?” she asked, bristling when I took her hand.
“Sixty-five feet.”
“Yours?”
“Yes.”
“Of course it is. Is there anything you don’t own?”
I chuckled as I guided her down the dock. “I enjoy my toys.”
“While most people can barely put food on their tables, you run around like the playboy of Kansas City.”
“I assure you that I’m no playboy. However, I enjoy a few hard-earned possessions. I’m not going to apologize for that.”
“Do you apologize for anything?”
“Rarely.”
She huffed then wobbled in my arms as I lifted her onto the platform. While the boat was stable, unmoving, her legs shook, forcing her to reach for me. As soon as her fingers wrapped around my arms, she gasped from the blast of electricity coursing through us. As she clung to me, I took a few seconds to memorize every line in her face. I could stand in the same spot for a full hour, but my patience was waning. I needed another taste.
“That’s exactly what I thought you would say,” she half whispered and managed to break away. Once she was close to the entrance of the main salon, she folded her arms in a defensive move. As if that would keep me from taking her.
