“Then why are you still here?”
“It’s not like I have a choice.”
“You don’t believe that so why do you expect me to?”
“Why would I lie?”
“Because you and I both know if you told your daddy how not easy I am, he wouldn’t hesitate to bend to your will, would he, princess?”
“What do you have against my father?”
“It’s not your father I have a problem with.” He stepped closer and his eyes darkened. Suddenly, I was very aware of my nakedness beneath the towel. “But I do have a problem with the way you look at him.”
“H—how do I look at him?”
“Like he’s the only man in the world.” I took a step back to escape the heat in his eyes, but he only followed me step for step. “One day, it won’t be your father you’ll look at that way. One day, it won’t be him you belong to.”
“I—I don’t understand.” God, stop stuttering!
Suddenly, the brakes were pressed. He stared down at me as if he was finally seeing me, and I watched as the wildness in his eyes dimmed. He started to back up, but I couldn’t let him go. I needed to know what tamed him. I started to follow, but the tick in his jaw froze me. He left, and I stood in the same spot long after the front door slammed.
Why did it feel as if he’d just made a promise?
Chapter Twenty-One
While Angel’s away, his friends will play.
MIAN
Present
“Rise, princess.”
I grumbled and fought to stay under. Consciousness chased the friendly voice, but my sore ass begged for me not to trust it.
“And shine, pretty girl.” The presence of a second voice rang alarms, and when I felt fingertips trail my spine, they began to blare. I peeked cautiously with one eye open.
Strong legs covered in black denim greeted me. I had both eyes open when I scrambled to sit up, and I very clearly saw Lucas sitting on the windowsill and Z standing by my bedside sporting a grin.
“What are you two doing in here?”
“We need you,” Lucas answered. His gaze dropped to my chest, reminding me I was naked. I shivered and told myself it was because I slept in the cold without so much as a sheet or a pillow to keep me warm.
“Why?” I asked warily. His voice had been far too seductive when he expressed his need for me.
“It’s time for breakfast,” Z answered cheerily.
“I’m not hungry.”
“But we are.” Lucas moved from the window to stand on the side of the bed opposite Z.
“You’re grown men. I’m sure you know what you need to do when you’re hungry.”
“You have a mean mouth for someone so tiny,” Lucas said. His gaze pinned me to the center of the bed. “I look forward to putting it to better use.”
“Excuse me?”
“Mian,” Z interrupted gently. I couldn’t tear my glare away from Lucas. “Mian,” he repeated, this time with a hand on my chin. Gently, he turned my face up until I had no choice but to meet his gaze. “If you want this to go smoothly, you might consider hearing us out. You deny us as if you have power here.”
“I’m not having sex with you,” I blurted. His smile was bright as the pad of his thumb caressed my chin softly.
“Let’s just have breakfast first, and then we’ll talk about it.”
Was he not hearing me? What part of me not wanting our genitals to meet needed discussion?
“I don’t think so.”
He sighed and then climbed on the bed, driving me from the center and closer to Lucas. “Then we’ll stay here,” he said smoothly.
The bed shifted behind me. Lucas had also climbed in bed. “No reason not to get back in bed since breakfast isn’t happening.” His lips tilted. His smile made him insanely hot.
I reached out for covers that weren’t there and felt the chilly air heat up by at least a hundred degrees. Running meant climbing over one of them or exposing my ass to reach the foot of the bed. I drew into myself to keep from touching them, but they just kept pushing closer.
“Guys, stop.” I tried to sound firm, but all I could hear was desperation. Where was Angel?
“Have you reconsidered?”
“You’re not going to bully me into doing what you want.”
“Why not? It’s worked so far.” I glared at Lucas.
“What we’re trying to say, pretty girl, is that you’re still fighting when you’ve already lost.”
“Why do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Say nice things and threaten me at the same time. I’m not sure if you’re worse than this one.” I threw my thumb over my shoulder at Lucas.
“Does it matter?” Lucas questioned. “We’re both dangerous, and we’re not here to protect you. We’re not your friends, and we never will be. Does that clear things up for you?”
“It certainly does. Gentleman, I’m naked. I don’t know what you want from me, and I don’t care. What I want is my son and to be shown to the door. Where’s Angel?”
“Business trip to the city,” Z answered.
“Why?”