Page 15 of Addiction

“This is a Lamborghini Huracán STO.” He couldn’t deny the pride in his voice as he announced the make and model. The Huracán was a beautiful car. There was no doubt the sleek vehicle deserved better than the way he’d treated her.

“Nice.” Her eyes sparkled as she settled back in her seat. “Maybe I’ll look into getting one when I get home…” Her voice trailed away as presumably she, too, stumbled over the end of her sentence.

When she got home…

She swallowed at her apparent certainty. He hadn’t given her any indication about when that would be. On the contrary, at the first sign that Ella might be freed, he’d dragged her across the woods and was now driving her to another location. There was no suggestion that she’d be purchasing her own vehicle any time soon.

“It’s okay.” His hand slid from the wheel to her knee, and squeezing her thigh, he glanced briefly at her bewildered face. “You can say what you’re thinking, little girl.”

The sudden strained silence conveyed the fact they were both considering her future freedom. No one knew when that might come. Not even the man who was effectively holding her hostage—if that was what she still was.

“I…” She hesitated. “It doesn’t matter. It’s nothing.”

“Your future is not nothing.” His chide was gentle as his hand rose to capture her delicate palm. The road ahead was straight and aside from any unexpected animals loitering in the darkness, he could easily maneuver with only one hand for the time being. “I know between Bennett and me, we snatched that away from you. I know that’s not right.”

He felt bad about it, although the thought of dropping her back at whatever constituted her old life filled him with dread. Tucker could conceive a life without his little girl, but the problem was he just didn’t want to.

“Yeah.” She pulled in a breath. “You did kinda change everything.”

“I’ve been a sadistic son-of-a-bitch to you.” He hadn’t anticipated the swelling urge to confess would hit home as he drove back toward the city, but he didn’t deny it, either.

Looking back, he remembered what a swine he’d been the first day of her captivity. He’d taken enormous liberties, and despite the inconvenience she’d inspired, he could hardly blame her for the way she’d tried to flee. Any right-minded person would have run from abrupt incarceration. Ella’s response had been sane, not spiteful.

I got her back, though. His lips twitched. I have her now, and I won’t fuck things up again.

Releasing her hand, his attention returned to the dark road ahead of them.

“I’m sorry for the way I treated you.”

“Thanks.” Her voice was clipped with emotion. “I appreciate that, sir, yet you still haven’t let me go.”

“No.” He sensed the weight of her stare as she waited for his answer. “I guess I don’t want to.”

He almost laughed at the verdict. He’d concluded the same thing many times in his head, yet hearing it aloud made him want to snigger. What had happened to Tucker since Ella had arrived? Since leaving the military behind him, he’d always been content on his own. How had she managed to come and alter him in such a fundamental way?

“I like having you around, little girl.” It was his turn to shrug.

“You like the sex you mean, sir.” Her tone was wry.

“Yes,” he admitted. “I love the sex, but I mean more than that.”

Wait… had he just confessed to having feelings for her? He’d made that mistake at the cabin in the afterglow of fucking but hadn’t expected the words to escape in the cold light of the evening air.

“Oh.” She glanced away, his admission seemingly having stopped her in her tracks.

His heart pounded as he struggled to find the right words to remedy his mistake.

“I like what we’ve found together,” he corrected. “It was a rocky start, but I think we’ve found our groove.”

“Our groove?” She bit down on her lower lip, although her voice was laced with amusement. “You mean, you ordering me to call you sir while you strip and spank me?”

“Right.” His cock roused at her delicious explanation. “That. But I’ve enjoyed learning more about you as well.”

What’s happening here?

Gripping the wheel tighter, he willed himself some damn composure. He’d been in control the entire trek through the forest. Even when they’d encountered one of Bennett’s goons, he’d handled the situation with more grace than he was managing this conversation.

“Thanks, sir.” She sounded sincere as she went on. “I’ll admit it wasn’t all bad in your crappy cabin.”

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