Page 26 of Tower

“You should have considered that before you broke the house rules,” he said, folding his arms over his chest. Showing her any empathy would give her false hope.

“I’m sorry.” Her shoulders dropped, but her stare remained fixated on his boot.

“We’ll talk tonight. You’ll be back on the roster tomorrow,” he said in a flat voice, and left her in the hall. Aubree wasn’t a timid woman. He had interviewed her himself, and she’d been outspoken and had a strong resolve. This wouldn’t be the first time he took his belt to her for disobeying a house rule. It probably wouldn’t be the last, either. Why would she not sign out when she went out for the evening? It boggled him why some of the girls would put their asses on the line over such easy-to-follow rules.

But he already had one female he didn’t quite understand, and he didn’t have time to figure out this puzzle as well. He’d deal with her later.

Peter walked through the living room and headed for the staircase.

“Uh, your—well—the girl is in the kitchen.” Jacob stopped him before he went up.

Peter looked down the corridor leading to the kitchen. “Azalea?”

“Yeah. She wanted something to eat. Tommy said she could roam the house,” he qualified quickly.

Peter stalked off to the kitchen. She had already proven herself stubborn, but did she really leave his room and stride down to the kitchen naked? How many of the men had seen?

He threw open the swing door and barged into the kitchen, expecting to see a gloating woman standing in the center of the room with her hand perched on her naked hip.

“I couldn’t find bread.” Azalea looked up from the kitchen island where she rolled a slice of ham. No smugness. No nudeness, either.

She’d taken the sheet from his bed and fashioned a toga-style dress.

Fighting back the lift of his lips, he strolled to the pantry. He slid a panel open and pulled out a loaf of honey-wheat bread.

“Oh. I didn’t see that.” She slid the rolled ham into her mouth.

“I remember telling you no clothing.” He pushed the loaf toward her on the island, stepping around it to get a better look at her.

She shrugged. “This isn’t clothing. This is a sheet.” She rolled another piece of ham, apparently no longer interested in making a sandwich.

He plucked the meat from her fingers, drawing her gaze to him. “Clever girl.” He ran his thumb over her jawline then down her neck until he reached the sheet.

Her stare didn’t waver. She wouldn’t pull away from him, no matter how much she wanted to. And he could see that battle in her. She hadn’t learned to mask as much emotion as she thought she had. She liked his touch, but fought against the desire.

“Are you going to punish me again?” The question was asked in a low, husky tone.

“Do you want me to?” He searched her eyes while caressing the knot of the sheet on her shoulder. One tug, and he’d have her naked again. Only this time, he wasn’t rushed, he’d enjoy the view for as long as he liked. He’d inspect every curve, every freckle, every inch of her before he allowed her to dress again.

“You know what I want.” She pressed her shoulders back, trying to put on a brave face.

“I know what yousayyou want.” He slipped a digit beneath the sheet, trailing it down from the knot to the top of her breast.

“I’m not as naive as you think I am. I know what you do for a living. I know how you and your cousin make all your money. You sell sex. You sell women, and when you aren’t doing that, you prey on the weak who come looking for help.”

Peter paused and dragged his attention from her breasts to her eyes. Her hardening nipples didn’t go unnoticed. Nor her attempt to deflect the moment by switching gears.

“Not naive, but definitely misinformed. And I’m not discussing family business with you.” He slipped his hand into the sheet until he reached her nipple. Taking it between two fingers, he squeezed.

She gasped and tried to jerk back. He didn’t let go. She brought her hand up, covering his, trying to draw him away from her.

“I’m not letting go until I want to,” he said, intensifying his grip. “It would greatly benefit you to learn quickly who is in charge here, who asks the questions, who sets the rules, and who allows whom to come and go. You see, it doesn’t matter what you want, it matters what I want.”

She winced but stopped her attempt to still him.

He waited until her shimmering eyes met his. Tears, that didn’t fall, perched on her lids.

He released her. She quickly sucked in a breath and clamped her arm over her breast. The sting would be short-lived, but it would be intense as the blood rushed back to her pert nipple.

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