Page 6 of His To Protect

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Mr. Cole.”

“Tell me the whole truth or I leave you here.” His terse threat made insecurity flicker in her gorgeous large eyes, but then she cocked her head and eyed him back firmly.

“Funny, you don’t look like the type of man who would leave a young female alone in a dangerous country.”

There was no fear in her voice, only intrigue. She was right. He wouldn’t leave her. He’d spank her ass raw, but he wouldn’t leave her.

“Oh?” He shot her a sarcastic smirk. “Have I lessened your faith in humanity?”

“No, just an observation.” She jutted her chin out slightly. “Do you really think I have a pretty mouth?”

He swore. “Don’t change the subject!” His blood pressure was surely in the danger zone. “Keeping me in the dark is dangerous for both of us.” The taxi pulled up at the curb and Jack walked to it. “This cab can take me back to the airport or it can take us to the hotel. What’s it gonna be, little girl?”

“So callous, Jack. Perhaps your problem with women is that you’re always telling rather than asking.”

He didn’t bother to look back.

“Most women don’t like that,” she added, her voice rising a little higher as if she suddenly wasn’t so sure he wouldn’t leave her.

“I’ve dealt with women like you, so I’ll put it in terms you can understand. Follow if you want, if not, it was nice knowing you.” He got into the cab.

“I’m paying you and that makes me the boss!”

Her voice rose even higher but her words made Jack’s anger intensify. His jaw tightened.

“My life is worth more than you’re paying,” he said through clenched teeth. “Find someone else!”

“Okay, okay!”

She scrambled into the taxi, crawling across the seat andhis lap on her hands and knees. Jack got a nice view of her supple bottom and the tiny pink panties that barely covered it. Just looking had him conflicted. His cock yearned like never before, but what he wanted more, was to paint her ass red with his palm.

“And just so you know, I don’t have women problems. It’s my job to help other men fix their women troubles. Believe me, I know how to make a woman listen when I want her to.”

With a good hard punishment strapping, missy.

“Yeah, you’re a regular woman whisperer,” she mumbled, flopping onto the seat and leaning her forehead against the window. “Misogynist.”

“Uno, zero, quarto Arts Suites, por favor,” he said after thumbing through his Shoe String guidebook. With a nod from the driver, they peeled off into a street that made downtown Toronto seem like Sunday traffic in a sleepy farm town.

“I’m not a misogynist, Alexis. I’m a realist and the reality is some women need to be kept in line or else they get into trouble.” She turned and scrunched her nose at him. Her eyes were a unique shade of hazel that matched her hair.

Fucking, sweet, innocent, albeit naughty, swirling, caramel-coloured eyes.

“You really believe that?” She chewed her lip.

God, that lip.

“I thought that way of thinking went out the window sixty years ago, Jack.”

“Well, progress does more damage than good as far as I’m concerned.” He frowned at her. “Look at global warming.” He uncapped his water bottle and took a swig. She made his throat dry.

“I guess you’re allowed your opinion, however ridiculous. I’m a believer in that.” She shrugged.

“Alexis.” He crossed his arms. “Spill.” She twisted her mouth in a way that made Jack more impatient. It was as if she were considering how little she could reveal and still satisfy him. He raised one brow. His eyes bore into hers with as much cold anger as he could muster.

“Now!” He watched her hesitate and shift in her seat before swallowing.

“Okay,” she said on a sigh. “My father’s in trouble.”

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