Page 16 of The Chief's Captive

"Good morning," I say as she struts in and takes a seat opposite me.

She's dressed simply in a white cotton shift and ballet flats. I'm glad she's let me lavish these nice gifts of clothing and shoes on her. After the start we had, I believed she would refuse anything from me at all, including food, and for a while, she did. Now she acts ravenous. She's been here three and a half weeks, and I feel like she's finally acclimating.

"Good morning." Maeve looks up as Brigid places a plate of eggs and sausage in front of her, not unlike my eggs and bacon, but Maeve prefers the other. I've instructed my staff to treat her withthe same respect they'd give me but to take only my orders. So far, so good.

"You look well rested today." I see a flash of something pass across her face, but she masks her emotions well. She asks me every single time we meet when she can go home. I know it will be the next phrase out of her mouth. I take a bite of my food and like clockwork, she speaks up.

"May I return home today?" she asks as she unfolds her napkin carefully and drapes it over her lap. Her eyes stay focused on her actions, picking up her fork and taking a bite. But I can see the tension across her forehead. I'm quite taken by her, and she doesn't really know it.

Ignoring her question, I say, "Are you enjoying the home gym?"

"I've seen the news, Ronan." This is different. She hasn't said my name aloud since she whispered it like a prayer while I claimed her as mine. I quite like when she says it. It brings a smile to my lips.

"And?" I ask, having another bite of my eggs. She looks directly at me now, as serious as can be. This woman has some grit. She's alluring and bold—two qualities I enjoy in a woman, and they're rare qualities to find.

"And the police are calling it 'shocking' and I'm worried that my mother is scared for my life. At least let me call her to let her know I'm okay." She folds her hands in her lap and sits with perfect posture. I almost believe her—that she could keep my secret and return to her normal life, but I'm getting attached. There aren't many women who will stand up to me. My mother was the last one I can clearly recall.

"What if I could offer you something better?" I wipe my mouth with my napkin and then drape it over my plate and push the plate away. I'm full—of food. But I could take as much Maeve as she would offer me, and I'm gaining an appetite the more we talk. I enjoy her presence very much, and this is the first time in my life that I've wanted a woman for more than her hot pussy.

"I hardly think you could offer me something better than to return to my life as a surgeon. My being a surgeon has been my dream since I was a child. And I miss my family. You know nothing of that, I'm sure." She tears her eyes from my face and returns to her meal, taking bird-sized bites while I watch her. She's unnerved. Good. I like that. She knows I have the power and provision to give her everything in her wildest dreams.

"If you work for me, my pay for you will triple your salary." I tent my eyebrows and wait for her answer, casually folding my hands in my lap and crossing one leg over the other. She flicks a hasty glance at me and shakes her head.

"Money can't buy happiness, Mr. O'Rourke. My mother isn't worth selling my soul. She won't live forever." Maeve eats a few bites as I admire her wit and feistiness. She's not comprehending what I'm trying to communicate, so I spell it out for her.

"And what if…" I pause for emphasis as she raises her eyes to look at my face again. Her soft red hair frames her high cheekbones and pale skin, causing her eyes to pop. My God, she's ravishing. "You join me… my family…"

She scoffs and laughs, a deep, hearty laugh, throwing her head back and letting her hair dance. Then she sobers with a disbelieving grin and shakes her head at me.

"You want me to do what? Should I pledge an oath to murder and pillage the way your vile men do?" Now her tone is growing irritated. She prattles for a few minutes about the illegal activities that she knows I partake in. It's not a secret. Most people in this city know my name. I carry the badge with pride and won't back down to anyone on matters of family and loyalty, but she still doesn't understand what I'm saying.

"I like you, Maeve."

Her snarky smile turns to a grin. She's not afraid of me, and that's okay. It's one of the things I enjoy most about her, her passion, her grit.

"Well, I'm a likable person."

"I mean… Most women either throw themselves at me or obsess over my cock. Which believe me, I quite enjoy. I give them what they want and throw them to the side." I eye her and watch her neck tense as she swallows. I know she likes my cock. "The ones who don't worship my abilities in bed are terrified of me. They cower and plead for their lives or the lives of their loved ones."

She sniffs and looks away, returning to her plate of food which is now over halfway gone. She's a stubborn one, but I can still break her.

"I like you, Maeve, because you are neither of those." I uncross my leg and lean forward over the table, bracing my arms on either side of my plate and folding my hands together above it. She stiffens, and I notice her posture returns to straight. I don’t remember seeing her relax at all. Maybe it was when she got flustered by the comment about my dick.

"So you're proposing that I just date you or something? You just want a good fuck. You don't actually care about me at all. If youdid, you'd let me go back to my job and take care of my patients." She's frustrated now, her tone tilting back toward anger.

"I assure you, that is not my intent." I smile and continue. "I may well be able to trust you to not say a word about my family or my business, but I can’t let you go, Maeve. Not when I've seen the exquisite creature you are, not when I've tasted the fruit from the tree. You understand."

Her pleasant expression turns to a deep scowl, one I want to wash off her face. She's so beautiful when she's happy. I enjoy seeing her smile, and I want to return that smile to her face.

"Dr. Walsh, I believe you may well be the most charming and adaptive woman I've ever met. You are brilliant and skilled. Your talent is unrivaled. Your body is fantastic, and if I may say so myself, I think your smile could be the answer for world peace."

The compliments bring blood to her cheeks, so I continue. "And believe me. With my money and power, I have met a lot of women. Not one of them has even come close to your beauty and brains."

She rolls her eyes and says, "Is that what you tell other women to get them to gag on your dick?" There's fire in her eyes, but I can see the tiny smirk wanting to play at the corner of her mouth. She's masking her amusement and it's turning me on.

"Is it working?" I ask, and I'm not shy about my smirk. It makes her smile again, and she covers her mouth with her hand. "Because I can let you gag on my cock if that's what you'd like to do. I have no problem with that."

"Ronan…" She sighs, and the exasperation is fake. Her lips are dark, flushed with blood the way I suspect her pretty little pussy is.

---