Illicit Proposition by Piper Stone

Chapter 5

Santiago

Peace.

I’d thought about Samuel’s statements during the flight, the very quiet flight. I understood his concern as well as his warnings. If Rafael Perez gathered wind that I was planning to resurrect my father’s entire business, another war would likely ensue.

A part of me wouldn’t mind in the least.

Unfortunately, our conversation had brought back far too many wretched memories. I would never forget the day I’d walked into my father’s office, a raging storm likely the only reason I hadn’t heard any commotion. If only my father hadn’t sent home the rest of the staff that horrible night. Daniel had been correct about my father as well. He’d been kind and generous to everyone who worked for him.

I’d had a sixth sense that something was wrong, the storm still raging as I’d searched the house. There’d been so much blood covering the walls, the stench of copper leaving a taste in my mouth for days. He’d been tortured before he was killed, a note scrawled across the wall in his blood.

Traitor.

My father had never been a traitor in his life. He’d worked hard to gain his empire, keeping Perez as a friend. What the hell had my father supposedly done to the man, other than spend too much money in Perez’s casinos and at the backroom poker tables? That had never been explained to me. I would eventually beat it out of Rafael.

At least Manuel had been spared to a point, but he’d been forced to watch what had happened to my father. The fact I’d been left alive continued to haunt me.

Hissing, I noticed how tense Devon was as we walked through the airport, trying her best to keep her distance.

She’d said little more than two words the entire time, preferring to use her iPad and earphones. Given we were in first class instead of on a private jet, that at least made the time spent easier to deal with. I knew she had questions that she deserved answers to, but that wasn’t going to happen quickly.

I’d handled business during the eleven hours, checking on various products that were already leaving the docks and heading for the United States. At least my education in finance and business had come in handy, allowing me to make important and influential corporate contacts. The corporation was thriving, products from the estate flowing into various countries. I’d continued in my father’s endeavor to grow legitimate business, his tutelage allowing the De Leon fortune to continue increasing along with Samuel’s help.

Now I had to prove myself on an entirely different level.

Within three weeks, Rafael and Emilio would know what a force I’d become. Then I’d drag my knife through their thick necks.

As I moved to the information desk, Devon pulled away from me, turning in a full circle. She’d worn jeans and a tee shirt, allowing her long hair to flow. I realized within seconds that every red-blooded male in close proximity was staring at her.

Hungering for her.

That pissed me off. She belonged to me, my possession. No man would ever touch her again. My cock aching, I found it difficult to inquire about the keys. When they were safely in my hand, I turned to escort her to the parking lot. She’d disappeared.

Jesus Christ.

She had no idea how to follow any rules. The only thing I’d said to her was that she was to stay by my side. She’d already disobeyed me. I could see that another round of harsh discipline was in order. As I moved through the terminal, I realized I was also nervous that my arrival had been detected, Perez’s men preparing to finish the promise the man had made to me the night of my father’s murder.

“You will leave this country, Santiago, and you will never return. If you do, I assure you that your death will only come after hours of torment. You have one chance at living the rest of your life. I suggest you decide to heed my advice. I’m not a man to be fucked with.”

His words had burned into me as I’d been forced to prepare for my father and brother’s funeral. I’d been two weeks shy of eighteen, what had been left of my entire world destroyed in a matter of hours. While Samuel had made certain that my father’s soldiers protected me during that time, the man even attempting to keep me sane, we’d both known it would only be a matter of time before Perez made good on his threat if I didn’t flee.

The horrible decision to leave had been mine to make alone. I’d pretended that I’d wanted to leave for the University in France, but in truth, I’d felt I had no choice. I was the son of a great leader. My father had never groomed me to take over. That had never been his desire for his second-born child.

Now that’s all I wanted.

My anger grew as I scanned the crowd, searching for any sign of her. I wasn’t prone to panic for any reason, but my hackles remained raised, my instinct telling me that she’d been taken or worse. If that was the case, I’d hunt down Perez and kill him within hours.

I noticed her blonde hair first, the tight-fitting jeans within seconds. She’d found the giftshop and was looking through magazines. After taking a deep breath, I took long strides in her direction, doing everything I could to abate my anger. “You defied me.” As I wrapped my hand around her arm, yanking slightly, she froze. I could hear her raspy breath but when she lifted her head, she gave me her usual defiant look.

