chapter Thirty-Four
Ari turned over and felt a small ache in her temple, nothing too unbearable, but just enough to make her realize she’d had one too many drinks the night before.
Blackness surrounded her, letting her know it was sometime in the middle of the night still. Her lips opened and she realized how dry her mouth was. She needed a glass of water. She went to move the covers and her arm landed against something solid.
Tentatively, she wiggled her fingers and realized there was a man next to her. She stopped all movement as she tried to assess her situation.
The first thing she needed to figure out was who she’d gone home with. Very carefully, she reached inside the covers, then let out a relieved breath when she found she had some clothes on. That was a good sign.
Now, she just needed to figure out who she’d decided to have a one-night-stand with. Horror filled her at the thought. She may talk big, or even think she was capable of having casual affairs, but the reality of it was mortifying. She’d never respect herself if she treated sex like nothing more than a game. She felt bad enough about falling apart each time Rafe so much as looked at her.
At the thought of Rafe’s name, Ari’s memories came flooding back. She remembered dancing until her feet were screaming. There were so many men, and it had all been nothing more than innocent flirting, and a whole lot of hip action.
One minute she’d been dancing with a stranger, then the next she’d been in Rafe’s arms – right where she’d pictured being all night. He’d swept her across the dance floor, turning her excited body on in ways none of the other men could come close to being able to do.
Oh, the things she’d said to him. It was bad – so very bad. She’d practically begged him to make-love to her. Okay, if I can sneak away successfully, I’ll never drink again, she promised.
Very carefully, she slithered from beneath the covers and started edging herself off the bed. She started to smile as her feet touched the ground. She was almost there. Just as she started to stand, his voice stopped her.
“Where are you off to, Ari? I’ve been waiting for hours for you to wake.”
Oh crap! Deal’s off. I’m having a drink right now, she thought.
“I have to use the bathroom,” she said as she rose to her feet and rushed across the room. She thankfully entered the right door, and found herself in his large bathroom and not his closet. Feeling trapped, she took her time, washed her face, guzzled some water, and used his facilities.
Though she didn’t give it much of a chance, she was hoping he was fast asleep as she turned the doorknob. Miracles could happen. When she opened the door and the bedside lamp was on, she knew he wasn’t sleeping.
“That took a while. I hope everything’s okay.”
How rude was that? Was she on a time schedule now? It didn’t matter. She was going to be rational, not get into another sparring match with him that she was sure to lose.
“Um… well, thanks for the ride, but I need to be going now. I was a little drunk last night and said some things that I didn’t really mean. You know how that goes. See ya,” she muttered as she made an attempt to reach his bedroom door. He was there to block her path before she made it three steps.
“Why in such a hurry? We made plans before you passed out on me. I like my women willing and supple, but not morbidly still.”
“Look, I just said that I didn’t really mean any of it. I don’t want to stay, so I’ll be leaving now,” she said with false bravado. She was lying and they both knew it. She did want to stay. She was tired of fighting him.
It didn’t matter, though. They could come together like this a thousand times, but the bottom line was that she couldn’t be the woman he wanted her to be. She decided the only way to get out of this situation with him for good was to piss him off so badly, he wouldn’t want to look at her face ever again.
“You meant it, Ari, every last word you spoke on that dance floor.”
“You know what, Mr. Palazzo? I’ll tell you. I think you’re a pig. I think you just want everything you can’t have. Because I’ve told you that you can’t have me, it’s been your new mission to acquire me like any of your other possessions. I’m not for sale. I’m not your new shiny toy, and I think you’re actually kind of pathetic. Deal with the fact that this is one game you can’t win.”
Ari was proud of the strong tone of her voice. She was facing a giant, and appeared to be winning. Ha, she’d go fight Goliath next. The slight flaring of his eyes as she used his last name again caused a tremor of fear, but she pushed that down.
“Do you want to know why I always win? I always win because I hold all the cards. I never go into anything without a guaranteed outcome. I’ve let you think you have a choice in all of this, but there’s never been a choice. The only decision you’ve actually had was in controlling the time-frame. Even that has been relative. My patience has grown thin. It’s time for you to accept that you’re mine.”
“You’re so used to everyone jumping to do whatever you want that you don’t even see what a tyrant you are. Does this kind of talk motivate people? Do you really think that you command respect? Fear and respect are two very different things, and you may inspire fear in those around you, but none of your people respect you.”
“I could disagree with you, but I don’t care enough to do so. I’ve tired of your self-righteousness, Ari. Why don’t you just concede defeat and show me the appreciation that I deserve. I’ve saved you now on more than one occasion. You need to show your gratefulness to me. A good start would be you dropping to your knees and demonstrating your loyalty,” he said with a smirk.
Fire burned in Ari’s stomach. Never before had she wanted so badly to hit a person. She stepped closer to him, ready to show him exactly what she thought of his idea of controlling her.
“Undo my pants,” he commanded. She froze at the arrogance seeping from him. Did he honestly think she was about to satisfy him? Maybe he was actually crazy. Without her permission, her arm rose and then the only sound that could be heard in the dark room was the sharp tone of skin slapping skin as her hand connected with his chiseled jaw.
His eyes widened as he raised his hand, his fingers gliding over his jaw. The look on his face could only be described as incredulous.
“I must say I wasn’t expecting that. You are quite full of surprises,” he murmured as he flexed his jaw. She didn’t know how to respond as she hadn’t expected to do that.
“I’m leaving now,” she finally gasped as she turned to run away.
“Oh, you’re not going anywhere, Ari. You’ve asked me about punishment before. Well, you’ll find out about it right now.”
Ari screamed as he quickly picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. Fear, and yet a strange excitement, overtook her body as his hand came up and smacked her on the ass.
“Stop wiggling. The more you fight me, the more intense your punishment will be,” Rafe said with excitement running through his voice. When he stopped to pick up a few silk ties, Ari’s eyes rounded with nerves. What was he planning on doing to her?