Page 53 of Tamed

“Adrenaline high, huh? That could get addictive. Perhaps I’ll come here tomorrow night, too.”

I tensed. “Isabel.”

“What?” Her eyes were wide, guileless. “If you won’t give it to me, perhaps I’ll get it from someone else.”

For a second we stared at one another, the tension building between us again, hot possessiveness tightening its grip around my throat.

The thought of another man doing this to her was…

Not happening.

“Stop it.” I didn’t bother to hide edge in my voice. “This is one fight you’re not going to win. You fucked up with your security tonight, which means you’re going back to my apartment, and you won’t be leaving it without fifteen armed guards. Understand me?”

She didn’t even blink. “Will you be joining me there?”

“No. I will not.”

“Hmmm.” Her gaze searched my face, though was she was looking for I didn’t know. Not that it mattered. Whatever it was, she wouldn’t find it. “I guess we’ll see, won’t we?”

I didn’t what she meant by that either, but I didn’t have the patience to find out. The warm weight of her body in my lap was distracting and I needed to get her off me.

She’s getting to you.

I didn’t like that thought, but I couldn’t keep denying it. Not now, because, yes, she was getting to me, and I needed some distance to get myself the fuck together.

I shifted, reversing our positions so she was sitting in the armchair, still wrapped in the blanket, while I stood up. Then I went to the drinks cabinet once again, poured her another nip of scotch and carried that back to her, putting the tumbler down on the side table beside the armchair. “Finish your scotch and get dressed,” I ordered. Without sparing her another glance, I turned, got my phone out of my pocket, and made some calls.

I didn't want to hang around here. I didn’t want to be with her here, in this room, with the scent of her and me, the scent of sex hanging in air, along with the memory of what I’d done to her.

Regret had always been a pointless indulgence and I’d certainly never second-guessed myself. But I was doing both now.

I’d never permitted myself any weakness – I couldn’t, not if I wanted to stay on top – and if I had any vulnerability at all, it was Isabel. No one could know that. Already as the daughter of my best friend, she had a target on her back and if it became known that she was special to me…

Jesus.

It wasn’t only the Hamiltons who had enemies. I did too. Many, many enemies. And no doubt I’d make a whole lot more on my way to making Cross the biggest company in the country, and if any of them knew what she was to me…

It’s not your enemies you need to be afraid of. The darkness inside you will eat her alive.

Regrets… I couldn’t afford them and yet here they were, sharp splinters, digging into me.

I knew what I was deep down. I was what Old Nick had made me, his enforcer. His right hand man. Relentless. Pitiless. Impervious to bribes or pleading. I’d taken the rage that had lived inside me since my father had killed my family, and turned it hard and cold, turned it into ambition, an icy fuel that drove me. A darkness inside me.

Isabel had to be kept safe from that darkness, which meant that turning our relationship physical had been a mistake, no two ways about it. It had made things needlessly complicated and me distancing her — which I was going to have to do — would hurt her a lot more than it should.

The regrets dug deeper, the barbs hooking into me. But there was nothing to be done about it now. All I could do was keep going forward.

I made a last call then slipped my phone into my pocket and turned around just in time to see Isabel slide out of the armchair and let her blanket fall. She didn’t bother to hide her nakedness as she bent to grab her thong and step delicately into it.

It was quite the performance, and for my benefit of course.

She didn’t look at me, easing the black lace up her thighs, and I should have turned away since she obviously wanted me to watch. But what the hell, I’d already made a mistake here and there was no changing it. And though it wouldn’t be a mistake I’d ever make again, there wasn’t much point in pretending I didn’t like what I saw. Or that I didn’t want to take one last look at all those golden freckles, that creamy skin, that pretty little pussy with its red curls that had tasted so fucking sweet.

My cock, naturally, was interested and when she turned around to face me, pulling up the gold silk of her dress, she looked pointedly at my groin. “Are you sure you don’t want—”

“The car will be here in five minutes.” I thrust my hands into my pockets, ignoring my idiot dick. “But by all means take your time.”

“Oh, that’s right.” She eased one strap up over her shoulder, leaving one perfect, rounded breast bare. “I guess older men need some time to gather their strength.”

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