I let out a small scream when I make it to the top of the stairs from the subway and strong arms wrap around me. Beau’s scent fills my lungs and I know it’s him. I try to fight him, but he only holds me tighter.
“Oh no, sunshine. Your ass is mine.” Then I’m in the air. My stomach hits his shoulder, taking me by surprise. I let out another small scream, and Beau smacks my ass.
I hear a catcall come from somewhere, reminding me we’re in the middle of a busy sidewalk.
“Fuck off,” Beau growls at whoever it was.
“Beau, put me down!” I yell.
“All right.” And he does, but into the back of a town car. I scurry to the other side of the car and try to open the door, but it’s locked. I hear the car door shut behind me as Beau slides in. I try the handle again, but nothing.
My mouth falls open when I see John sliding into the driver seat of the car and pulling away from the curb. My eyes dart from John to Beau.
“Not a word,” he says, his voice low and holding no room for argument. This must be the cold persona people were talking about in the articles I read.
“You don’t talk to me like that,” I snap back. The hardness drops away from his face for a moment, and the soft smile he always gives me comes back.
“I’m on edge, sunshine. Give me a moment to calm down. Maybe after I’ve had you a few times I’ll be better.”
I glare at him. “You’re never going to have me again.”
He studies me for a moment before taking a few deep breaths. “That’s where you're wrong. You’ll always belong to me.” There is a hard, possessive edge to his words. I open my mouth to retort, but he cuts me off. “Not a word until we’re alone.”
“I’ll—”
He cuts me off again. “Dove. I have ways to keep you from speaking.” His attention drops to my mouth and I know he’s right. If he kissed me right now I’d probably melt into him. I have no control when it comes to him. And it’s even worse with him so close to me. He looks like he’s about to come unhinged.
I drop back into my seat, scooting away from him, but Beau grabs me, pulling me into his lap and burying his face in my neck. His arms lock around me in a tight hold, making his words about me belonging to him ring true.
Chapter Eleven
Beau
I breathe in her scent, getting myself under control. I lost it when I saw her in the elevator with tears running down her face. Then the doors closed, blocking me from her. I punched the elevator door, leaving a fist size dent in it and making Katie and Carrie both gasp.
My father looked at me in shock. He’d been on me from the moment he walked into my office. Someone opened their mouth about my Dove to him. Likely someone from security since we share the same people. My dad has wanted me to get married for years because he wants grandchildren. The problem with him, though, is he doesn’t care if I stay with the woman I marry, just as long as he gets grandchildren and I have an ironclad prenup.
I don't need a fucking prenup.
Dove doesn't say a word. She’s likely worried I’ll make good on my threat to keep her from talking. I knew it wouldn’t take much. She’s always falling into me when I kiss her. She melts my coldness with her light, shining on areas of my heart I didn’t know I had in me. I love that about her.
In my arms she’s tense and mad, but I’ll take it over the tears. They almost broke me. It was made worse because I know it was something I’d done put them there. I know she heard what my father said about me. She may have heard some other things, too. I need to get things straight with her and to be straight with her. I’ve been hiding my urges from her because I was scared they’d send her running. It looks like my time is up.
“Take the garage,” I tell the driver. Dove might try to run from me when we open the car door. I don't need a scene in front of the building.
“Yes, sir.”
“Does he work for you?” she asks softly. She turns a little, looking up at me through her thick, dark lashes.
“Yes.”
“Did you put him in the flower shop to spy on me?”
“Yes.”
She lets out a breath and relaxes a little more into me. I feel some of the tension leave my body at her speaking to me. How long can I keep her locked away before people would start to notice? More crazy thoughts about how to keep her to myself and no one finding out flood my mind.
Fuck, I’ve gone off the deep end. Maybe I could get her to stay on her own.
I move her hair out of the way and start kissing her neck. “Beau,” she warns, but she tilts her head to let me have her. Her brain is telling her one thing, but her body knows it belongs to me.
