Chapter 9

He moved so fast she didn't have time to blink. He grabbed her wrist in one hand and her neck in the other, cutting off a startled scream. He lifted her off her feet with an easy strength that terrified her. He could crush her throat under those long fingers with just a little more pressure. She tried to kick out at him, but he shook her once, twice, then walked backwards with her until she hit the edge of the desk. He smashed her arm against the wood until she was forced to drop the taser. It clattered to the floor.

She looked up at him with wide, tear-drenched eyes, expecting to die. He forced his hips between her legs until her skirt rode up her thighs, nearly to her hips. He let go of her wrist and wrapped both huge hands around her fragile neck. He didn't choke her, but the threat was definitely there. She brought her hands up to clutch his forearms over his smooth, expensive suit jacket. He jerked her upright until she was sitting up on the desk. She was nearly eye to eye with him now.

"Now, you will listen to me, Riley Bancroft," he growled, the smile leaving his lips as darkness leaked back into his eyes. She was so close to him she could feel the heat rolling off his big body and enveloping her like a cage. She could smell the subtle spice of his cologne and see every nuance of the scar that slashed through his lip, causing it to droop a little. She opened her mouth to tell him to go fuck himself, but his fingers tensed, cutting off her air supply for a few precious seconds. When he allowed her to breathe, she gasped and choked, glaring at him.

"No more talking," he snarled, his flat eyes taking in every tiny expression she made as though memorizing and keeping them. "It's my turn."

He stepped closer, pressing himself into the cradle of her thighs. She felt the bulge of his erection straining against his pants and struggled to tilt her hips away from him, but his hold was unbreakable. She was forced to feel every solid inch of him pressed intimately against her.

When he spoke, his breath fanned across her lips. "You will become mine, Riley Bancroft." Her eyes flared wide in anger, but she didn't speak, aware that the hands on her throat could and would tighten. "I'm not talking about fucking that delicious body, although I will definitely be doing that too. I plan on keeping you, which is why I haven't just taken you to my bed and scratched this itch. You need to get used to the idea of being in my life. So, we're going to get to know each other. Go out a little, until you're more comfortable in my world. Understand?"

Her eyes narrowed. He relaxed his hold on her throat.

"I asked you a question, Riley," he said impatiently. "When I ask a question, I expect an immediate response."

She raised an eyebrow and licked her lips, drawing his dark gaze to her full lips. "Oh, am I allowed to speak now? I didn't want to risk strangulation."

He stiffened and brought his hand to her ponytail, clenched his fingers in the soft, smooth strands and jerked her head back. She cried out and arched back to relieve the pressure. Her breasts shot forward into his chest, drawing an involuntary groan from him. He flexed his other hand into her shoulder blade and leaned against her, biting into the flesh between her neck and shoulder. She yelled, her hips jerking up against him as pleasure and pain flooded her body.

"You want to play games with me, little girl?" he growled in her ear, his hot breath sending tingles racing through her. "I don't have to give you the time I just promised. I could throw my cards down now, chain you naked to the bottom of my bed, bring in a priest that doesn't care if the bride is reluctant and then fuck you into submission for as long as it takes to break you to my way of thinking. That what you want?"

She whimpered. Bride? Did he say fucking bride?

"I understand!" she gasped, clutching him like she was drowning and he was her lifeline. "I want more time... please."

He moved back a little and took both of her hands in one of his. He looked down into her desperate face, taking in the shock. He nodded in satisfaction. Gently, he leaned forward and kissed her shaking lips, taking her gorgeous, lush mouth for the first time. He ended the chaste kiss quickly and stepped away from her, leaving her sprawled half on the desk. She had to bring her hands down to clutch at the wood on either side of her hips so she wouldn't fall. Her skirt was pushed up nearly to her hips, exposing her black, lace thong to his hungry gaze. His eyes were drawn to her open legs.

Feeling exposed, she tried to close them, but he growled, "Don't move."

She froze.

"If I don't get to fuck you tonight, I will at least look at what is soon to be mine." His dark tones slithered all down her spine and into every part of her body. She wanted to protest, but she was too happy that he was finally making a move to leave.

"I want to see you tomorrow," he said, his eyes never leaving her body.

"No," she answered immediately.

"Riley," his eyes snapped to hers and his voice held a hint of steel warning. "Do not make me repeat myself."

She sighed and, despite his threats, slid off the desk and tugged her skirt down. He allowed her to adjust her clothes without further comment. "I already have plans with friends tomorrow, Soloman."

She hoped using his given name would help sooth him. He made a displeased sound and she was afraid he would demand she break her plans, but he only asked, "Another date?"

She laughed bitterly. "No, I learned that lesson. I'm seeing Katie and a few other people for gaming. You know what that is, right? Where people get together and play video games, like first-person shooter or racing. You know, like Need for Speed or Battlefield. Or sometimes we go old school and play Legend of Zelda." She made it sound like he was so old and out of touch he couldn't possibly understand what she was talking about.

He gave her a cold look and then slowly nodded his head. "Fine, I'll call you then. We'll go out another night. Make sure you answer my call, Riley."

She narrowed her eyes at him but didn't say anything. She really didn't like his tone. He reached for the door and then looked back at her one more time. His face was in shadows, but she could see the glint of his dark eyes. She shivered.

"One more thing," he said, his deep voice stern. "No more racing, Riley. It's too dangerous."

Her jaw dropped and fury shot through her, stiffening her limbs before she hid her reaction. He took in every part of her and nodded slowly. He knew she was angry and he knew she wasn't about to listen to his arrogant demand.

"You will not like the consequences if you disobey me in this," he growled at her, his voice wrapping around her from across the room. "It's one thing to talk back to me, to ignore my summons, but it will be something else entirely to put yourself - to put my woman - in danger. Stay away from Sparrow Hawk."

She desperately wanted to tell him to go fuck himself. In fact, she had to bite her lip to stop herself from screaming at him so loud the neighbours would probably call the cops. She vibrated with fury as he turned and walked out the door, closing it softly behind him. She ran toward it on shaking legs and slammed the bolt shut, knowing in her heart that he could easily get in any time he wanted. She turned around and leaned against it, closing her eyes while she calmed down.

Finally, when she felt her legs would hold her, she strode down the hall toward her bedroom, shoes clicking with purpose. She slammed the light switch on with the heel of her hand. Going to her knees on the plush carpet next to the bed, she reached underneath. Shoving shoeboxes and junk aside, she reached for the thing she wanted, a steel lockbox.

"Okay, you scary motherfucker," she whispered into the empty room, pulling the lockbox out and sitting up. She flicked the correct numbers into place and opened the lid. Flipping through forged passports, money and a gun, she pulled out a burner phone. She plugged it in and leaned against the wall, waiting for it to charge enough for a call. "You want to play rough, I can play rough. This is some next level shit."

Heart beating with adrenaline and anger, she dialled a number she had hoped never to use. A crazy as fuck car buddy that she usually avoided. The guy was a psychopath that had a thing for Riley. He liked to bring her the occasional high-end stolen car as a gift. She usually tried to fly under his radar, which worked fairly well since he was a gangbanger from another county and kept busy with guns and drugs. She didn't like the idea of bringing his focus back to her, but she was reaching the point of having to decide which evil was worse. And Soloman Hart was definitely worse.

"Nobody puts hands on me without permission," she breathed angrily as she waited for Shank to answer.