Page 45 of Twisted Embrace

She appeared a few seconds later in bare feet, wearing one of the outfits she’d selected. I hadn’t paid any attention to what she’d quickly grabbed off the rack. Now that she stood in a dress that highlighted her rounded curves to perfection, I was reminded why I’d found her enthralling in the first place.

As she stepped in front of the triple mirror, twisting back and forth, she noticed my reflection and stiffened. I inched closer, standing with my hands in my pockets.

Her expression was one of disdain, her eyes highlighting the fact we were little more than enemies ourselves in a vicious game of pretense. When I offered an approving nod, she immediately moved off the platform, attempting to brush by me.

I grabbed her arm, pulling her close.

“Let go of me, Enzo.”

“Why should I do that? You do belong to me.”

“Constantly reminding me of that ugly fact isn’t going to make it any easier.” She lifted her head in ambivalence, but the sparkle in her irises was a clear indication of the continued fire simmering in her core.

“I’m merely stating facts, my lovely bride to be. You have five minutes. Then we need to leave.”

“Why, yes, sir.” She gave me a sultry look, jerking her arm free then blowing me a kiss. The woman was a pistol.

What I should do was strip her bare in the dressing room, spanking her lovely ass with my belt. I watched her return behind the curtain, shaking my head then moving toward the front of the store. As I’d done twice before, I scanned the perimeter. At least there hadn’t been any additional incidents.

After checking my watch again, I had a feeling the little vixen was up to something. I took long strides toward the dressing room, yanking open the cloth partition. I knew exactly which dressing room she was in given I’d checked it prior to allowing her inside. When I found it full of the clothes she’d selected as well as her old ones dumped on the floor, a rush of adrenaline immediately swept through my system.

She was attempting to escape right under my nose. There was undoubtedly another way out of the store.

I kept my hand on my weapon, moving toward the back, slamming my hand against the set of swinging doors leading to an employee-only area.

The four people inside stared at me with fear in their eyes. “Did a beautiful redhead come this way?”

They seemed frozen in fear, one finally stepping forward, shaking his head. “No, sir.”

I nodded, backing away. Where the hell had she gone? As I returned to the main part of the store, I continued to seethe, furious with her for leaving the area I’d sanctioned as acceptable. Goddamn it, the woman needed regular punishment.

What few people were in the store gave me a wide berth, every single person sensing danger. I made a wide arc, not finding a sign of her anywhere. I finally returned to the dressing room, noticing the curtain was once again closed. With my weapon in my hand, I threw it back, immediately pointing the barrel at chest level.

“Jesus Christ. What is wrong with you?” she screeched, instinctively grabbing a pile of clothes and holding it in front of her scantily clad body. But not before I’d caught a glimpse of new scarlet lingerie, a matching bra and thong.

“You disobeyed me.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You left the area.”

She wrinkled her nose, watching as my chest rose and fell from my labored breaths. Then she reached down to the floor, yanking some other items of clothing into her hand then tossing them into my face. “There. This is what I was doing. I was trying to find you something to wear. You definitely need a change of clothes. Day-old blood is considered passé. I took the liberty of selecting a few items. Maybe it will help you look less… gangster-ish. If that’s possible.” She planted her hand on her hip, giving me the same hard onceover that I’d given her.

“That doesn’t change the fact you disobeyed me.”

“You are such an asshole. I was trying to surprise you.”

The sincerity in her eyes would please any other man, but I wasn’t the kind of guy who needed surprise adulation. I yanked the curtain behind me, returning the weapon to my jacket. Then I crowded her space, placing my fingers under her jaw.

“Ouch. You’re hurting me.”

“You deserve punishment, Joy. One slip-up is all it’s going to take.”

“No one would dare attempt an assassination inside a crowded mall. If they fired a gun, the police would lock down the mall in minutes.”

I grinned then added more pressure until her eyes opened wide. “Do you honestly believe that there aren’t more effective and silent methods of removing an enemy target?”

She tried to swallow then grimaced. I kept my hold for another five seconds before releasing, keeping my fingers near her lovely face. When I brushed my knuckles across her cheek, she pulled her head away. “I’ll repeat what I said. I hate you.”

---