Page 30 of Captivated By Him

“You and me. Just because I let you fuck me doesn’t mean you get to give me marching orders. I’m not one of your little fuck toys who will kneel and bend for you whenever you snap your fingers.”

I’m quick to grab her face, pinching her cheeks until she winces. It’s easy to drag her forward from the steps and put her in front of me.

“Watch your mouth, Nicole. Just because I didn’t whip your ass last night like you deserved doesn’t mean I’m gonna let you get away with anything else.”

I push her head back until she has to look up the length of her nose to see me. Her cheeks have reddened and the anger in her eyes has melted into soft chocolate.

“Now. My father and brother are on their way over here, so go upstairs and change. The only words I want to hear from you right now are ‘Yes, Jakub. I’ll be good.’”

The word choice has her nostrils flaring again, but her eyes go even softer. Her jaw goes slack beneath my grip.

The woman is too easy to read.

After several more seconds pass, I gently let go of her and take a purposeful step back. I half expect her to run up the stairs while cursing me out as she goes.

I’m close to being right.

She does turn and jog upstairs, but she does it quietly. Just before she disappears into the bedroom, she casts a quick glance over her shoulder at me. Her cheeks are red, but even from down here I can read the arousal in her.

* * *

“This is the girl?” My father points at Nicole who is walking down the stairs. She’s changed from the leggings into a pair of black capris and a soft pink blouse. A pair of ballet flats emphasizes the gentle nature she desperately tries to hide from the outside world.

“Yes.” I move from my spot to greet Nicole as she makes her way toward us. Her shoulders are back, and her chin is high. Good girl. She gives them no reason to believe her weak. There’s a little flicker at the edge of her smile, but she gets control of it quickly.

I take her hand and bring her to the kitchen where my father and brother stand ready to interrogate her. I’ve already told them not to scare her, but by the determined glares on their faces I can tell I’m going to be ignored.

“Nicole, this is my father Joseph Staszek and my brother Dominik.”

She slips her hand free from mine and reaches out to my father.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Staszek.”

Joseph stares at her hand for a brief moment before he moves into action and shakes it. She moves on to Dominik and repeats the greeting.

“It’s nice to meet you, but I really wish it were under other circumstances.”

Dominik moves his gaze from her to me with approval. He’s always appreciated diplomatic approaches to problems. And this situation may require more than she’s willing or able to give.

“Yes. We have a situation on our hands, don’t we?” Joseph waves his hand toward the kitchen table set to his left. “Should we sit?”

“It’s that bad?” I ask. Serious conversations require sit-downs.

He frowns. “I don’t know yet. Piotr Kaczmarek called for a meeting. We are going to meet with him this afternoon.”

“We as in all of us?” Nicole asks. She hides it well, but I can still hear the slight tremor in her tone.

“No,” I answer. “We as in us three. You will be here.”

“Under lock and key.” She flashes me her annoyance. “I remember.”

“Yes.” I nod sincerely. If she thinks she’s going to enlist any help from my father or brother on her behalf, she’s going to be sorely mistaken.

“Before we meet with them, I need to know what happened.” Joseph turns his attention to Nicole. “And why.”

“Two of his men were inside her apartment. They tried to kidnap her, and I stopped them,” I explain for the second time. I already relayed all of this to my father when I spoke to him on the phone.

“Why are they looking for you?” Dominik points his question at Nicole.

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