Page 8 of Twisted Obsession

“Good. Come to the penthouse, Gigi. I’m leaving the hills today. I’ll text you the address and leave you a key at the reception.”

Regina’s gaze remained locked on mine as Gigi’s words poured from my phone.

“I’m taking off my apron now and leaving. Asshole is not eating lunch today. I’ll see you tomorrow, Mr. Knox,” Gigi replied.

The sound of her scurrying around the asshole’s house filtered through the phone as she prepared to leave him hungry.

Glenda Garcia had worked for me pre-DG6. The only reason I’d let her go was because of the dangers I knew we’d incur dealing with DG6.

The smile on Regina’s face widened as she shook her head in amusement at me.

“People don’t tell you no, do they?”

“Nope,” I answered, taking the first bite of my cereal as my gaze swept the parts of her not hidden by the table.

“Your penthouse? Is it far from here?” she questioned, ignoring her cereal.

“About two and a half hours from here. The penthouse is in one of the most secure buildings in San Diego. Although this house is somewhat off the grid, we don’t know who may have been informed about it. JG and Rob are going to stick around. The rest of the guys needed to get back to their lives. Without the extra guns, I’d rather have you in a more secure location.”

Marcus and Scott would be in town in a few days also, but Regina didn’t need to know all the logistics of my plan to keep her safe. I’d already overheard her telling Megan that she felt like a burden.

“Thank you for doing this. For letting me stay with you,” she expressed as genuine appreciation flashed in her gaze.

“But?” I asked, noticing her stiff posture.

“I don’t want to be a bother. I don’t want you to change your life around because of me. I have some savings my family didn’t know about. I can pay you.”

She started to squirm under my penetrating stare when I didn’t respond right away.

“First, if you were a burden, I’d have let you go with Aaron. Second, I’m offended that you’ve offered me money.”

Her gaze dropped. The inflection in my tone had no doubt raised her stress level. I’d reined in my aggressive nature for Regina, just as I’d done for Megan. The shit that these women had been through and had still managed to retain their sanity was beyond me. The jury was still out on Megan’s sanity, but I loved her like family. Whether Regina believed it or not, she deserved my respect as well, and there wasn’t a whole lot of people I respected.

“I didn’t mean to offend you, Ansel.”

My elongated inhale was followed by a slow exhale. “You see, that’s the thing. You are trouble, Doc. You are so much fucking trouble that I can’t even properly explain it to you.”

Her confusion at my stiff words was apparent.

“Protecting you is much easier than what I truly want from you. I want you to be my submissive. I want you strung out on my dick. I want your pussy to overdose on it. I want you begging me to do things to you that you never even imagined. I’m not altogether sure how much longer I can wait. That is the kind of trouble you are, Doc.”

Her throat bobbed at my sudden outburst. She had no idea. I lived for trouble. If any of her family members came for her, they weren’t going to leave California alive. As a matter of fact, I prayed they were stupid enough to come for her.

“I don’t think I can be that person for you, Ansel. I don’t think I’d be a good submissive for you. I wouldn’t know where to start. I’m certain I wouldn’t know how to make you happy.” She dropped her gaze, staring down at the cereal that she’d stopped eating.

“How can you be so certain of something you haven’t given any thought to trying? I’ll teach you everything you need to know and more. If you listen and learn to trust me, you’ll have nothing to worry about.”

“Can I think about it? I don’t know,” she stated, her head shrinking into her shoulders. She assumed she couldn’t please me. What was she so afraid of? I’d hardly touched the woman and knew more about her sexuality than she did. I noticed things she’d never searched for within herself.

“Don’t take too long thinking about it,” I warned her, reclaiming her gaze. “You’re stretching my patience well past its threshold.”

I’d just lied to her. It didn’t matter what the answer to my question was. If I wanted something, nothing was going to stop me from getting it. Regina was already mine as far as I was concerned. She’d been claimed the day I’d met her. I just hadn’t marked her yet.

My smile eased the tension I’d set off in her, and a shy beam crept across her lips.

“Thank you, Ansel,” she said. The sincerity in her tone wasn’t missed.

“You’re welcome,” I returned before I stood.

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