Page 1 of Kane

CHAPTER ONE

Amanda

Nathan’s fingers dug into the tender skin of Amanda’s inner arm. “How many times do I have to tell you? Fundraisers for my office are not opportunities for you to run your mouth.”

She clenched her jaw against the urge to tell him to fuck himself.

“Do you have any idea how many women would give their eye-teeth to be in your shoes?” he hissed, tightening the pressure of his grip.

More than she could count, most likely. In his late thirties, society considered Nathan Shaw one of Atlanta’s most eligible bachelors—handsome, rich, and from a political powerhouse family as old as time. His perfectly styled blond hair framed an aristocratic pale face with blue eyes and expertly arched brows. He never left his penthouse dressed in anything less than befit his station. The man was practically Georgia royalty.

He was also an arrogant, entitled bastard.

“Actually, Abe,” he mocked her voice in a high falsetto, “I think the money would be better spent on a domestic abuse shelter.” He shook her so hard her teeth clacked together. “We might as well flush it down the toilet.”

“He asked my opinion,” she gritted, her head beginning to ache.

Nathan slammed her against the wall, the back of her skull bouncing off the plaster. “Myopinion isyouropinion, and you damn well know it.”

He let go of her, and she slid to the floor. Hanging his tuxedo jacket on the back of one of the tall chairs he kept tucked under the island in his high-end kitchen, he appeared to be done punishing her.

Her instincts screamed otherwise. She curled herself into a ball, protecting her head, as a vicious kick landed to her lower back.

“If you are going to be at my side, you will behave as your breeding should dictate.” His voice no longer betrayed his anger. He locked it down, replacing it with a honeyed cadence of practiced ease. Measured. Controlled. “Do I make myself clear?”

Only one answer would allow her an escape from this. She lifted her head. “Yes,” she murmured.

He graced her with a serpent’s smile. “Excellent. Now get off the floor. You’ll ruin your dress.”

Her hindbrain shouted to scoot away from his outstretched hand, but the rejection might set his blood boiling all over again. She fought her instincts and wrapped her fingers around his.

He pulled her to unsteady feet, then released her hand. His fingers tugged on the strands of dark red hair escaping the simple chignon her stylist had created. “Your hair looks all tumbled, pet.”

Fuck.

Slowly, he unpinned the rest of her locks, the look on his face growing heated. By the time all her hair rested thick on her shoulders, she could make out the tent in his pants.

She swallowed back the bile burning her throat.

“Gorgeous,” he said huskily. “I want to unwrap you.”

Before she could move away, he yanked down the side-zipper on her shimmering strapless silver gown. It pooled on the floor at her feet.

So much for his concern about it getting ruined.

The cool kiss of air against her exposed skin made her shiver. All she wore now were her high heels and the tiny scrap of black lace masquerading as underwear.

Getting naked with him was never part of the deal. She bent quickly to grasp the expensive fabric and pull it up. It got as high as her waist before he locked his hand around her wrist.

“I think you need to be reminded who wears the pants in this relationship.” His voice dipped lower. “Perhaps what you really need is for me to take what I want and fuck your sweet ass. Maybethatwill teach you your place.”

Gritting her teeth, she shook off the embarrassment of standing there half naked. “No.”

He probably could have forced her. Obviously, too many highballs had him crossing lines he’d only skirted in the past. There had been times he’d squeezed her arm too hard or pushed her away with a little too much force, but he’d never hurt her the way he had tonight.

Still, she’d been firm in the past declining any invitations into his bed. Her resolve wouldn’t change now. Or ever.

“Let me go.” She squared her jaw. “Unless you’re willing to do this against my will.”

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