Page 55 of Dmitri

Chapter 14

Dmitri

I give Daelyn a head start.Ten, nine, eight… when I reachone, I rise to my feet and make it from the bed to the door in a blink. She’s already at the end of the hallway, her hair flying behind her as she cuts to the right.

So, I go left.

Daelyn’s not leaving the club. She wants a chase. She wants danger.

And I plan to give it to her.

It’s not a surprise that she’s acting out. I put her in a tight spot—making her connect with me during that staring contest in a way I doubt she’s experienced before. It’s rattled her.Good. That means I’m one step closer to breaking her. This outburst only encourages my actions and solidifies my plan.

Heading straight for Ryker’s office, I barge in and find him staring at the surveillance screens with a scowl. “The fuck are you doing, D?”

“Having fun.” I storm over to the other side of his desk and quickly scan the monitors.

There she is…

Daelyn weaves through the crowded lobby and heads to the double doors that will take her into an employee only area.

“Make sure no one stops her,” I say gruffly to Ryker.

Before he can open his mouth and lecture me, I dash out of his office and head to the kitchen, where I’ll wait. It doesn’t take long for Daelyn to bust through the doors.

Standing to the side of a massive fridge, with a chef’s knife in my hand, I swear Ifeelher before I see her slip past me, as if Daelyn’s presence calls to my inner beast with a soundless cry.Acutely aware of her rapid breathing, thepat-pat-patof her feet on the tile, the swish of her dress brushing across her thighs—it’s like all the other noises in the crowded kitchen have faded into nothing and all that exists in my world tonight is this woman.

I sneak up behind her and quickly hold the blade to her throat, pressing the backend of the knife against her skin. Daelyn freezes immediately, her chest rising and falling with each harsh breath that punches out of her.

Leaning in, I catch a whiff of her glorious floral scent and rumble against her ear, “Found you.”

Spinning her around, I drop the knife on the counter and toss her over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Everyone in the kitchen keeps their head down and stays busy while this happens. They don’t even bother to look up as I carry her out.

Daelyn kicks her feet and pounds on my back. “Put me down!”

“Not on your life, brat.” I spank her sweet ass twice, which makes her scream.

Unfazed by the club members gawking at us, I carry Daelyn through the entire club like she’s my prize. A treasure I now possess. Every time she moves, I spank her again. By the time we make it back up to the bedroom, I dump her unceremoniously onto the bed, letting her bounce on the mattress. Her cheeks are red, hair’s a mess, and that dress she’s in has ridden high enough to show off her glorious ass.

“Climb back up there,” I order. “And hold on to the motherfucking headboard straps.”

Daelyn doesn’t move.

“One,” I count in a deadly tone. “Two.”

She slowly scoots up until her back hits the headboard. Then, with a trembling chin, she holds the straps where the cuffs dangle and snaps at me, “You’re an asshole.”

I know.

“Am I, Daelyn? Why?”

“Because you… you’re…” Letting her gaze drop, she doesn’t say another word.

Yeah, that’s what I thought.

She thinks I’m an asshole because I’ve put her in a vulnerable position, even if she enjoyed every motherfucking second of it while it happened. What she’s not understanding is that she’s the one in control, even if I’m calling the shots. She could let go of the straps right now. She didn’t have to scoot up the bed.

She could have left the club.

---