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“I was busy.” He removed his black leather jacket then pulled his t-shirt over his head, dropping them right where he stood.
Seraphina refused to allow her hungry gaze to drop below his neck. “And I didn’t deserve to know you weren’t out there hurt or worse?” Her voice trembled and he must have caught it because his gaze sharpened.
“Am I not allowed to come and go as I please?” His voice was dangerously low as he stalked toward her. “Am I your prisoner, Sera?”
He didn’t care that he’d scared her by disappearing without a word. He was so nonchalant. So arrogant. It would be funny, this mess she’d gotten herself into—loving him—if the idea didn’t make her want to kill someone. If she didn’t want to hurt him the way he’d hurt her, make him feel how it felt to be going out of his mind with worry and fear.
His hands dropped to his belt buckle as he undid his jeans and stepped out of them, standing before her in dark blue briefs and nothing else. Even in her state of mind, even through the anger and innate need to do as much damage as she could, her desire for him never waned. Her want for him never went away. It probably would always be there, crippling in its intensity, but she fought its pull because she was bigger than lust.
“You’re not my prisoner,” she told him coldly. “You can leave at any time, but just know that the next time you walk out my door… it’s best to keep on walking. Don’t ever come back. And that’s onfuck around and find out.”
Something dark flashed in his eyes when he cocked his head and sized her up. It was as if he’d anticipated her answer, but she’d still disappointed him somehow. She refused to allow that to matter as she gave him her back, stepping into her closet and out of his view.
For a brief moment, she didn’t hear anything, but then came the slam of the bathroom door and the sound of the pipes when the shower was turned on. Seraphina blew out a breath and slumped against the wall. Her chest felt… Fuck. How to describe the sweet relief of seeing Toro’s face? But the fact that he didn’t see anything wrong with not even shooting her a text to tell her anything, to offer up any excuse as to where he was and what he was doing?
And he loved her?
Couldn’t he see how much he’d worried her? How could he not see how fucking scared she’d been for him?
She meant what she told him. There was no coming back if he did that shit again. Feelings weren’t… They weren’t for her. She couldn’t do this love thing, not with Toro, not with anyone. She stripped out of the clothes she’d put on when she’d taken her shower earlier, changing into a short nightie. Then she entered the bedroom and picked up her phone, placing a call.
“Ma’am.”
“Are they safe?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She sighed and rubbed a hand over her head. “Any visitors yet?”
“No, no movements.” The man on the other end hesitated. “Uh…”
“What?”
“We still have their house bugged. The son called, but they didn’t tell him what happened.”
“What?” She sank onto the bed. “Why not?” Those people had been kidnapped and they opted to not tell the very person who needed to know?
“I don’t know, ma’am. The son did say he’d see them soon.”
Damn it. “Okay, keep me posted.” She ended the call and stared down at the phone in her palm. Reggie’s parents were back home safe and sound after being taken against their will and they weren’t telling their son the truth of what happened? Why? Why wasnothinggoing the way she wanted? She punched in a number on the phone and held it to her ear.
“Yes?”
“My guest disappeared for the entire day today,” she growled into the phone. “I want to know where the fuck he went. ASAP.” She hung up and tossed the phone onto the bed just as the bathroom door opened and Toro came out, a gray towel knotted around his hips, water dripping down his body.
All those muscles.
She swallowed, nipples tightening and perking up, body taking notice.
“You don’t need to do all that to find out where I’ve been.”
“I asked you straight up and you decided not to tell me, so fuck, yes, I do.” She got to her feet, sidestepping him when he would have touched her. She couldn’t afford that right now. She needed to hold on to her anger and that wouldn’t happen if he put those skilled hands on her. But she must have miscalculated somehow because she found herself with her back to the wall and Toro on her, caging her in, lips curved into a half-smile as he clasped her throat.
Shit. Her resistance was nothing against him.
“Were you worried about me, Sera?” he murmured, rubbing his nose against hers. His breath smelled like toothpaste and she wanted to taste it, taste him. Fuck, she was already so wet for him, it was unfair. “Do you care for me, Sera? Hmm?” His hand moved from her throat, sliding down to cup a tit, thumb brushing over her nipple.
“You-you’re trying to distract me.” Inside she quaked; she fisted her hands at her sides, nails digging into her palms. She ached to touch him, to rub against him. The anger that had been there before was leaching out, burned away by his touch and his weight, his words, and the scent of his skin.
