The dad throws me a wink. I give him the middle finger.
“Going up.”
He bends down and steps into the elevator.
“I can walk, you know!” I pepper his back with every ounce of strength but he only hits the number ten on the panel like I’m not talking at all. He pats my ass. “You missed a spot. Left shoulder blade. It feels a little tight.”
Fury turns to flames. “Oh, yeah?” I use my elbow and this time he winces.
“You sorry, arrogant son of a bitch animal. Put me down.”
“That’s a new combination of names, but you forgot one.”
I raise a knee to drive it into his solar plexus but he’s too fast to allow that to happen. He blocks the blow.
“Aren’t you going to ask me what that is?”
“No!” I seethe, trying not to break my back molars from clenching them so hard.
“Possessive. I told you. You are mine to protect and that means even from yourself if need be. Now, calm down or I’ll bite your cute ass if you keep shaking it in my face.”
I angle my head around in time to see an older woman come out of a nearby room, looking flustered the moment she sees us.
God, could this get any worse.
"Young man." The woman, in full granny mode with her floral print dress, round reading glasses and curly gray hair pinned in a twisted coif, wags a finger at the beast keeping me captive.
Wolfe stops.
“Where are you taking that young lady?” She’s got grit to her voice and I admire the balls she has to confront a man the size of Wolfe.
Wolfe growls an indistinct sound before he turns on his heel. "Go inside or I'll spank your ass too."
I raise my head and the lady looks at me with surprise and then I swear to God as my witness; she smiles.
I blink, absorbing that tid-bit of information. Okay, then.
Wolfe grunts and now I know I’m on my own against the beast and uncontrollable desire to have his way with me.
He pulls out a card and the second we are inside our room, he locks the door and pulls the curtains closed blocking out the morning light. He heads for the bathroom. I hold my breath so I don’t scream like a raving lunatic.
He puts me on my feet. On the way down off the mountain of a man, I spot the glitter of triumph gleaming in his eyes. The rotten bastard. There must be a flashing neon sign over my head that reads “weak.”
I turn and immediately head for the door. The moment I’m out, I dive for the small table pushed into the corner. A silver tray topped with steaks and whatever else he ordered calls me closer. It is laden with all kinds of delicious smelling food. I pass all that up.
The footfalls behind me are heavy. Solid. I’m trapped.
I lock my fingers around the serrated knife and whirl in time to see the black of Wolfe’s eyes laser on me and his chest press into the sharp tip. He looks down and sees the knife I hold to his heart. He either doesn’t care or thinks I won’t draw blood. Wafts of arrogance pours off him and makes me want to scream until my throat is dry and raw. So does the patience in his eyes and the calm rise and fall of his chest.
Damn him! I press a hand to my stomach, willing it to calm down. But it’s not listening, and neither is my racing heart.
“Harmonia.” His low measured voice brushes against my senses and calms a part of me I wish was immune to him.
I lock my elbow and tighten my fingers until they turn a fleshy white from the force used to grip the silver handle. “Don’t. Just don’t. I will use this, Wolfe. Don’t test me. I’ve killed once today. I can do it again.” It’s only a partial lie. Brutus deserved what he got and I will atone for that sin at some point. But Wolfe?
The egotistical bastard smirks down at me and puts one foot in front of the other, pushing me to either stab him or move. Another foot and I’ll be sprawled on the sofa with him standing over me. To my left is the exit and behind him is the bed. I grab a nearby chair and force it between us.
“Stay back.” I take a breath. His body heat and undeniable aura of power tangle around me and I find myself caught in his web. I trip back to when I snuck into his suite wanting so badly to be his.