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  “Actually,” my brother stepped over to my side, “Michael and I were going to call it an early night. Right?”

  He looked at me and I shook my head. “I think the nights just getting started. Anne’s waiting, you tell Sarah your brother said hello.” Panic, the same as I’d seen when he’d been pulled from the bar, took over once again and I slapped his shoulder, heading for the area where I saw my girl disappear.

  The song ended and the lead singer’s voice echoed around the room. “Alright now, everyone, this one goes out to a very special woman.” Cheers went up as I weaved through the thick cluster of people. The closer I got to the dance floor, the more crowded it became.

  “Anne? Where are you, Anne?” At hearing her name being called, I stopped and looked where everyone was turning. It didn’t take long to see her being pushed toward the dance floor by a mob of what looked to be college girls. One, I recognized immediately. Nancy.

  “There she is,” the singer laughed. “Come up here with me, Anne. You used to love when I sang this song to you. Even used to sing along with me. Let’s show them how it’s done, what do you say?”

  Whether it was the anger and humiliation on her face or the fact that the musician on stage had a past with her, my blood boiled until all I saw was red.

  “Come on, Anne. For old times’ sake,” his voice echoed.

  Still, the girls tried to push her even when she was clearly begging them no. Something close to fear flashed on the bride’s face and she shook her head while walking forward. “Y’all stop it!” she shouted. “She doesn’t want to go.”

  Whatever the situation was, it was clearly more than what everyone else saw.

  “Please.” Anne tried to turn, but the redhead’s hand was clutched to her arm. The roar of laughter was deafening. Everyone clearly thought it was a joke, but I didn’t miss the tear that escaped down her cheek. With another pull, she turned in my direction and her eyes connected with mine. So much pain and raw emotion hit me square in the chest, and with it, a feeling that I hadn’t experienced in a long time. The monster I harbored roared to life with a vengeance, nearly blacking me out with rage. I pushed people out of my way before I could stop myself. Anne reached for me and I took her hands, pulling her into my side. “She fucking said no,” I snapped at Nancy. “I know you heard her.”

  The redhead’s eyes grew in size, only to turn into a glare just before she stalked off.

  Confusion was electric in the air, but I didn’t wait. We headed for the exit and didn’t come to a stop until the doors shut behind us. The sob that escaped her twisted my insides and I wanted nothing more than to go in there and unleash my darkness on everyone who’d upset her.

  “Are you okay?” I leaned toward her, trying to see her face as she pressed her hand to her mouth and looked down. A sniffle was followed with a nod, but she still wouldn’t look up from the floor. I felt helpless. “Do you want to leave? I can take you somewhere.” I paused. “Anywhere.”

  The door burst open and without thought, I pulled Anne back to my side. The protectiveness I felt was instantaneous and overwhelmingly powerful.

  “Anne, honey.” Cassandra closed the door behind her. “Are you okay? I tried to tell them no. I’m sorry. Having Liam here was a bad idea.”

  “I’m fine.” Anne wiped the tears and looked up. “Really, I’m okay. I don’t know what came over me. I’ve ruined your reception, I’m the one that’s sorry.”

  White silk flared out as the blonde threw her arms around Anne. “You didn’t ruin anything, really. I just need to know you’re going to be alright.”

  “Fine.” Anne sniffled and glanced toward me. “Michael was just going to take me home. You won’t be mad at me if I leave, right? Because if you want me to stay—”

  “No, no. You go get some rest. You’ve done so much for me in the last few weeks.”

  Anne nodded and hugged the bride again. With how much they resembled each other up close, I knew they were sisters. The only difference was the hair color and the fact that Anne’s was so much curlier than Cassandra’s.

  “You have a great honeymoon. You promise to call me in a few days?”

  Cassandra laughed. “I promise.” The blonde looked up at me. “You’ll take good care of her?”

  The question stirred something inside of me. “The best. You have my word.”

  She nodded and the two broke apart. As they said their goodbyes, more tears were shed, but this time it was on both sides. The door opened again and my brother and another blonde stepped out. A blue clutch was held out to Anne and she took it.