“I was thirty feet away in a giftshop. I wasn’t running away from you. You have my passport in your pocket. Remember? Where in God’s name could I have gone?”

I took a deep breath, lowering my head until the words I spoke could only be heard by her and no one else. “There is danger all around us, Devon. You need to remember that. Wherever you go and whatever you do, there will always be someone watching.”

She twisted her mouth in frustration but remained quiet. I noticed the magazine she was looking at and sighed. I knew I could be an asshole the majority of the time. I grabbed two more like the one in her hand from the shelf, moving toward the cashier.

“You don’t have to buy me anything.” Her rebellious nature was one thing I adored about her, but it was also the single attribute that could get her killed.

I gave her a stern look before grabbing the bag and pulling her with me. While she didn’t fight my hold, I knew that given the chance, she would find a way to get away from me. She was that resourceful.

There were no other issues as we grabbed our luggage, heading into the parking lot. Within a few minutes, I’d located the car, laughing softly under my breath at Samuel’s choice. The sleek black Ferrari Enzo was an excellent choice, albeit flashy. However, there were enough millionaires in the city that driving it wouldn’t cause too many red flags.

“Nice car,” she said as I unlocked her door, ushering her inside.

I leaned over, inhaling her perfume. Everything about her caused instant arousal. “If you’re a very good girl, there’s one in red waiting for you.”

“You mean you’ll actually allow me to drive?”

“You’re not a prisoner, Devon.”

“You could have fooled me.”

As I closed the door, a smile instantly crossed my face. I had to admit that breaking her would be entirely too delicious. After tossing the luggage into the small compartment, I slid into the driver’s seat, taking a deep breath. “As long as you learn to obey the rules, you will have significant freedom.”

“Uh-huh. I’ll believe it when I see it. Where are we going? Some fancy hotel?”

I started the engine, revving it before answering. “I think you’ll be surprised.” As I pulled out of the parking spot, she kept her gaze pinned on me. I didn’t have to look into her eyes to know there was venom laced in them. Perhaps I’d done the wrong thing in taking her, but she’d been impossible to resist.

The only thing that concerned me was that she could become a weakness and we needed to concentrate. Then I would make her my bride. With her by my side, the people of Barcelona and beyond would know a new regime had taken over.

It had been long enough since I’d been to the city that I had to think about where I was going. However, the drive was exquisite, especially shifting around the curves leading to my father’s estate. Thankfully, he’d purchased several acres around the fortress like building, a find that he’d made with my mother. She’d adored the estate, taking three years to redecorate. She’d also had to rebuild several of the other buildings on the property, adding several villas for guests and employees. She’d given her all in order to make the entire estate special.

I wasn’t certain how I’d feel about returning, even if it was necessary in my mind.

I finally noticed Devon had shifted in her seat, peering out the windshield as the ocean came into view. “This is truly beautiful.”

“Yes, it really is. Wait until you see the oldest part of the city. The buildings are ancient, but vibrant in color and activity.”

“I love the ocean. I’ve missed seeing it.” She sighed, the sound filtering into my ears. There was no reason for me to feel lighthearted around her to any degree. She was merely my employee at this point, but the sound of her voice alone was enough to give me a smile.

Yes, she would be the perfect wife.

I shifted down, deciding to take a small detour. I couldn’t be certain the location remained, but I’d give it a try. As we drew closer, I could tell that almost nothing had changed. The path of smaller homes surrounded a beautiful park. I’d come to find solace in the location, perhaps a moment or two of freedom from the soldiers who were required to stay with me at all times. I’d managed to figure out a way to get away from them, taking refuge on the overlook, simply studying the ocean as the tide rolled in.

When I downshifted again, she glanced at the homes surrounding the area, a surprised look on her face. “For some reason, I thought we were going to a grandiose house.”

I laughed when I made the turn into the park, and she shook her head.

“Maybe we’re going to enjoy time in a tent.” Teasing her felt surprisingly good, something I hadn’t done in years.

“Right. I’ll take a portion of my money and get a hotel.”

I kept a smile on my face as I slowly drove to the location I remembered. I was surprised there was no one around, just a broken pavement that was in dire need of renovation. When I pulled the car to a stop, she immediately climbed out, moving quickly toward the railing surrounding the overlook.

