“I’m not so sure…”
I didn’t like this version of her, subdued and defeated. I wanted that fiery backbone, that no-bullshit attitude. I liked the warrior, not the conquered. “I hope the idea of Bones isn’t still weighing you down.”
“He’s not…for the most part.”
Now my interest was piqued. I shouldn’t care about how she felt. Her emotions weren’t my problem. She was there to service me, to do exactly what I asked without question. Her thoughts and opinion didn’t matter.
But I still cared anyway. “What’s on your mind?”
She watched the fields pass before she answered. “If I were back home right now, I’d either be studying for an exam or doing my nightly rounds at the hospital. I wouldn’t be hanging out with friends or having a good time. My life would be centered around work. It would be drab and boring…but it would still be mine. Now I’m in Italy buying an expensive gown and living in a mansion. I’m your prisoner simply because I’m related to your enemy. My favorite person in this new world is your butler. Everything has changed so much… I’m not sure how I feel about it.”
I shouldn’t pity her. Her sadness wasn’t my problem. But I did pity her—a lot. “You know I can never let you go, Lovely. I know this is hard for you, but it’s easier just to accept your fate and not think about the past.”
She shook her head. “The worst part is…you’re the only friend I have. Is it weird that I see you as a friend?”
I saw her in the same light. “Not at all.”
“That I have sex with you and I like it.”
“I like it too.” My cock hardened in my slacks at her confession. There was nothing sexier than pleasing a woman who wanted to be pleased. She fucked me harder than I fucked her most of the time.
“That I feel safe with you.”
“You should feel safe with me.” I would never let anything happen to her unless I wanted it to happen. The only person who would ever end her life would be me. She didn’t need to look over her shoulder in fear.
“That I’m actually grateful you didn’t just kill Joseph once he betrayed you.”
“You should feel grateful,” I whispered. “I’ve been very merciful.”
She rested her elbow on the windowsill and held her chin up with her fingertips. “I miss my old life, but I’m grateful you captured me. There are worse things than living with you…like being Bones’s prisoner. And my brother can still be a free man. If I were offered the trade, I would have taken it in a heartbeat.”
Did that have anything to do with me personally? “You’re loyal. That’s a rare thing to find.”
“We’re family,” she whispered. “Now that I’ve met people like Dunbar and Bones, I know there are truly cruel men out there. You aren’t one of them.”
That offended me. “I am cruel, Lovely.”
“You’ve never laid a hand on me.”
“I’ve slapped you a few times.” And I liked it.
“Because I was talking back or trying to run. You didn’t punch me in the face with all your strength like Bones did.”
Because I didn’t find black eyes sexy.
“You feed me, clothe me, and you don’t put chains around my neck. It could be much worse…that’s all I’m saying.”
“You’re a very optimistic person.” If it were me and there was no way to escape, I would have killed myself.
She shrugged.
“Or you actually like me.”
She rolled her eyes. “You wish.”
I grabbed her hand gently and pulled her against me, wanting her to lean against my hard chest rather than the windowsill. “I know you like it.”
“I tolerate you. Big difference.”
“I don’t buy that.”
“Well, you should.”
I grabbed her chin and turned her face toward mine. Her plump lips looked kissable, coated with a thin layer of moisture from her saliva. Her eyes became lidded, prepared for the kiss before I even leaned in. I could feel the shiver through her body, or perhaps I just imagined it because I felt it. I leaned in and pressed a kiss to her mouth, not surprised to feel her kiss me back. She always met my passion with her own. She was an incredible kisser, a perfect partner. My tongue dived into her mouth, and I met hers as they danced together. She didn’t kiss me so well because she hated me. She kissed me like that because she enjoyed me as much as I enjoyed her. I pulled away when I’d proved my point. “Like I said, I don’t buy that.”
5
London
We headed back to Scotland in Crewe’s private jet along with the rest of his team.
Including Ariel.
She sat on the opposite side of the aisle with her laptop out. We had a mutual understanding to pretend neither one of us existed at any given moment of time.
Crewe remembered my fear of flying because he grabbed my hand the second we sat down and held it through takeoff. He talked to me about Italy to get my mind off the terrifying ordeal and even succeeded in keeping me calm.
My fear of flying was irrational. I needed to forget about it and just move on.
Crewe made that a lot easier when he was sweet to me. His moments of tenderness had become more frequent. He held me through my nightmare, listened to my fears with sympathy, and when I told him I was scared, he always assured me I would be safe.
He didn’t look like a monster anymore.
That’s when I knew I needed to make a change.
I had to get out of here.
As if I had Stockholm syndrome, I had been brainwashed. I found my captor compassionate and understanding, but in reality, he was keeping me against my will. I shouldn’t feel grateful toward him for anything. He was a preferable to Bones, but maybe he was never going to give me to Bones in the first place. Maybe that was all a stunt to coerce me into appreciating him.
The fact that I liked Crewe, enjoyed fucking him and spending time with him, was a huge warning sign. I should be exactly how I used to be when I was fighting him every chance I had. The fact that I’d softened so much, leaned on him for support, told me I was going crazy.
I had to get out.
I thought about the last thing Joseph said to me, over and over. It filled my thoughts during the entire plane ride. Crewe had a few glasses of scotch then fell asleep with his head against the leather chair. He didn’t shave that morning before we left, so a thick beard was beginning to come in. He was just as handsome asleep as he was awake.
I could feel the stir in my belly when I felt the sizzle of attraction.
I wanted to kiss him.
That was ludicrous. The only thing I should want to do was murder him.
Joseph’s plan was the only thing I had at my disposal at the moment. I would never be free again unless I got inside Crewe’s head. If I made him fall for me, made him love me, I could get him to let me go. Or I could get him to allow me to escape without repercussion. If I didn’t do something, this would be my life.