“Sir,” I hear John say, reminding me we aren't alone. How easily I get lost in her. I see we’re in the garage, and John comes around to open my door. His mouth is set in a hard line.
I’d gone off on him when he’d lost her in the subway. I had to call in a few favors to get her phone tracked so that I could find her. I didn't want her wandering around the city all alone. Worse, alone on the subway. Someone could snatch her up and try and take her from me. I don’t know how she’s been out in the world this long without having been touched before. That’s everyone else's loss because no one else will ever put hands on her but me.
I slide Dove off my lap and then help her out of the car. I think she’s going to fight me, but she follows. She does try and pull her hand from mine, but I have it in a gentle yet unbreakable hold. She does a cute little huff that has me fighting a smile as we wait for the elevator.
We step onto the elevator and Dove keeps her eyes on her feet. I pull her to me, unable to stand the distance. “Sunshine, I promise I’m going to explain everything.”
“I don’t want to hear about all your lovers,” she snaps, her eyes finally coming to meet mine. She glares at me, and I hate that I’ve made her so angry.
“What are you talking about?” I ask.
The elevator opens and she starts to stomp off but can’t go too far with my hand holding hers. She stops when she makes it only a few feet, lets out a little gasp.
My home is covered in flowers and balloons. There are lit candles lining every surface and nothing is untouched. It looks like Valentine’s Day exploded in here.
She’s shocked into silence, before she turns around. “Is this for me?”
“Who else would it be for?”
“Probably one of the many women you’ve got all over town.” Her words come out with a bite. I don’t like seeing her angry. It doesn't suit her. She’s made of smiles and sunshine. I have to change this.
I grab her with my arm and turn us around, pinning her to the wall. She tries to push at my chest, but I’m unmovable. I take both her wrists and cuff them with one hand above her head.
“I don't have any lovers.”
“Liar! I make all those stupid bouquets you send them every week,” she yells in my face, and she sounds like a fierce little kitten.
“Dove, I have no idea what you are talking about.” I’m genuinely shocked.
“I made one the other day for Miss Barton. The same woman who sent you flowers today.”
“I didn't send her flowers,” I growl. “I can’t stand that fucking woman. She was a client of mine. I don’t touch clients.” She looks at me in confusion. I’m just as confused, but I’m sure that’s not what my face is showing. I’m pissed that she thinks I’m some manwhore. That couldn't be further from the truth. “There is only you. I haven't noticed women in years. Fucking years. Not until I watched you walk into that coffee shop. Then you were all I noticed anymore. I can’t focus on anything but you.”
I let go of her wrists and pull out my cell phone. I hit Katie’s number, then hit speaker.
“Sir.” Katie answers the phone. “Did you find her?”
“Yes. I found her.” My eyes are locked with Dove’s. “The flowers that were dropped.”
“I cleaned them up and the card was from Mrs. Barton. The note was, well…” She trails off.
“Tell me.”
She reads it and I curse. Dove’s eyes drop from mine. “Can you tell me why Dove says the flower shop she works for has been sending flowers out from me to different women?”
“One second, sir.” The line goes quiet.
“I never touched that woman,” I tell Dove again, and she meets my eyes. “You’re the only woman I will ever want. Never doubt that. You belong to me.”
Her mouth parts as if she’s about to say something, but Katie comes back on the line.
“Well, I guess Carrie has been sending them out after each one of your cases close.”
“She’s fired,” I say instantly.
“Beau!” Dove gasps at me. “Don’t be so mean. Just tell the poor girl to stop.”
I think about it for a moment. “Is that what you want me to do, sunshine?” I ask her.
She nods.
“You heard her, Katie. Tell her to knock it off.”
“Consider it done,” Katie says, and I end the call knowing that it’s as good as done. I’m sure Katie is going to issue an ass chewing of her own to Carrie.
Dove bites her lip and I know she’s fighting a smile.
“Want to know why there aren't other women?” I ask her, and she nods.