  “Thanks, Sarah. You all have a great night. I need to go home and get some rest.”

  “My sister owes you an apology,” she said, quietly. “Nancy went too far.”

  Anne took a step back. “It’s fine. I just want to go.” She moved in closer to me and I didn’t hesitate to wrap my arm back around her and turn to leave. Not once did I look back as we walked to the elevator. All I wanted was my girl out of here and then I could have her to myself.

  The doors closed us in and I hit the button to the garage parking. Anne’s eyes rose to mine. “Thank you for stepping in and helping me. And for offering to take me home. You really don’t have to leave the party. I can drive myself. It’s not a big deal.”

  “I don’t want you to be alone.” My mind searched for ways to get her to stay with me. I’d just gotten her, to lose her so soon was almost unbearable to think about. It left me panicked and I wasn’t quite sure why. “Why don’t you come to my place? I live really close.”

  Her hesitation put me on edge. The thought that she might say no didn’t sit well at all. I wanted her. Sexually, definitely. But more than that, I wanted to get to know the real Anne. The one who kept pushing me away. The one who had no problems meeting my stare when others had always avoided it.

  “For the night?” Her fingers turned white as she gripped to the clutch tighter. “As in…”

  Her question threw me off. I hadn’t intended for her to take it that way, but if she was willing, offering, I wouldn’t pass that up. Fear and arousal emanated from her and I stepped closer, feeling myself dangling on the edge of control.

  “If you want to. I’m not going to lie, Anne, I would love nothing more than to have you at my mercy.” She stepped back, colliding with the wall of the elevator, and I moved in closer. “But, if that happens, what we’ll share can’t be compared to what you see in your thoughts. To merely fuck you would be a waste. I want more. Everything you can manage to give.” My hand slid along the side of her neck and around to the back, gripping with just enough force for her to understand that I wasn’t a gentle person.

  “You want to hurt me,” she whispered. Even as she said it, her body moved more into mine. My cock was already hard. If she kept this up, I doubted we’d make it far before I held her down and fucked her senseless.

  “I’d love to hurt you, but in a good way. I’m hoping you’ll like it.”

  My fingers eased through her hair, tightening, angling her face more up to mine. “I’m curious to see how much you can take. How far you’ll go before you reach your limit. Not that I like the idea of giving you a say.”

  Her moan drove me forward and I crushed my mouth to hers, basking in the taste of the wine that sweetened her lips and tongue. The need to have her closer brought my other hand to the small of her back where I gripped the fabric of her dress with every intention of ripping the material to shreds. The ding of the elevator had her pulling back to look at me as she breathed out in heavy bursts.

  “Your house,” she nodded.

  Chapter 3

  Anne

  Where the words I had spoken came from, I had no idea. Everything seemed too abrupt. So misplaced. Was this how people had one night stands? A slip in communication? One person misconstruing the conversation from what it really was and saying something that led to a situation that may have never been had they not opened their mouth? I wouldn’t know, I’d never really had one
. When Michael had said he wanted to go to his place, I’d just assumed he meant for sex. Had I jumped the gun and taken it the wrong way? I had been so swept up in him rescuing me, I hadn’t been thinking straight. No one had ever stood up for me before. Yet, he did. For the first time, I was seeing a new side of him. The light to his darkness. I liked the protectiveness he wrapped me in. So much so, I’d blurted out the first thing that came to my mind. Now, I felt more embarrassed than anything.

  The whole car ride I fought with what I should do. Too many times I thought to tell him to take me home, or take me back to the garage so I could get my car, but the need in me won and I remained quiet. He obviously wanted me. That kiss…my God. The whole drive was a whirlwind of ups and downs, but my body knew what it wanted. Him. My mind wasn’t so easily convinced.

  From the moment we arrived at the penthouse, it was everything I knew it would be. From the valet downstairs, to the marble flooring that led to the outside of Michael’s door. I felt out of place; a stone compared to the jewels that rested in the mirror just outside of his door.

