“Oh, really?” Unable to throw Lucas off, I use the only weapon I have left. Lifting my head, I sink my teeth into the muscular junction between his shoulder and neck.
“Ouch! You little animal.” Transferring my wrists into his left hand, he fists my hair with his right, pulling my head down on the mattress. To my annoyance, he’s still grinning, not the least bit fazed by the red mark my teeth left on his skin. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
“Is that right?” Despite my helpless position, the old memories are dormant, leaving me free to focus on my anger. “Why’s that?”
“Because”—he lowers his head, bringing his mouth close to my ear—“you made me want you.” And raising his head to meet my gaze, he nudges his hardening cock against my thigh, leaving no doubt of his meaning.
Incredulous, I stare at him, seeing the now-familiar glow of heat in his wintry eyes. “Are you kidding me? Again?”
“Yes, beautiful.” His mouth curves in a darkly carnal smile as he wedges his knee between my thighs, forcing them open. “Again and again.”
* * *
It’s well over an hour before I’m able to take refuge in the bathroom and gather my scattered thoughts. My body is sore and aching, worn out by the endless orgasms, and the residue of sex is crusted on my thighs. After I take care of my most pressing needs, I turn on the shower to take a quick rinse.
Before I can get in, the door opens and Lucas steps in, still fully nude. “Good idea,” he says, glancing at the running water. “Let’s go in.”
Horrified, I gape at my insatiable jailer. “You can’t possibly.”
He grins, white teeth flashing. “I could, but I won’t. I know you need a break. Come here, baby.” Grasping my arm, he pulls me into the stall. “It’s just a shower, I promise.”
He’s true to his word, his big hands soaping me without lingering more than a few moments on my breasts and sex. Even so, I’m aware of a slow heated pulse between my thighs as he washes me thoroughly, his fingers sliding between my folds and up into the crevice of my ass. Shocked, I clench my buttocks as the tip of his finger presses into that hole, and he lets out a soft laugh, releasing me when I push at him.
“All right, I can wait,” he says agreeably, and I turn away, my stomach roiling at the knowledge that it’s only a matter of time before he takes me that way too, regardless of my thoughts on the matter.
Thankfully, Lucas finishes washing himself quickly and steps out of the stall. “Come out when you’re ready,” he says as he towels off, and then he’s gone, leaving me alone in the shower.
Exhausted, I slump against the wall, letting the water beat down on my chest. My nipples are painfully sensitive, as is my swollen, aching sex. Prior to meeting Lucas, I had no idea that pleasure could be so draining, that it could take everything out of me, both physically and mentally. I can’t resist him, and it has nothing to do with the fact that he’s my captor.
Even if I were free, I’d never be able to deny him.
Protection in exchange for sex. The words circle through my mind, filling me with a confusing mix of outrage and longing. Is it possible he meant it? Did he really bring me halfway across the globe to be his sex toy?
It seems ridiculous—except I felt the strength of his desire for me. Even now, my body aches from his relentless passion. Would Lucas really do that? Let bygones be bygones and simply keep me if I tell him about my agency? When I was thinking of establishing a bond with him earlier, I was hoping to buy myself some time without pain and a shot at escape before I’m killed. However, if what he says is true, my not-so-terrible captivity could go on indefinitely—or at least until Esguerra demands my head on a platter.
No matter what Lucas says about favors owed, I don’t believe his boss will spare me forever. Sooner or later, Esguerra will want to get his pound of flesh, and then I’m dead. And even if, by some miracle, Lucas really can protect me, he won’t do so for long.
He’ll throw me to the wolves once he realizes I’m not going to give him the answers he seeks.
Straightening away from the wall, I turn off the water and step out of the stall. As I towel off, I try to figure out if this turn of events changes anything and decide that it doesn’t.
All it means is I’ve gotten incredibly lucky.
I will have time to plan my escape.
14
Lucas
When Yulia comes out of the bathroom, I give her a clean T-shirt to wear and take her back to the living room, my body humming with the bone-deep satisfaction only sex with her can bring.
