Page 13 of Taming Achilles

“For not bagging a baron, obviously.” Ah, that familiar anger. Her first, and often her only, reaction to hardship.

She crossed her arms in front of her, her shoulders slumping with her admonition.

“When the break up went public, my things were delivered here, and all of my bank cards were closed.” She took a deep breath and straightened, regaining a modicum of that Pippa pride that used to turn me on. “So you see I am quite insolvent at the moment.”

We stared at each other, waiting for the next move. A smile tugged at my face and before I knew it, I was laughing. A full on belly laugh that flexed my abs.

“Glad to see this is funny to you,” she mumbled.

“Oh, given the circumstances, I think this is just desserts.”

I stifled my laugh, rubbing my fingers over my mouth as if I could rub away the irony that made it all so amusing. Pippa who was too good to be with me was now a penniless orphan? How delicious.

“You’re one of the most highly paid models in the world,” I was stating something really obvious. “You are monstrously overpaid to put on clothes and walk in a bloody straight line. Or you sit, and get your picture taken. And for this so-called ‘work’, they pay you a fucking mint. So where has that money gone?”

“I had sent most of my salaries to the Fox family coffers. To maintain the house, and estates.” She said, that blush going darker. “The LA penthouse was the only thing just in my name. I’ve sold some things to hold me over. But the fact is that I will need to find work very soon, and I can’t afford the Caledonia price tag. So, thank you very much for your time, Mr. Campbell, but the fact is that I will not be requiring you further.”

She grabbed her bag from the floor and I yanked it from her hand.

“The fact is,” I threw her words back at her and she flinched, “someone went into your home, and left you a message on your bed.”

She winced at that.

“Now, he might not be dangerous.” I wasn’t sure about that. I suspected that man was unhinged. “But he got into your apartment, through your separate entrance. I’ve got a feeling that there’s going to be some interference on the cameras, and we’re not gonna be able to find him. Just a hunch from over fifteen years of working security.”

I stepped toward her and she stepped back, her defiant eyes looking at me with the radiance of the sun. I wanted to crush that spark.

“The fact is that you need protection,” I said, finally. Licking my lips and looking down at her body. “So you’re not going anywhere.”

“I can’t pay,” she said again.

“Not with money.” I looked down at her breasts and she gasped. But she didn’t try to hide them from me.

I stepped into her space, taking in that light lily scent.

“We can work with a more dubious currency …”

“You wouldn’t dare.” Her eyes narrowed to slits.

“Why? You whored yourself in the hopes of a title. Are you too good to do the same for your safety? For your life?”

I felt the crack and sting of her palm on my cheek. But it didn’t anger me. The fire in her just heated my skin. I would devour her. Her anger was like blood in the water.

I stepped into her space and she retreated until she was flush against the wall, my arms caging her in. Her scent perfumed the air - the lilies and something all her own, like cream and marshmallows.

“Or do you find the idea of whoring for a commoner reprehensible?” I jabbed, knowing it would get right to her heart. One side of my lip quirked up. “It’s not because you don’t want me.”

Her tongue darted out to moisten her bottom lip. Oh, yes, she wanted me.

I leaned in until my cock pressed to her stomach and she gasped, her eyes fluttering closed.

“You might like paying,” I growled.

I wanted to bite her lip. I wanted to squeeze it between my teeth until I drew blood, then I wanted more. More! Always. More.

“You’ll be the end of me.” I ran my nose against her hair. “My only fucking weakness.”

“I’m your Achilles heel, then?” Her voice sounded sad. Almost watery. I looked down at her pale face and saw a glistening tear roll down her cheek. “Geo, I—”

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