I took my time shutting off the engine and following her, flanking her side yet keeping my distance. The breeze was light, the scent of the ocean managing to waft up the craggy hill. From where we stood, we could see the most gorgeous portion of the city.

We remained quiet for almost a full five minutes. At least she seemed less tense than before.

She gripped the railing, glancing from one side to the other. “Magnificent. I can see every color of the rainbow in the buildings.”

“Yes, a signature for the city.”

“You must have loved living here.”

“Not as much as you might think, but I certainly missed the festivals and music. I don’t think I ever truly appreciated what was here. Hell, maybe I was just too young.” I hadn’t told anyone something so personal in a long time, if ever. I had no idea why she brought it out of me. I noticed she was watching me closely, her head cocked and her mouth pursed. “We should get going. I’d like to be settled before night falls.”

Devon didn’t utter a word, merely walked back to the car. She took one last look at the ocean before climbing inside. I would need to control my growing hunger to possess her. The fact she brought out every filthy and sadistic desire with ease reminded me that weaknesses were death sentences.

I would need to concentrate for the time being.

That would likely become increasingly difficult.

The remaining drive was also in silence. She never once looked in my direction or bothered to ask any additional questions. As I slowed, prepared to make the last turn, I took a deep breath. I hadn’t been certain if I’d ever see the estate again, nor had I been certain I’d wanted to. The memories were far too painful.

My pulse raced as I rolled around the curve, holding my breath until I reached the gated entrance. I knew that Samuel had hired only the best employees to maintain the property, even faking a deed to make it appear as if he’d purchased the property after my father’s death. That had allowed the estate to go untouched for all these years.

As I pressed in the code, I realized my damn hand was shaking. This was ridiculous. I owned this property outright. The people who should be nervous were Perez and his entire family. Thinking about revenge stopped the angst of returning home cold. I moved into the place in my mind that had allowed me to handle the situation for all these years.

This was nothing more than the second to last step of enacting my revenge. I would relish the opportunity.

As the iron gates slowly opened, I turned my head, watching her reaction. She was doing everything in her power to mask her appreciation, but I could tell by the way her eyes darted back and forth how excited she was.

And curious.

She’d obviously underestimated me, even after renegotiating such a powerful deal. I rolled up the curvy driveway, almost shocked how much the fruit trees lining the concrete path had grown. They were full of fruit, their limbs hanging low and providing a beautiful entrance. Within minutes, a better sight of the vast estate came into view. With the luscious green rolling hills, olive trees flanking one entire side, the ocean on the other, I’d never seen a more beautiful location in any country.

I knew exactly why my mother had fallen in love with the place upon first sight. I’d heard the stories of how she’d convinced my father the aging, broken-down facilities could be refurbished with time and love. She certainly had given her all into doing just that.

When the house appeared on the horizon, Devon finally sat up in her seat, her luscious lips parting. “Oh. My. God. This is yours?”

“Yes, willed to me by my father.”

“What are those gorgeous trees?”

“Olive trees. They’ve been here for decades, at least according to my mother.” I shifted down, allowing her time to process what she was seeing. “That’s one of the businesses my family was in and we still are. Over there are production buildings and villas for the workers. We have some vineyards as well, although there have been some issues with grape production in recent years. I plan on changing that.”

“You are legitimate.”

Why did I have the feeling her statement was meant for additional probing? “Yes, my corporation has many facets, Devon. That’s the legacy my parents would have wanted.”

“I’m certain your parents are very proud of you.”

“You already know they’re dead, Devon. I have no doubt that you made certain connections in your google search, easily finding out my family’s last name as well as our history. With my entire family gone, I’m now the sole owner of the property.”

Exhaling, she glanced in my direction. “I’m sorry. That was callous of me. I can’t imagine what you went through losing everyone you cared about.”

“I won’t lie to you. It was a nightmare, but that was the distant past.”

“Then why the name change?”

I chuckled as I headed around the final curve leading to the house. “Because at times it’s necessary to hide in plain sight until you’re prepared to take down your adversaries.”

I could feel the heat of her stare, heard what sounded like a curse word or two slipping past her lips.

As I slowed down, I scanned the perimeter. Work had been performed on the stone, landscaping refurbished since I’d last seen pictures. I had to give Samuel credit. Everything appeared in tiptop shape.

“This is amazing,” she whispered. “What an incredible house.”

