Page 14 of Power and Possession

I sighed, taking another sip of beer, my eyes still focused straight ahead.

The bartender returned with Cooper’s drink, and we sat there drinking in silence.

“I warned you this was a bad idea,” Cooper finally said.

I turned to face him. “What was a bad idea?”

“Don’t play the fool, Steele. You know exactly what I mean. You took a hostage, and it backfired. I know you haven’t made a deal with Phillips yet, or you wouldn’t be down here licking your wounds.”

I slammed my beer down a little too hard. “I’ll smoke him out.”

“Hopefully soon. She did a number on me back at her flat. I can’t work out or lift anything without pulling my stitches.”

“Like it didn’t turn you on,” I responded sarcastically.

Cooper flashed a smile, the corner of his lip pulled up. “How is the little she-devil?”

“Better than you,” I said, and I struggled to keep the pride out of my voice. Twice now she’d pulled a knife out on me or my men.

“Quincy looked pretty banged up,” Cooper said, eyes focused on a busty blonde entering the bar. I ignored her, knowing that anyone hanging around this late wasn’t worth the trouble. Besides, I had enough trouble back at my place.

“She managed to trip him.”

“Damn, Steele. Did this girl go to a military academy or something?”

Before I could answer, the blonde approached. Cooper smiled at her appreciatively, and I turned back to my beer, finished it, and paid the tab for mine and Cooper’s drinks. I hadno desire to watch him flirt. Not when I was hard up from the make-out session I’d had. We’d been each other's wingmen for a long time, and I knew what was about to happen.

I left the bar, and Cooper was so wrapped up in his next conquest that he didn’t even notice.

I walked in the cool air, letting the nighttime silence clear my head. By the time I got back to my home, I’d convinced myself that Ashlynn was just forbidden fruit, and that I’d imagined her beauty and overestimated her hold over me. Tomorrow, I’d go to a club and pick up a sexy woman, and that would be that.

At least, that’s what I was counting on.

My eyes focused on the Matisse painting hanging above the fireplace in my study. It was the first piece of art I’d ever stolen, and one that I’d actually stolen twice. At the time, I’d sold it to a famous kingpin, needing the money to survive and support myself during my studies. Once I’d become more established, I managed to take it back. It was a trophy to me, the physical manifestation of rebuilding the life I was meant to have; it was symbolic of my struggle, and then my perseverance.

Seeing the painting above the mantle made me wonder if my attraction to Ashlynn was the same. Was it simply to assuage my wounded ego, to best her father by possessing his daughter? She was the trophy.

It would explain why I wanted her.

I clenched my jaw as I thought about our kiss. It came out of nowhere, and it surprised us both. Thinking about our kiss made me curious about her. I expected her to be up to some trouble by now, but I hadn’t heard anything from my hostage all day. To be on the safe side, I’d conducted some business from home, not trusting Ashlynn enough that I felt I could leave my townhome. I was tired of being in London, but until Phillips contacted me again, I was stuck.

I detested the feeling.

Rubbing my eyes, I stood up, stretching my arms and back. I’d spent way too much time cooped up in my office lately.

I left the room, wanting to know how Ashlynn was passing her time. I walked up the stairs, and then crept towards the guest room, not wanting to give her any warning.

I unlocked the door to find her reading by the window. Her face was relaxed, but the second I entered the room, her features morphed into panic, and she seemed to curl inwards for a split second.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” I said, offended at her reaction.

“I can take care of myself,” she threatened, that look of hostility rising within her as soon as she was in my company. But at that moment, watching her resolve to fight me, I desired nothing more in this world than her submission. I wanted her to kneel on the floor, beg me to free her, and then kiss me in gratitude. I wanted to break her, bend her to my will. Like a wild stallion, I wanted her broken to my saddle. I wanted to force her to obey me in all things, since I couldn’t make her asshole father submit to my simple demands.

But that was alright. Instead, I’d have his daughter begging on her knees. Not the worst plan I’d ever had.

“Well, it seems to me that I still managed to kidnap you. And you’re still here. If you’re so competent, I’ll have to assume the reason for your continued presence in my home is that you want to stay here with me.”

If looks could kill, I’d be ten feet underground right now, weeds sprouting at the base of my headstone.

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