Page 68 of Required Surrender

“What’s that?”

“Now, you belong to me forever.”

After grabbing a towel and drying me off, he carried me into his bedroom, easing me under the covers. Maybe I wouldn’t mind the contract being changed.

If only in my fantasies.

CHAPTER17

Lachlan

Morning had never been my favorite time of day. I preferred the darkness, maybe because so much of my life was spent inside a club. I’d worked excessively over the last few years, hoping exhaustion would keep the dreams away.

Until recently, it hadn’t worked.

I walked into the kitchen, noticing another pot of coffee, a second mug placed for my convenience. I automatically glanced toward the door leading to the garage. A part of me wanted to find her running her fingers over one or more of my collection of vehicles. I adored the spunky woman in her, the way she refused to give up on anything.

As I poured a cup, I glanced at the table. She’d removed the laptop, probably realizing the temptation wouldn’t be something I could ignore forever. As I walked through the kitchen, I noticed she’d taken a perch outside on the patio. She’d found my terrycloth robe, her legs curled under her just like they’d been the night before.

Being with her, having her molded against my side had been surreal, enough so I’d been certain there was no way I’d get any sleep. Then I’d awakened late, ignoring my usual four-thirty in the morning natural wakeup time.

Because of her.

The woman I’d fallen hard for. Christ. The admittance was strange, as if a door had just been opened. I only hoped it wouldn’t be the gateway to hell.

I walked outside and she didn’t seem to realize I was there, her gaze locked on whatever she noticed in the yard.

“Tell me what you know about breath play.” I could tell I’d startled her with my statement, but whatever she was hiding was bothering her. It was obvious she wasn’t used to anyone caring about her. That made me hate her fucking father that much more.

She tipped her head without bothering to look at me. “Nothing except for what I read.”

“Then why did you ask for it? I’m certain what you read mentioned the kink is potentially dangerous.” I walked around her, waiting as she finally lifted her head enough to look me in the eyes.

“You looked at my laptop.”

“I did.”

“Why?”

“Because I knew you were hiding something from me.”

Her brow furrowed as she twisted her lips. “You had no right. I didn’t go through your things, Lachlan.”

I sat down beside her, glancing at the garden I paid no attention to. “You’re right, I didn’t.”

“That sounds almost like an apology, although I doubt you’d allow yourself to do so.”

“I’m not trying to be adversarial, Lark. I told you last night I don’t like what’s happening.”

She cocked her head toward me. “I was told you were dangerous.”

“By Jameson?” When she hesitated, I prompted her again. “Tell me.”

“No, by Ernest Davidson. He mentioned you’re not who you purport yourself to be. Is there any truth to that?”

Anger snapped into my system. What the hell had the man been telling her? “When did he tell you this, when you took the case?”

“No,” she said, keeping her eyes locked onto mine. “When he just happened to stop by your house yesterday afternoon, walking in and claiming you two were buddies but that I should stay away from you. That was when he also tried to buy my loyalty and I found out the only reason I was on the case was because of my long legs. Oh, and some ridiculous plan my father has going with the man.”

---