Page 94 of Hearts Of Darkness

“Did you know about this?” she yells, turning to Joseph in the driver’s seat. Next to him, Tomas is trying not to crack up. I kick the back of his seat with my foot, and he straightens his face immediately.

“No, Miss Miller,” Joseph deadpans. Very few can outlast an interrogation longer than him. Then again, he’s never had to face a raging angel before.

“Oh don’t ‘Miss Miller’ me. If you’re going to lie to my face, I’d appreciate it if you called me Eve!”

Joseph catches my eye in the mirror.Goddammit.Thiswoman is making a fool of me.

“Get out of the car,” I tell her, leaning across to open her door with a violent shove. My cock jerks as my arm brushes against her breasts. They better have decent-sized changing rooms in these dress stores.

“Uh-uh. No way. No man, not evenyou,tells me what to wear. Not anymore.”

“Who says you have a choice?”

“Me!” she cries, slapping her chest with her hand. She should be in the movies with this shit. “You may have charmed my body, Santiago, but my freewill is not so easily seduced.”

Charmedher body? That’s an interesting turn of phrase. More like fucked it into the next century. I’m feeling a little exhausted myself, right now.

Exiting the car, I glance at the exclusive row of stores next to us. The whole place reeks of money. It’s perfect for my angel. Leaning back inside the vehicle, I grab her wrist and coax her out onto the sidewalk.

“I don’twantto go shopping, Dante!” she says angrily.

A woman who doesn’t want to go shopping? I’ve never heard of anything so fucking ridiculous. I contemplate tipping her over my shoulder and carrying her into the damn place, but she’s still wearing that short, silver crap from last night, and the only man permitted to see that ass is me.

“Are you even listening?”

She’s standing there, glaring at me, my fingers still wrapped like a cuff around her slim wrist. I bet she’d chuck me under a passing Maserati if she could.

“A compromise then,” I murmur, yanking her closer, locking her against me, and breathing in traces of citrus fromher shampoo that does absolutely nothing to ease my erection. “Why don’t we choose your new wardrobe together.”

“You’re still not hearing me.” Her body is as rigid as my dick. “You keep telling me I’m not your whore, and then you go allPretty Womanon me.” She struggles to free herself from the prison cell of my embrace. “I don’t want your money. I willneverwant your money.”

Because it’s tainted.

The unspoken words lay toxic between us.

“For fuck’s sake!” I explode, making passers-by stare. “I’ve never known it so hard to give a woman a damn present.” I let go of her wrist and take a step back, balling my palms into fists of frustration. She has the ability to light my fuse quicker than anyone, but it’s a different sort of anger with her. The only retribution I have in mind comes anchored with pleasure.

We shoot daggers at one another, and then, out of nowhere, she goes and smiles at me. Just like that. Flooring me completely.

“Ask nicely,” she says softly.

“What?”

“Stop demanding I do everything your way. I’m only going to buck against the interference.”

“So, you want me to drop to my knees andbegto buy you a dress? Why don’t I just carve my fucking heart out for you while I’m down there?”

She has the nerve to roll her eyes at me. “Don’t be so dramatic.”

“Jesus Christ, did you really just say that?” I can’t believe what I’m hearing.

“You deserved it!”

“You won’t be sitting down for a week once I’m through with you!”

Judging from the sly smile on those luscious pink lips, that’s exactly what she’s bargaining on.

She played me...again.

---