Blackmailed into the Billionaire's Bed(23)
He was clearly intelligent and exceptionally perceptive, and she was aware that his formal education had been limited. Mac certainly hadn’t been born with the advantage of a silver spoon in his mouth as she had. From a very young age, he’d made his own way in life, and there was no doubt in her mind that the ruthless streak running right through him came from his early experiences. Oh, yeah, staring into his eyes, she knew her incredibly sexy and dominating boss wasn’t averse to breaking a few heads should the need arise. So, taking advantage of her mistake was just another uncompromising facet of his addictive personality.
Still, she only had herself to blame. If she hadn’t stolen his money, she wouldn’t be in this position right now.
But deep down, Kendall, although you’ll deny it to the day you die, you’re starting to enjoy it.
I am not!
Liar.
She pushed open the chopper door and clambered inelegantly out, her skirt rising almost to her waist, exposing her panties, before her feet finally connected with the helipad below. Embarrassed, she looked across at him, aware that a mischievous smile graced his masculine features, causing his expressive eyes to twinkle.
“I suppose I should have told you to wear trousers for a journey like this, honey.”
“Too late now,” she retorted.
“Yeah, well, from this angle, I’m not complaining. Besides, you have great legs.”
She watched him exit the chopper far easier than she’d managed, and within seconds he joined her. With his powerful hands resting on her shoulders, he motioned with a deft nod of his head to the large opulent house that stood imposingly on the highest point of the island.
“It’s only a short walk. As soon as we’re inside, we can both take a shower.”
She put her hands together as though in prayer. “Oh, thank God. A shower. I’d kill for a shower. The things we take for granted in this world.”
“Yeah, and it’s all air-conditioned, too.”
“It just gets better.”
He possessively linked his arm through hers and started to guide her toward the ultramodern house that lay some two hundred yards ahead. Standing proud and dominating on a raised rocky precipice, it would give great views over the whole of the island. The single-story building had a footprint she guessed of about six thousand square feet.
“It’s large.”
“I entertain a lot.” At six feet four, he towered over her, making her feel small and vulnerable, especially when he looked directly at her and suggestively murmured, “But I won’t be entertaining for the next nine and half days. For the next nine and a half days, it’s just you and me, Kendall. You’re mine to master and enjoy.”
Dear, God, he was right, too, and although she was technically his prisoner, the thought of spending enforced time with Mac was becoming less and less unappealing by the second.
“How long have you owned this island paradise?”
“About four years give or take.”
“And your beautiful house?”
“That wasn’t there when I bought the place. I had it built to my own specifications. Drew up the plans myself.”
“Impressive.” Just like everything about the man, both good and bad.
As they strolled casually toward the house arm in arm, she almost believed herself to be on a date with Mac, although deep down, she knew nothing could be further from the truth. As they closed in on the contemporary structure, she realized it was even larger than she’d first imagined. “The windows are huge, and they look so dark and forbidding.”
“Only from the outside, honey. I like my privacy as much as the next guy, and the special glass also helps to keep the interior cool.”
“A house like this must have cost a small fortune.”
“And then some. Let’s just say that it cost far more than the million bucks you still owe me.”
His acerbic, almost cruel remark suddenly brought her back to reality with a bang, letting her know that her time here wasn’t a vacation. She was here as his sex slave and needed to hold up her end of the agreement. The alternative being three to five in the State Penitentiary.
Wanting to pull her arm from his grasp but fearing it would only escalate matters further, she accepted her fate by nodding resignedly. “Okay, Mr. Buchanan, sir. You win. I lose, and what you say goes.”
He suddenly stopped walking then abruptly turned to face her, his eyes searching hers with a hardness that frightened her. “And you’ll do well to remember that, Ms. Van Heusen. The debt is still owing. Don’t make the mistake of forgetting that.”
Mac took hold of her hand and squeezed it tightly. He didn’t act with compassion and warmth. He simply demonstrated his dominance and control over her.