“You’re not going anywhere,” he said.
“W-what?”
“I can see what you’re thinking. I won’t take any letter or you quitting. I want you close by.”
Was he able to read minds?
“You can’t keep me against my will.” Before he could respond, the car pulled to a stop, and the driver informed him he was home.
One of his hands moved from behind his back, and he cupped her chin in his. “I’m going to take care of you whether you like it or not.”
Surely, women could fight against this kind of possession? Cadeon kept her in his arms as he got out of the car. Since the drive from her house it had started raining. Cadeon picked her up as if she weighed nothing and placed her on her feet only when they were firmly inside his house.
An elderly lady waited by the door and regarded her with a puzzled expression. Violet understood the woman’s feelings. Violet was just as confused.
“Mr. Ashwood,” the elderly woman said.
“Bring some tea into the sitting room, Anne. Violet and I have had a long night.” Cadeon took her hand and pulled her in the direction of what she assumed was his sitting room. He moved so fast she didn’t have time to see his house. Nothing stood out, and in no time, he entered a room where a log fire was burning in the hearth.
“You must be freezing,” he said. Removing her coat and jacket, Cadeon threw them across the room. He sat her down and removed her shoes, followed by her tights. She gasped as he reached up under her skirt grabbed the waist band of her tights and pulled them off.
Next, he removed his own coat and jacked and pulled her to her feet where he wrapped his arms around her.
She didn’t have time to say anything. Cadeon knew what he was doing, and even though his presence unnerved her and to a point scared her, she couldn’t deny the small thrill being in his arms had created. Her hands stayed by her side as he rubbed part of the cold out. She hadn’t even realised she’d been shaking until now.
“I’ve got you.”
For some reason she imagined Cadeon wouldn’t let her go. His interest in her was startling. A year she’d worked for his company. Through her recollection she could only recall two elevator rides with him. Their meetings had never been verbal, and her time with him had been short. Why was he interested in her?
A knock came seconds before Anne brought through a tray with the tea on. “I made some sandwiches.” Anne placed the tray on the coffee table and left.
“You need to eat,” he said. Not letting go of her hand, he led her to the sofa and brought her to sit on his lap.
“I really should refuse....”
“Do you think I’d let you sit anywhere but here?” His hand lay across her leg.
She shook her head.
“Good.”
With her still in his lap he grabbed the nearest plate of sandwiches and placed it on her lap. “Eat.”
Taking a sandwich she took a small bite and chewed. Violet believed it was a ham sandwich. She didn’t taste much of it. Having him constantly staring put her off eating.
“Do you do this for all of your personal assistants?” she found herself asking.
“No. You’re different.”
Unsure what he meant, she ate two sandwiches and handed him the plate back. His hand on her leg was moving in circles up and down and along her knee.
He placed the plate back and handed her a cup of steaming tea. Violet didn’t know what was happening. Should she demand to get off his knee? Scold him for forcing her to do something she didn’t like? Men usually were polite, and they smiled at her. Nothing this dominating.
Cadeon was in control, and she couldn’t fight against it.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
“Don’t you know?”
He smiled, and his free hand circled her waist. “I want to hear it from your lips.”
Violet looked down at her tea. The brew was sweet, and she didn’t have the heart to tell him she didn’t like it.
“I don’t know what to do,” she answered him honestly.
“Relax.” He placed her cup on the tray and held her in his arms.
The entire situation was bizarre.
After a time he picked her up and moved upstairs with her. Violet held onto him and let him. In the short time she’d been in his company she’d come to realise arguing was useless.
He opened a door at the far end of the long corridor. She saw the large four poster bed, but he didn’t put her down. He went to one of the three doors along the opposite wall and placed her on her feet in the bathroom.
Cadeon went over to the large bath tub and began filling it with hot water. He tested the water and came back to her. Violet held her hands up to protect her clothes. She didn’t want him to see her naked.