Because of that tone, uncompromising in the same way as it had been when he’d tossed her over his shoulder and kidnapped her, she moved toward him, stopping when she was in front of him.
Even though he was seated, he radiated an aura of command, and goose bumps chilled her arms.
“Your opinion of me is clear. And somewhat unfair. You have a certain degree of privacy while you’re my guest.”
At that, she scoffed. “Guest?”
“Use whatever term you prefer, Elissa. But I guarantee you this—if you were my prisoner, things would be different.”
She took a step back, but he prevented another by snagging one of her wrists with his massive hand.
“There’s a room near mine. A whole lot less pleasant than the one I gave you. I spend a lot of time on the range, and I know a thing or two about ropes. It’d only take a few seconds to tie you up, maybe secure you to a bed.”
Jesus. She shivered. What the hell was happening here? His words sparked fantasies, turning her insides molten.
“Or maybe you’d like that?”
Desperately she snatched her wrist away from him.
“This”—he turned toward his command post and pointed to a blank section on one of the screens—“is the feed from your room.”
“Oh.” What else did she say to that and her wild accusation?
“I don’t spy on women, Elissa.” He cocked his head to the side to look up at her.
He was close enough for her to be frighteningly fascinated by the pulse ticking at his temple. She’d either pissed him off or insulted him. Perhaps both. Maybe she should apologize, but in these extraordinary circumstances, she couldn’t find the words.
“Believe it or not, I only associate with women who are willing.”
And no doubt there were plenty of them. Not only was the man an alpha—he was gorgeous, protective, and apparently rich. “I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions.”
“Thank you for that.” The furrow between his eyebrows eased. “Apology accepted.”
That was it? For two years, she’d been involved in a relationship with a man who was quick to anger, for the smallest of reasons. She’d had to earn his forgiveness. One time, he’d given her the silent treatment for days before ungenerously doling out his attention again.
Her parents and friends encouraged her to leave him. Once she did, it had taken her a long time to realize he’d used his temper to control her.
That Jacob offered forgiveness quickly and unconditionally left her reeling.
“You sought me out for a reason, presumably?”
“I…” She exhaled. The reason no longer seemed important. Needing space, she took a step away from him. “Hawkeye forgot to pack my pajamas.”
“Hawkeye had nothing to do with it. The oversight was mine.”
“Yours?” He’d gone through her lingerie drawer? The realization left her breathless. Had his selection been random? Or had he deliberately chosen things that appealed to him?
“Sleepwear never occurred to me.”
Of course it hadn’t. “Why? I mean…”
“Hawkeye sent a small team to your apartment. I gathered belongings. A technician backed up your computer after verifying there were no viruses on it.”
“I guess I don’t need to mention that it was password protected.”
“A combination of your birthday and initials. Took about ten seconds to get in.”
She sighed.
Jacob swiveled to switch to another set of videos. “This is your front door.” He pointed to another screen. “And your street.”
It was strangely fascinating to see a neighbor walking toward his car carrying a coffee mug.
“There’s an app on your phone so that you can look anytime you want.”
“Are there any cameras inside my place?”
He shook his head.
Thank God for that. “Do you or Hawkeye have any other nasty surprises in store for me?”
Once again, he turned toward her. “All of these precautions are because you matter to Hawkeye. Other clients pay premium prices for this kind of service.”
“I’m supposed to be grateful?” Her life had become a surreal nightmare.
Rather than answer, he changed the subject. “Is there a reason you came looking for me? Did you need something? Companionship, perhaps?”
“Absolutely not.” Never from him. “I was wondering if you, maybe, you know… The sleepwear you forgot to pack. Do you have a T-shirt I can borrow?”
“Yeah. Of course. In my room.” He rolled his chair to the side, then turned and stood. “I’ll get you one. Or you can help yourself.”
Go in his room? She shook her head.
“I was heading downstairs anyway. Come with me.”
It made sense. The suggestion was innocent enough. But every instinct screamed against that. He might actually have strong morals, but she’d glimpsed the wolf beneath that polished exterior.
“You’re safe.” He strode past her.
Her senses ignited, and in that instant she recognized the truth. She wasn’t scared of him. She hungered for him. The power of her need terrified her.
When he started down the stairs, she followed, rationalizing that she was an adult. If he could behave, she could put a cage around her own attraction.
“This way.”
His private wing of the house had a different aura. The woods were darker, and so were the colors. There were no pictures on the walls, and that was when she realized the ones in the entryway and living room were of landscapes, revealing nothing personal.
They passed a couple of closed doors. Was one of them protecting the room he’d threatened her with? The one she wouldn’t want to stay in? “Were you kidding earlier? About ropes and such?”
“As you’ve noticed, I don’t joke often.”
She shivered.
Without hesitating, he continued through the open door of the master bedroom. After a misstep, she went in after him.
A gigantic four-poster bed barely took up any space. French doors opened to the patio, now bathed in soft morning light. Again, there were no pictures or clutter. It was stark. Sterile. As if he had no past, no present, and wanted to leave no mark on the world.
Or maybe she was being fanciful.
“All of my clothes are in the closet.” He tossed his keys on top of a nightstand. “Help yourself.”
That seemed really personal, but so was wearing his clothes. “You don’t mind?”
“Not in the least.”
Because he organized with military precision, it took no time to find exactly what she was looking for on a shelf.
Clutching a black T-shirt in front of her, she rejoined him.
He was pulling off his belt, and he stopped when he saw her.
“I, uhm… This will work.” Heaven help her. Standing this close to Jacob in his room made arousal ripple through her, freezing her in place. Coming in here with him had been a horrible mistake. To save herself, she had to escape from his room. Now.
“You’re welcome.”
The sensual, intimate rumble in his voice short-circuited her brain cells, leaving her rooted to the spot.
As if compelled by the same madness that gripped her, he took a step toward her. “Elissa.” He cupped her shoulders, his touch as gentle as it was reassuring.