“The location was built in the eighteen hundreds. It’s seen its share of wars as well as two devastating fires. When my family purchased it from an auction, the entire place was close to being in ruins, all the vegetation overgrown.” I was surprised how much pride I felt in telling her the story. I pulled close to the massive front door. While there was a twenty-car garage, I wasn’t ready to feel like I was moving in just yet.

She took a deep breath before climbing out, walking immediate to one of the stone walls and peering over at the ocean. “This is like something out of a fairytale.”

Within seconds of our arrival, the front door opened, two staff members rushing outside, I was shocked to see a familiar face. The woman had been more like a nanny than a housekeeper, keeping me on track while Mother had worked tirelessly with artisans and landscapers, painters and stone workers.

“Mrs. Cornada,” I said after jumping out, taking long strides in her direction.

She placed both hands over her mouth, shaking her head back and forth. I could see tears in her eyes. “Dios mio,” she whispered and reached for me.

My God. Her words were as haunting as I thought they’d be. Frances Cornada been certain I was dead on more than one occasion given the premonitions she’d had for years. A devout Catholic, she always tried to instill faith into my heart and soul as well as my brother’s. Unfortunately, even with her amazing abilities to nurture me in entirely different ways than my parents had, she’d been unable to save my blackened soul.

That had been taken by the devil on the day of my birth.

I pulled her into a hug, even sweeping her small, frail body off the ground. “I’m so glad you’re still here, although you should have retired years ago. I can see Samuel doesn’t pay you enough.”

“I thought for certain I would never see you again. Hush about Samuel. He’s been very good to all of us over the years.” When I eased her down, she continued to hold my arms. “I couldn’t retire. This is the only place that ever felt like home to me.” I could tell she noticed Devon, her smile growing wide. “Your lovely wife.”

Devon laughed as she walked closer, holding out her hand. “Oh, no. This man could never tolerate a woman like me. I’m his business associate and nothing more. I’m Devon Rapshire.”

While Frances accepted the typical American greeting, she couldn’t help herself, pulling Devon into a hug.

I almost laughed as Devon stiffened, unaccustomed to this type of greeting. I could tell Frances was whispering something in Devon’s ear. All I could do was shake my head. Maybe it was good to return home after all. “And this amazing woman is more like a second mother than an amazing housekeeper. Devon, meet Frances Cornada. Devon will be staying with me for an extended period of time.”

“Of course, sir.”

“Please, Frances. Call me Santiago. I’m not my father.”

Frances gave me a soulful stare, tears remaining in her eyes. “No, you certainly aren’t. You’ve grown into a handsome and formidable man.” She darted a glance over her shoulder as the young man waiting near the door. “Juan is relatively new, but he’s well versed in your requirements. He’ll take your bags up to your old room. I didn’t know you were bringing a guest until a couple of hours ago. Should I prepare another room?”

“No, that won’t be necessary.” I didn’t plan on getting much sleep. There was far too much to do in preparation.

Devon already appeared uncomfortable, the look on her face one of disdain. She would need to get used to my requirements one way or the other.

Shifting, I noticed Juan had already grabbed our bags and was heading inside the house. Being waited on hand and foot would take some getting used to. My special needs. The term had obviously been provided by Samuel. When I’d left, I was little more than a boy. I’d been prepared to take on the world then, even though I’d suffered another devastating loss.

“Come. Please. I know the chef has prepared a wonderful dinner for the two of you. You’ll have some time to rest before it’s served, but I’ve also made certain you can enjoy a cocktail while you explore the house. Very little has changed, although the kitchen has gone through a full remodel. The chef required it.” She laughed, flushed from embarrassment. “The chef is a formidable woman.”

“Then we should get along,” I said, grimacing as Devon huffed, heading toward the door. Her defiance was growing old. I took my time before entering the house, immediately struck by how pristine everything looked even after all these years.

“And my father’s office?”

Frances’ smile waned, her eyes immediately shimmering with tears. “As you can imagine, it was stripped of its contents, locked off after that.”

“Good.”

“I have the key when you’re ready.”

I rubbed my jaw, trying to keep the horrible images from rushing into my mind. “That won’t be for a while. Just keep it.”

She placed her hand over mine, squeezing. “I’m glad you’re home.” She headed for the house.

I hesitated for a few seconds, taking several deep breaths. I could almost feel my family’s presence.