  “Once you come inside, there’s no leaving until I say, and I make the rules.” He swung open the thick barrier. “If you accept, I promise to make this the best night of your life.”

  “And, if you don’t?” I couldn’t help but ask. My nerves were growing more uneasy the longer I gave this idea thought.

  The edge of his mouth lifted into a smile. “You’re welcome to stay as long as you want until you feel I’ve succeeded.”

  Well, there was something you didn’t hear every day. I doubted he meant what he said, but didn’t question it anymore as I walked through the threshold and came face to face with a living room so big that I wasn’t able to immediately process the grandeur.

  Large glass windows gave view to the surrounding city, the lights of the buildings lit up brightly against the black sky. But my vision didn’t stay focused on the scenery. It went to the leather sofas angled toward a large flat screen television almost taller than I was. On the opposite side of the room rested a beautiful black piano that could have come right out of a scene in a movie. I could almost see a woman in a sexy¸ long gown with a large slit up her leg lying across it. Art work rested along the walls and tables sported what looked to be expensive vases. I was afraid to move, to come any closer for fear of somehow tainting the scene with my presence. This wasn’t me. Wasn’t what I was used to. My parents may have had money, but they’d lived modestly from what I could remember.

  A beep in the background made me blink, but it was the multiple locks I heard click into place that had me spinning around.

  “What was that?” I breathed out. But, I knew. There wasn’t a deadbolt you could turn, just a keypad resting above the handle. He had automatic locks that were connected to the alarm he’d set. The only way out would be to have the code.

  “You wanted this,” he said, shrugging of his jacket. Slowly, he began to unbutton his shirt.

  Trapped. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop shaking. The hunger that poured from him was just as suffocating as my own. It swirled deep within my stomach, emitting pulses to my clit, causing me to get wetter by the minute. For as long as I could remember, I’d battled with the need to be hurt while sexually taken, but that didn’t stop the real panic that set in. A part of me wanted this, while another itched to run. But, where?

  With long strides, Michael made his way across the vast area and headed toward a small hallway. I walked forward, deeper into the living area, but parallel to the room he entered, and watched him toss the jacket to the bottom of a bed.

  “Come in here.”

  Again, I looked at the entrance that should have been my exit. “I…” The words got caught in my throat.

  “Anne.” His deepened tone nearly made me moan. My feet were moving forward before I could stop them. How did he do that? Control me by just saying my name?

  He tossed the shirt he was wearing near his jacket. I stopped at the entrance, leaning on the door frame. The muscles in his defined stomach hardened with each movement. The thin line of dark hair pulled at my attention and I trailed my vision down until it disappeared just above his belt. God, the belt. I wanted to feel it slapping against my ass. Wrapped around my throat.

  “Anne.” The slight growl associated with my name had me snapping my gaze up to his. I regretted it instantly.

  “I’m sorry.” Looking down was impossible. He had me, again. Captive to that safe place in his eyes I didn’t want to leave. Sarah was right. He was such a mystery. One that appealed and drew me closer to the dangerous aura he exuded. I took two steps. Three.

  “You’re sorry?” He closed most of the distance between us. “Never be sorry for taking in what could so easily be yours.” A firm grip clasped around the back of my neck, jerking me forward. Pressure from his other hand pushed against my lower back, holding my body to his. All I could do was brace my palms against his hard chest and continue to stare. My mind was a jumble of conflicting thoughts, leaving me momentarily lost. I didn’t know if I should try to get away or sink deeper into Michael’s embrace.

  “You don’t know me. Why would you say something like that?”

  His head lowered until his lips were next to my ear. “I know what you hold inside. What you crave to receive. I’m going to give you that, Anne. I’m going to fucking tear you apart.” Teeth pulled at my ear lobe and a small sound escaped my lips. Whether it was from the unexpected sensation or the realization that he saw right through the façade I’d used to fool everyone, wasn’t clear. My nails sank deep into his skin. Tear me apart…if only. I wasn’t sure anyone was willing to go as far as I yearned for in my fantasies. That’s what scared me the most. I wanted to be hurt, and that wasn’t normal.