“Do you like to watch TV?” I ask as I tie her ankles to the chair. I can’t remember the last time I felt so relaxed and content. Soon, I’ll get the answers I need, and I’ll be able to give her more freedom.
For now, the least I can do is alleviate her probable boredom.
“TV?” Yulia gives me a bewildered look. “Sure. Who doesn’t?”
“Any preferences? Shows? Movies? News channels?”
“Um, anything, really.”
“Okay.” Finished with the rope, I turn her chair to face the large television on the opposite wall. “How about Modern Family? It’s light and funny. Have you seen it?”
“No.” She’s staring at me like I’ve sprouted green whiskers.
“Okay, then.” Suppressing a smile, I turn on the TV and select the first season of the show from the files I’ve stored on there. “I have some work to do before dinner, but this should keep you entertained.”
“Sure,” she says, looking so adorably confused that I can’t help myself. Bending down, I press a kiss to her parted lips, swallowing her startled gasp. The delicious warmth of her mouth makes my cock twitch, and I force myself to straighten and step back before I get carried away.
As unbelievable as it is, I want Yulia again.
Inhaling deeply, I turn away, determined to regain control. “I’ll see you soon,” I tell her over my shoulder and stride out of the house.
As much as I’d like to spend all day fucking my prisoner, there’s work to be done.
* * *
I spend the first couple of hours in Esguerra’s office, ironing out the logistical details of his Chicago protection with him and the guards I’m planning to bring with us. There’s a lot to coordinate, as Nora’s parents will need extra protection during and after our visit, in case some of Esguerra’s business associates decide that using his in-laws as leverage is a good idea. It’s doubtful—everyone knows what happened to Al-Quadar when they tried it with his wife—but it’s always good to be cautious.
Some people’s stupidity verges on suicidal.
Just as we’re about to finish, Esguerra’s wife walks in. Her dark eyes widen when she sees us all sitting there. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt—”
“What is it, baby?” Esguerra rises to his feet and comes toward her, his eyebrows drawn together in a worried frown. “Is everything okay? How are you feeling?”
Nora shoots me and the guards an embarrassed look before turning her attention to her husband. “I’m fine. Everything’s fine,” she says hurriedly. “I wanted to ask you about something, but it can wait.”
“Are you sure?” Esguerra’s voice softens, as it often does when he speaks to his petite wife. “I can step out—”
“No, please don’t. Really, it’s not important.” Rising on tiptoes, she presses a quick kiss to his jaw. “I’m going to be by the pool. Come find me when you’re done.”
“All right.” Nora steps out and Esguerra gazes after her, frowning. I can see that he wants to follow her, but doesn’t want to seem even more obsessed with her than we already know him to be. If he were anyone else, the guards would rib him about this for weeks to come. Instead, we all keep our faces expressionless as our boss returns to the table.
It doesn’t take long to finish hammering out the security logistics. As soon as we’re done, the guards return to their duties, and Esguerra heads out to find his wife, leaving me alone in his office to catch up on a couple of emails. I decide to use this opportunity to video call our Hong Kong supplier and procure the tracker implants for Yulia. To my disappointment, the old man informs me that he’s only going to be able to get them to me in two weeks—exactly when we’ll be in Chicago.
“Is there any way you can do it sooner?” I ask, not liking the idea of leaving Yulia unsecured for so long, but the man just shakes his head.
“No, I’m afraid not. The ones Mr. Esguerra got that time were a prototype, and we’ll need to manufacture the ones for you from scratch. The coating is highly specialized, so it will have to be custom-ordered—”
“Never mind. I understand.” I’ll just have to assign some trustworthy men to watch over my prisoner in my absence. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Chen.”
Disconnecting from the video call, I get up and exit Esguerra’s office.
There’s one more thing I have to take care of today.
* * *
Ana, Esguerra’s middle-aged housekeeper, opens the door for me.
“Hello, Señor Kent,” she says in her accented English. “Are you looking for Señor Esguerra? He just went upstairs to take a shower.”