Coerced (Billionaire romance)(22)

Elizabeth seemed uncertain as to how to react, which was exactly what Reece wanted. The man loved to keep people guessing. It was his particular little game, a childish one at that.

Sutton practically shoved Reece out the door and said, “Don’t ever fucking try that again. She’s mine.”

Reece laughed and rubbed at his shoulder where Sutton had pushed him.

“All right, you made your point. When you’re done with her, send her my way. Unlike you, I can actually appreciate her talents outside of the bedroom.”

Sutton slammed the door in Reece’s face then stalked to Elizabeth, trying not to drink in the sight of her like a man dying of thirst.

She seemed to blossom more each day.

That tube top was barely holding in her tits, which made him want to pull it down and suck on each pale, pink nipple until she was panting and writhing in his arms but judging by the look on her face — that wasn’t going to happen organically.

He could order her to her knees and command her to suck him off but that wouldn’t make things better between them. If anything, it would make them worse.

His gaze flicked to her art easel and saw the half-finished painting.

He instantly recognized where she’d gotten her inspiration and his gaze returned to her with an ironic grin that sent the color climbing her cheeks.

“An artist never knows when the muse is going to strike,” she said defensively as she stalked past him, leaving him behind.

Sutton followed. “Do you prefer my brother over me?” he asked, deceptively calm.

“Maybe. He’s very sweet and it was a nice change to talk with someone with a common interest,” she answered over her shoulder. “Does that bother you?”

“Of course not,” he lied, trying not to clench his fists. “You’re free to pursue whomever you like once your contract is up.”

“Which is when?” she asked, turning to face him.

NEVER. “When I tire of you.”

She blinked and her eyes brightened with tears. “You’re a jerk.”

“I know.”

Emma’s advice was ringing in his head like a fucking gong but he couldn’t get his mouth to stop spewing bullshit long enough to put some of it into play.

Agitated beyond belief, he stalked to the bar. He needed to think, to figure things out. For good measure, Sutton poured a drink for Elizabeth, too.

“I don’t want a drink,” she said as he put it into her hand.

“Yes, you do. We both need to take a moment and just chill out,” he said, taking a restorative drink of his scotch.

He motioned for Elizabeth to do the same and she reluctantly took a tiny sip.

“Oh!” Her face flushed. “That’s…yuck. How do you drink this stuff?”

Sutton forgot that scotch was an acquired taste.

He chuckled. “Down the hatch and you’re done.”

Elizabeth huffed an annoyed sigh but downed the scotch, gasping at the end.

“Don’t ever make me drink that again.”

“Deal.” No sense in wasting good scotch. “Sit with me.”

She eyed him warily. “And if I say no?”

“Please?”

Elizabeth, surprised by his uncharacteristic plea, slowly joined him on the sofa.

Pleased —and relieved — he tried not to screw up the moment. “I want to know more about you.”

Surprised and a bit wary, she didn’t immediately start spilling her guts. Not that he expected her to, but they had to start somewhere and he was flailing about like a drowning child.

“Favorite color? Favorite food? Pet peeves?” he prompted, almost desperately.

But she wasn’t interested in playing this game.

“Why?” she asked, shaking her head, confused. “I don’t understand why you suddenly want to know those things about me when…you plainly don’t care about me and you were honest about that from the start.”

Frustration welled inside him. Why was she making this so difficult? He wanted to know more about her because…it pleased him to know!

If only it were that simple. He bit his tongue from spilling something he regretted.

“Just because we have an unorthodox relationship doesn’t mean it has to be adversarial, does it?”

“So your questions are based on creating a pleasant work environment?”

The faint touch of bitterness in her tone cut at him in a way he was unprepared.

“If that’s the way you’d like to frame it in your mind,” he replied stiffly. “I’m just trying to ease the tension between us.”

She popped from the sofa, her eyes wet.

“The reason there’s tension is because you…” her mouth seamed shut but she looked ready to burst with emotion. Finally, she gave a short, frustrated cry and bounded from the room, saying, “You’re an asshole!”

The sound of a slamming door was his reward for trying to smooth things over.

With a sigh, he rose and poured himself another drink.

Things were not going to plan.

Not at all.

Something told him, it was going to be a while before he got anything sweet from his little pissed-off peach.





Bookmark: 17

-17-

The nerve! The unmitigated gall!

To act as if having a little chit-chat about nothing stuff was going to erase the horrible thing he’d done.

Elizabeth paced the bedroom, her rage and anguish almost indistinguishable.

Sutton was accustomed to walking all over people but she wouldn’t allow him to walk on her.

He may have bought her body but he’d never get her heart because she wasn’t that stupid.

Sure. Good idea.

Except…she had a terrible feeling…that Sutton already had his hooks into her tender flesh and she couldn’t quite understand why!

He’d bought her flesh. Taken her virginity.

And now, he was putting her heart into a blender so he could drink it at his leisure like a protein shake!

Fuck. That.

No, she wasn’t going to swallow her rage, her hurt. He was going to hear it and if he dumped her and threatened to toss her on the street as well as demand a refund (could he do that?) then so be it.

Flinging the door open, she stalked from the bedroom to stare Sutton down.

Well, he was much taller than her, so she was actually looking up at him, but the point was made.

She was pissed and he was going to hear about it.

“You hurt me,” she said, point blank. When he started to speak, she overrode him. “Yes, you own my body. You never promised fidelity, blah, blah, blah, but the point is, you never said that you’d hurt me like that. If you don’t have the common decency inherent to most people then I don’t think I can do this anymore and you can threaten me all you want but it’s not going to change who I am deep inside. I can’t give you my body without giving you something else, even if I don’t want to and trust me, I wish I could because giving you anything of value, such as my heart, is practically suicide and I know it.”

“What kind of relationship did you think you were signing up for?” he shot back, downing his scotch. “Did you think I was going to fall head over heels for you and pledge my undying love just because you’re fun to fuck around with?”

“No! But I didn’t expect you to demand EVERYTHING from me and give so little of yourself in return!”

“Well, that’s your fault for not reading the fine print,” he said with a tone so cold she shivered. He slammed his glass down, startling her with the sharp motion. “The fact is, I do own you and if you don’t like the terms, you should’ve thought of that before you signed on the dotted line. And before you even think of reneging on your contract, know this…Buchanans never lose. I will crush you, my sweet girl. So think twice before you make a decision that you can’t take back.”

Her eyes welled with tears.

“So that’s your solution? More threats? What the fuck is wrong with you that you think you can treat human beings like this?”

“What the fuck is wrong with you that you can’t fucking understand what you agreed to?” He shouted as he grabbed her hard by both arms. “You belong to me and as such, your feelings on how I conduct my business, are not my concern! If I want to fuck other women, I can! And I don’t need your permission!”

“I hate you,” Elizabeth sobbed, her heart breaking into a million pieces at the obvious lack of concern for her feelings. He truly didn’t care. He only wanted her body. It was her own fault for having any feelings at all for him. “I fucking hate you!”

He released her. “Good. Makes things easier that way, doesn’t it?”

And then he pushed her toward the bedroom, already unbuckling his trousers and she stared in disbelief. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Exactly what I want to. On your knees.”

Her lip trembled. “No.”

“Elizabeth…” he warned but she held her ground.

“If you make me, I’ll hate you forever.”

“I thought I’d already achieved that,” he mocked.

“Don’t.” Tears tracked down her cheeks but she didn’t waver. He’d never forced her before. If he crossed that line, she’d leave no matter what the consequence. She and Gretchen would live in her car if need be, but she wouldn’t stomach his touch another minute if he forced her.

There was a line and Sutton was dangerously close to crossing it.