  The sound of my zipper echoed loudly in my ears. The cool air trailed all the way to my lower back as the dress opened further. His fingers gripped, bringing me closer. Warmth poured from him as my forehead came to rest against his chest. Lower his hands moved, until they were just above my ass.

  What was I doing taking momentary comfort in this man? This wasn’t a routine fucking. He’d said so himself. I was about to open a side of myself that I’d never let anyone see. That I hadn’t seen! What if it was a mistake? I was safe, hiding my dark needs away. What if they became uncontrollable and I turned into a woman who craved to get hurt constantly?

  “No.” I pushed back so hard, I nearly fell on my ass. The top of the dress dropped to my hips, exposing the black strapless bra I wore. Had the material been any looser, it would have fallen right off. “I can’t do this. Not like you say.” I pulled up my dress as I spoke, retreating further away from him.

  Michael didn’t say a word as he walked forward.

  “No. I should go. This was a mistake.” There. I’d said the words. Rational thinking won. I should have been proud that I’d refused…but I wasn’t. My heart ached worse than ever before. The death of my most guarded passions died and the hollowness returned. An internal sorrow that nearly brought tears to my eyes. I was so tired of the denial. Of hiding something that so desperately needed to be sated. My despair was starting to devour me and I turned, fleeing toward the front door.

  The sound of my stilettos resonated loudly in my ears, but not more so than the beating of my heart. With shaky hands, I jerked at the handle to the front door. Michael’s arms wrapped around my waist and swung me around as he headed back for the room I’d only just vacated. The archway got closer by the second, causing true fear to blossom. Not from him, but myself. I started twisting in his hold, swinging my arms back to make any contact I could.

  “You might deny me of what I need,” he said, a wealth of emotion in his voice, “but I won’t deny you.”

  I felt my lips part at his words. The frame of the door whisked by and I grabbed it, gripping on for dear life. “You can’t do this.” Tears spilled down my cheeks as I fought the urge to give in. Just being forced back to the room had me so wet, I could feel it coating my inne
r thighs. Already he was fulfilling some of my secret desires and I didn’t doubt he knew that.

  “I can,” he growled, pulling, breaking me free. “I’m the one in control here. Not you.”

  Fabric tore loudly as he ripped the silk dress from my body. The force made pain flare against my hip and my body burst to life. I sobbed and a scream of aggravation soon followed. Humming flowed over every inch of my skin as he spun me around and slammed me onto the bed. His weight immediately followed. Fuck, this couldn’t be happening. My nails clawed at his biceps, panicked by my fading resolve. Michael quickly pinned my hands over my head with one of his and the other gripped my jaw, immobilizing my head.

  “Look into my eyes right now and tell me you don’t want this. If I believe you, I’ll stop. If not… well…” a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, “let’s just say I’ll give you exactly what you’ve been longing for. You have, haven’t you, Anne? You fucking want this.” Michael let go of my face and lowered, nipping at my shoulder. “Say it, Anne. Tell me you want me to fuck you. To hurt you.”

  The thickness of his cock pushed into the black lace panties I wore and my hips arched. Pleasure from the friction against my clit had me nodding my head, the wrong answer coming out.

  “No,” I whispered. “I can’t. Please.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “I liked the first answer better.” His lips traveled across the length of my shoulder until he reached my neck. A moan came from deep within my throat as he sucked the sensitive skin into his mouth and tightened the grip of his hand on my wrists even more. “I’m going to make the pain feel so good, baby. Just wait. You’re going to want this all the time.”

  “No. Stop!” I started thrashing at the idea. All the time was exactly what I was afraid of.

  The sound of his belt being undone was like music to my ears, but for the life of me I couldn’t stop fighting. Pressure from his elbow ground into my skin while he jerked the buckle free, but he didn’t unbutton or unzip the pants. He moved back up, looking into my eyes. His fingers began to slowly trace down the side of my face tenderly. So completely opposite of what he’d done seconds before. The unnerving change made me stop. For minutes, Michael made patterns of invisible lines over my face and across my lips, until all I could do was look up at him.