After Devon walked inside, she stood in the marble entrance foyer, her gaze shifting to the artistic ceiling and gilded beams. My mother had wanted the entrance to be as grand as possible. She’d accomplished that feat, hiring an artist to paint the domed ceiling.

“I can’t believe anyone lives like this,” she finally said. “I just…”

“I know what you’re going to say. There are far too many square feet for any normal person. Including me. But I couldn’t sell the place, not after all the work my mother put into renovating it. Besides, the fruit is very productive at this point and I’m able to keep one hundred employees on payroll.”

“One hundred and fifteen, Santiago,” Frances corrected.

Laughing, several amazing memories replaced the ones that had caused me nightmares. “I’m glad you’re here to keep me on my toes.”

“Someone needs to,” she countered. “I have a few things to attend to, but I’ll check in with you later.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Cornada,” Devon commented, trying to offer a smile.

“Call me Frances, dear,” she said before walking out of the room.

“She is wonderful,” Devon said as she walked closer.

“She’s a very special woman, but never cross her. She can be a tough disciplinarian. I don’t know what my father, brother, and I would have done without her after my mother died.” I wasn’t prepared to explain any further. The pain was still too raw.

My thoughts drifted to all the times I’d run through the house, pretending I was a knight or a soldier, even fashioning a sword from some unknown material. As I guided her into the family room, I found it difficult to go any further than the entrance. Everything from the massive stone fireplace towering all the way to the cathedral ceiling to the leather furniture that had obviously been cared for over the years caused bittersweet memories to float through my mind.

“What did Frances say to you?” I asked, watching as she explored aspects of the room.

“I don’t think you want to know.”

“Yes, I do.”

“She said she could see love in your eyes.”

I should have known Frances would think something about bringing a woman into the house. I was certain she’d heard various stories about my philandering ways from Samuel. “She will quickly learn that’s not the case.”

“I hope so. You mean nothing to me.”

“Except a paycheck.”

Devon tipped her head in my direction. “At least we understand each other.”

There was no reason for her words to piss me off, yet they did. She was required to be anything I commanded her to be. I took a deep breath, studying the setting sun before walking toward the bar. “Would you like a drink?” I heard the terseness in my voice and while she didn’t deserve the anger I was feeling, she also needed to learn that she was indeed my employee.

“Why not? Wine if you have it.”

“We have everything.”

“Of course you do.” The tension between us was off the charts.

As I selected a bottle, I was surprised to hear her humming. The sound alone pushed me into full arousal, my cock aching like it had from the moment I’d laid eyes on her in the gallery. She truly didn’t understand how beautiful she was or that I was more drawn to her than any woman I’d had on my arm.

Unassuming.

Rebellious.

Stimulating.

As I poured the wine, I was forced to take a deep breath. Even then, the lingering scent of her perfume wafted into my nostrils. I’d never felt such dark longing in my life.

“What are you trying to steal?”

I’d expected her question and took my time walking toward her as I thought about the answer. As she turned to face me, her eyes narrowed. I could tell she grew more uncomfortable as I allowed my gaze to fall to her scuffed shoes. A warm flush crept along her strong jaw, trickling over her cheeks.

When she accepted the wine, the simple touch of our fingers was enough to send another rush of electricity slamming into every muscle. I needed to resist her, at least for now.

“An important family crest.”

“A crest. As in some kind of piece of armor?”

“A beautiful piece of art with a large diamond surrounded by rubies. The crest belonged to my grandfather and his father before him.”

“You brought me all this way to help you become a thief? Why not just buy it back?” A sly smile crossed her face.

“Because it was taken from the family over a disagreement. I assure you that the man holding the piece of family armor will not allow it to return to its rightful owner.”

“And just who is this asshole?”

She continued to challenge me in every way, pushing me to the kind of limits she wasn’t prepared to handle.

“A man who will soon learn that crossing me wasn’t in his best interest.”

“Is this the person responsible for killing your father?”

I clenched my jaw before answering, “Yes, Devon. It is.”

“It’s interesting that in the articles I read about the horrible crime, there were no suspects.”

She continued to bait me for information. “I’m certain you’ve watched enough American police shows on television to realize that certain crimes are easily ignored.”

The look she gave me was driven by contempt as well as continued curiosity about the man who’d hired her. When she inched closer, the proximity enough my senses were shoved into overload, I was forced to take a deep breath.

At least she left the comment alone.

