"Oh yes, you do know how to talk to a woman." She shook off my hold. "Make me."
"Emma…"
"Bridge," she mocked.
"You're staying here. It's too late for you to go back to your mum’s.”
“Like I said, you can’t make me. You’re not going to hold me like a fucking prisoner. You're not my father. Need I remind you that he is the worst kind of arsehole? I don’t need another one in my life. I’m going home."
I stepped in her path. "You're staying the night, Emma. It's fucking 2 a.m."
"Yes, and? You know, there are a million bars that I could go to all over London that are still open right now. Find me a nice bloke. Shag in a nice dirty alleyway."
She'd pressed herself against me again, and I steeled myself. I couldn't stop the blood reeling in my veins though. "Fuck off, Emma."
"Don't you wish I would?" She giggled then, twirling away and heading toward the hallway that would lead to the foyer and right out my door. She really didn't think I would do it. Well, as it turned out, Emma Varma didn't know me that well at all. I marched out after her, and she cast a look back at me as if to ask what the fuck I was doing. But before the words could tumble out of her mouth, I picked her up easily, flipped her over my shoulder, and carried her down the hallway to the bedroom.
She screamed, battering me with somewhat ineffectual hits on my back. She tried kicking, but I wrapped my arm around her legs and then swatted her ass with my free hand. "Behave. It's just for the night. And trust me, the last thing I would want to do is join you. I'm just keeping you safe."
"If you don't let me go right this instant, I swear to God, I will fillet your skin off your stupid muscles."
"Oh, you noticed those muscles then?"
That only made her kick harder, which earned her another swat on the ass.
Her shocked gasp had my blood heating.
Oh no, you don't. We're not doing that. Not with Emma. She deserves better than you.
Once at the bedroom, I marched to the bed and dropped her down unceremoniously. She landed so hard she bounced. I worked hard to keep my lips from twitching at the sight of her with her dark ponytail bouncing along and cascading down her shoulders and her furious scowl as she glowered at me. "This is kidnapping."
"Sue me." And then I marched out, using the keypad outside the door to lock her in.
The room was designed as a panic room. I had converted it into a guest room, but the panels were still there. The only difference was that there were two panels. One on the outside and one on the inside. And I locked her in. If I had a heart, I'd have been slightly concerned that I was keeping her against her will.
But this was Emma. I knew just how much trouble she could get herself into, so I got over that fast.
Chapter Three
Bridge
I wasn't a complete monster. It wasn’t exactly like I’d kidnapped Emma.
No, just unlawfully detained her.
For her own good.
I'd eventually let her out. I unlocked the door that morning before I left at five-thirty. I’d also left her a note, letting her know that security would take her anywhere she needed to go and or would have her car driven to her.
I knew she wouldn't appreciate it, and she would be well mugged off. But when I looked in on her, she was passed out in the most hilarious fashion. Emma slept like a starfish. A sloppy starfish to boot. The covers were kicked off the bed and she laid right across the center of it, hair in a tangle around her face. I had to resist the urge not to go and smooth her dark locks away so that the moonlight could hit that beautiful cinnamon skin. But of course, I didn't touch her because that would be creepy and also one hell of a temptation I did not need.
So I’d walked away and stuck to my program. A quick early morning text to Mum to remind her to take her medication. I’d also set several alarms at her house. But I knew how she was when she was working on something new. She ignored lots of alerts and warnings. Then I headed for a workout. My trainer and I hit the mats for forty-five minutes. The jiu-jitsu got my blood flowing, and I could already think more clearly.
Ever since my first time on the mats, when I’d had my arse thoroughly handed to me, I’d clicked with the sport. It hadn’t felt good to fail so spectacularly the first time out, but the moves had felt good to my body, like something I could learn. It calmed down some of my wild, angry energy. And that was exactly what I had needed this morning, especially after a fitful night of sleep while thinking about Emma.
A nice Zen hum.
Was it the jiu-jitsu or the blow job from the yoga instructor right after that brought on the Zen?
Sigh.
Honestly, I was almost disgusted with myself. What was her name again? Lizbeth? Lilibeth? Something. Lily? I honestly didn't know. But she was always there setting up for her class that was thirty minutes after my training session at the gym. Sure, I could have had my instructor come to the house. It would have been more convenient. But I liked the routine of leaving home, going somewhere. Being responsible to someone else. It forced me out of some of my more selfish habits. Almost made me seem human.
In retrospect, I was well aware that in the past I had been eager to leave Mina's bed just to avoid early morning complaints. The blonde instructor had made it apparent from day one that she was more than happy to jump on my particular ride.
I'd never taken her up on it until this morning. I’d still had all that edgy energy from the round with Emma. I just needed something to take the edge off. She had wanted to kiss, and I'd told her I didn't do that.
Which was a lie. I actually loved to kiss. It was the seduction of it. Learning about someone, feeling them out, finding out just the right tempo and slide. Kissing was amazing. Even with the women that I had zero intention of ever seeing again. It was part of the fun.
But the blonde gave a very clear I might be a clinger vibe. When she looked disappointed about the kiss, she'd offered to blow me instead. She likely thought that a blow job would change my mind. She had a certain level of skill I appreciated. Clearly, she'd done that before. Many times. But there was something too cold, too calculating about her. Practice makes perfect and all.
Too much like Mina. When she’d left me in the shower gasping from release and told me she'd see me again, I knew I had been right. That possessive glance in her eye told me our little interaction was a one and done. I didn't need that harassment.
And still, you think a blow job isn't going to earn you a stalker?
It should be easy enough to avoid if I had to.
What the hell happened to you? The bloke who once hated the way other men used women and discarded them.
What the fuck had happened to me was Mina. And my father. I deserved to let loose just a little. Finding out your fiancée was a mole planted by your own father had a way of souring you on love.
When I walked into the office, it was 6:59 a.m., and I stopped short. Ben sat on my chair, feet up on my desk, shoes and all. Twat. East was over among the couches, laptop on his lap. Drew was on one of the club chairs, sipping back coffee like it was a job. His eyes were bloodshot, and despite the crispness of his suit, he looked like he’d maybe slept in it.