Page 4 of A Sinful Gift

“Mason.” The man spoke in a rich voice, and Hazel guessed that must be Wilde’s first name. But that bit of knowledge was quickly overshadowed by the realization that this man, thismaster’svoice was... familiar.

“I saw how much you wanted her tonight, and it’s been a while since you’ve had a pet,” Mason replied in his slightly gravelly voice.

“How you spoil me, old friend.” The silhouetted man stepped forward, and Hazel gasped against her gag as his face was suddenly illuminated by the light of a nearby lamp.

It was Blake.The kidnapper had brought her to Blake. She was torn between fury and relief, briefly followed by confusion. The two men had appeared to be strangers at the bar and had nearly come to blows over her. Yet now they were old friends?

“Hello, Hazel,” Blake said as he approached her. Mason set her down on her feet but kept his hands firmly on her shoulders, holding her in place. She glared at Blake as he reached out with his fingers to gently pry the gag from her mouth.

“London, you ass!”

“Hush,” Blake commanded gently. “You’re in no danger, Hazel. Youknowme.”

“Thisjerkkidnapped me!” She rammed her elbow hard into Mason’s stomach, and to her immense satisfaction, he grunted.

“Mason is an old childhood friend. You’ll have to forgive him his rough ways. He sees something he knows I want, and he acquires it for me. He’s thoughtful that way.”

She snorted. “Well, the joke’s over. I want to leave now,” Hazel stated.

Blake and Mason shared a silent, intense look, and she wondered if they had the ability to read each other’s minds.

“No, Hazel. I think you’ll be staying for a while,” Blake finally said. “Watching you win this afternoon, touching you at the lounge tonight... I realized that one night in law school of fucking you to within an inch of your life wasn’t enough. I want to hear you screaming my name while you’re coming around my cock.” He smiled, and her mouth went dry at his words.

“Actually, let me amend that, Counselor.” He brushed her hair back from her face and cupped the back of her neck, his fingers fisting in her hair. “I don’t want it—I need it. And I think you do too.”

His words, so possessively spoken, should have terrified her, but this was Blake. She did actually know him, that rich, arrogant bad boy she’d fallen for in law school. He was a heartbreaker, irresistible,perfect. There wasn’t a sane woman alive who wouldn’t go mad to have him, and that included her.

“One week. One week during which I will make you come harder than you’ve ever come before,” Blake murmured as he moved his hand to cup her chin. “Belong to me for seven nights and let me convince you that you want to stay forever.” He paused, his electric eyes sending sparks through her body. “And then, after... If you want to leave, I’ll let you go.”

No,she thought. This was how it started. If she let him have even one night, let alone seven, she might fall over that last precipice into the abyss that was loving this man—and she’d lose herself forever.

Blake brushed his thumb over her bottom lip, his blue eyes hot with white fire while he stared at her mouth as if it would save his soul.

“What do you have to lose?” Blake asked her.

My heart,she thought. That was why she’d run from him in the first place.

“Be my good girl again, Hazel.Your bed’s been cold too long and so has mine. You deserve to have a man fucking you in the way you need, the way you deserve, don’t you, baby?”

He had known what she needed that night. He had dominated her, pleasured her until she’d screamed so much her throat turned raw. He’d taken away all her worries and her fears, shown her how beautiful and desirable she was and that she was wonderful for trusting him and submitting to him. The power to say yes or no had always been hers, and they both knew it.

He watched her face, his eyes holding hers as he seemed to hear her inner thoughts, but he said nothing. He waited patiently like he had all the time in the world.

She stared at his mouth, knowing how exquisite his lips would feel on her flesh, and trailed her gaze down to his slightly open dress shirt. His tie was missing, and a hint of dark chest hair showed on his skin. She glanced down at her hands, seeing the fabric around her wrists and realizing it was a necktie. It was not one he had worn today, but it was one she recognized as his.

“Did you plan this?” she asked, lifting her bound hands to show him the tie around her wrists. Somehow Mason had it with him tonight to use when he’d kidnapped her from the bar. Surely they hadn’t orchestrated this whole thing together?

Blake gently captured her wrists, studying the necktie she showed him.

“I didn’t plan this, no, but Mason visits my house often. Did you steal this?” he asked the other man.

Mason laughed, and faint lines crinkled at the corners of his eyes, making Hazel realize he must smile and laugh often. “I did.”

“You did well,” Blake said. “You know, Hazel, Mason and I were supposed to meet for drinks tonight, even though I knew it was your night to drink there. But then he defended you, and I left with my tail firmly between my legs, which quite ruined my night. I was afraid you might go home with him rather than me.”

Now Mason was the one who chuckled. “I wanted her to be a surprise for you.”

Hazel stared at Mason, then at Blake, feeling like a kitten caught between two large wolves.

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