“I’d like to be able to change before dinner. Is that allowed?” Her question was laced with animosity.

“Of course. I’ll take you to our room.”

“I’m not staying with you. I don’t care if I sleep in a twin bed, that’s better than being forced to sleep in the same bed with you. And I can find my own way.”

I issued a slight smile, unable to take my eyes off her. She was as infuriating as she was engaging. “Then by all means, you can take the master suite. I don’t plan on doing much sleeping. However, you need to keep in mind that this is my home and you are the guest.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning there are rules to follow. While you will be given access to a vehicle, you will be allowed outside of these walls only with my permission. It means that you are required to perform certain tasks when requested. That also means that you will remember at all times who is the master of the house.”

“Are you always this insufferable?” she asked, chuckling under her breath.

I refused to lose my temper, which was exactly what she was trying to accomplish. “Take the main stairs, which are just around the corner. You’ll find the bedroom at the end of the corridor. As far as changing for dinner, yes, that will become a requirement.”

“Of course it will. As I would expect.”

She turned away from me immediately, keeping the glass of wine in her hand as she walked toward the door. My body remained on fire, the dirty thoughts shifting through my mind enticing the beast continuing to dwell deep within my body. “This doesn’t have to be confrontational, Devon.”

“Then don’t make it that way. I’m your employee and nothing else. Remember?”

A part of me wanted nothing more than to drag her against me, fisting her hair as I began to devour every inch of her. I refused to give into her silent tantrum. “You will find suitable clothing in the closet. Anything you don’t like can be returned. We will undoubtedly require a shopping trip at some point.”

She laughed softly, still refusing to acknowledge my comment.

The woman knew exactly how to get under my skin.

“What are you hiding, Mr. Romero? What are you so afraid of telling me?” She’d turned sharply, a smug look on her face.

“Why would you think I’m hiding anything? You know what happened to my family.”

“Don’t play me for a fool. While you act as if your deceased parents hold special meaning in your heart, you purposely stayed away from the home your mother spent years working on for a decade, maybe more. That would indicate there’s a very good reason you were forced to leave your native country. Perhaps the crest is of some value, but I know better than to think it’s the reason you returned. You have a personal vendetta, a need for revenge. That’s obvious. Who is this enemy you long to exterminate?”

She was already crossing a line, acting as if she had some say in what was going to happen. Narrowing my eyes, I took a few sips of wine. “You will be provided with information on a need to know basis.”

“You are the most egotistical man I’ve ever met. You obviously need my… expertise yet you don’t have the nerve to tell me what the hell is really going on. Maybe you should learn to pick a safe all by yourself.”

With every step I took closer, her breath became more ragged. I was delighted to see her lower lip quivering. I wanted her afraid of me. Even more so, I didn’t want her to get too comfortable with any aspect of the job she’d been hired to perform. That could mean costly mistakes. However, maybe it was time she began to understand what was expected of her.

“The crest belonging to my family is worth almost five million dollars. It is being held under a bulletproof glass in a room covered by a great deal of security, including the use of heat-tracking lasers as well as a solid two dozen cameras. The building itself is protected by at least twenty guards at a time, all of whom are heavily armed with instructions to shoot to kill. If we are lucky enough to make it past those guards, there are additional men waiting inside. A single trip of an alarm will mean instant death.” I hesitated, waiting to see her reaction. “As far as my father, he was a consummate businessman who parlayed his wealth by working with the gray area of the law. He has significant enemies, including the man who ordered his death. You’re very astute, Ms. Rapshire, in your assumptions involving my need for revenge. However, you should learn when it’s the appropriate time to ask questions and when you should keep your mouth shut. Do I make myself clear?”

The anger had increased in my tone, something I abhorred doing, but this time I felt it was necessary.

“Yes, perfectly clear.” She backed up several steps before turning once again, heading out the door.

“Make no mistake, Devon. You are my employee, the price I paid also allowing me certain perks. You will do as I say. You will wear the clothing I purchase for you. You will obey my every command. And you will surrender to my every need.”

She didn’t bother turning in my direction or making a single sound, yet when she slowly looked over her shoulder, her eyes were nothing but cold, hard steel.

As she walked out of the room, my mouth continued to water.

My resolve strengthened.

I would take her again.

Only this time, she would understand without reservation that when I selected a possession, it would always be mine.

No matter the cost.