I opened my mouth to scream again, but Greg slammed his sweaty palm over my lips.
“Be nice, and we go into the bedroom.” He fumbled with his belt with his other hand. “Don’t, and you’re mine right here.”
My heart atrophied at the sounds of leather unbuckling.
I’m running out of time.
Do something.
Think.
Kick. Fight. Bite. Scream.
Anything!
The shadow came again, quick and fleeting, but I caught what made it this time. The barest glimpse of an angel come to free me.
I didn’t believe it.
I couldn’t believe it.
It wasn’t a fisherman or a bird or even a confused bear out for a stroll.
It was so much better.
So much worse.
My heart grew wings even as heavy tar coated it. Greg undid his jeans. The sensation of denim switched to bare male flesh.
I moaned behind his palm, tossing my head.
The figure in the window appeared again, this time closer to the front door. His tussled dark hair scattered stencils on the floor.
Him.
The liar.
The alley abuser.
The man I had feelings for despite everything.
He ducked again.
Did he know I’d seen him?
Did he know I was grateful?
What would he do?
How had he found me and not David or Dad?
My questions evaporated as Greg’s hard cock lined up with my ass. He shuddered, his hand clenching around my mouth while his other yanked my hips into him.
He was moments away from taking me.
So I did the only thing I could.
I chose survival over pride.
I decided to lie just like Penn.
Letting my body go loose, I forced my ass against him, rubbing his erection, deliberately arching my back as if being fucked by him was exactly what I wanted.
My body hated, hated me.
My heart cursed, cursed me.
And my lips didn’t know how to form the falsehoods I was about to spill.
His hand tumbled from my mouth in shock, giving me freedom to speak.
“Mmm, Greg.” My sultry moan made my skin scratch itself with knives. “You’re right...I’m so—” I rocked into him, making him groan and fingers spasm “—so sorry.”
He froze, his thighs twitching against the back of mine. “What did you just say?”
I kept my voice slow and decadent—like chocolate and liquor and rich, rich coffee. “I said you’re right. I should be nicer to you.” I rolled my hips, dragging a revolting pant from him and a coil of nausea from me. “If you let me stand and face you, I’ll show you how nice I can be.”
My tongue burned with lies.
My throat slashed with fibs.
Was this how Penn felt every time he talked to me?
Greg nudged me with his hips, keeping me pinned against the couch. “Why should I trust you? You’ve been nothing but a bitch since we got here.”
I jingled the chain around my wrists. “I’m yours, remember? I’m not going anywhere.” I let my body go completely submissive. “It’s time I listened to what you’re offering rather than destroy what we could have together without giving it a chance.”
Lies, lies, lies.
I wanted to vomit with lies.
I wanted to wash away the lies.
I wanted to bleach the lies.
Greg slowly relaxed. He stepped back, giving me room to stand.
I took one last look at the window. A slight shadow appeared closer to the door. Penn was many things, but I trusted him to help me. He’d come for me in his car that night. He’d fought for me in the club at the beginning. He would get me free, and then I’d politely thank him and walk away.
All I needed to do was keep Greg distracted enough, so it was an ambush rather than a full-on fight.
I didn’t need more complications in my life by turning this abduction into death or bloodshed. Regardless of what Greg had done, the law would deal with him, not vigilante justice.
Standing upright, I pushed the negligée down my hips for coverage and turned to face him.
The only problem was he had a full view of the door where Penn would most likely come in.
I have to change that.
Placing my hand on Greg’s chest, I disguised my shuddering fingers with a breathy laugh. “You know...I agree with something else you said, too.”
His eyes widened then narrowed with suspicion. “Agree with me? That will be a first.”
I nodded, licking my lips, taking a step to the left, doing my best to ignore the sound of the chain dragging on the floor behind me. “Belle Elle could be ours.”
Another step, guiding his attention from the door. “You and me.”
He followed, trying to sniff out my agenda. “What do you mean?”
“I mean if you’d work harder once Belle Elle was yours, then perhaps that’s an option.”
He smirked coldly. “And why should I believe this sudden change of heart?”
Another step, three-quarters turned from the door. He swiveled to follow me with every footfall I took.
“Can’t I change my mind?”
“You can, but it’s odd you change it now.” His hand cupped my cheek, running his thumb over the bruise he’d given me. “Strange that you turn cooperative just before I show you how good we are together.”
I swallowed bile as I stroked my finger down his chest, drawing a circle around his open belt buckle. “You scared me. But if you’re nice to me—like you promised—I can be nice to you.”
The sexual reference scalded my tongue, but Greg’s eyes glowed. “Oh yeah? How nice are we talking?”
Another step and his back was toward the exit. Over his shoulder, I hid my victory smirk as the door cracked open with a sliver of warm sunshine.
Penn’s livid gaze locked on mine.
I looked away, staying in character, and not giving in to the crazed patter of my heart.
He was bloody and broken. Smeared with rust and torn on the shoulder, he still wore his white shirt and silver trousers from the charity gala. He moved silently but with a stiffness that wasn’t there before.
What the hell happened to him?
Doesn’t matter.
Keep going.
Keep Greg distracted.
I moved closer to my enemy, tugging his belt, sliding it through his jean loops. “I can be very, very nice.” I fluttered my eyelashes. “I’ve grown up a lot the past month. I know how to please.”
Penn moved closer.
I daren’t glance up. I couldn’t afford to see how angry he was at my flirting or how angry I was at his fibs. We were furious with each other.
Good, fury is better than lust.
“That right?” Greg’s hand landed on my shoulder, squeezing, adding downward pressure just like Penn did when he taught me a lesson and ordered me to suck him in my office.
I couldn’t be on my knees. I had to watch Penn behind Greg’s back, so I could get out of the way at the right time.
I giggled—I never giggled—but I amped up the flirt to terrible levels. “How about we discuss the terms first, and then I’m nice to you?”
“You already know the terms.” He grabbed my hand, spinning the engagement ring on my finger. “This means you’re mine. Everything you own is mine. That’s the deal, Elle.”
“And my body? Is that yours, too?”