Prince Player(118)
“We should meet. And talk.”
“You’re right. We should.” The bastard sounds cocky. I hate that.
“You should know something,” I say softly. “You’re not going to get her back. No matter what.”
“Oh, I doubt that’s the case,” he says.
I have to restrain myself. I want to go off on him, but I know that won’t do anything.
“Meet me at La Azteca tonight at five.”
“I can do that.”
“Good. See you then.”
“And Ethan?” he says quickly before I hang up.
I pause. “What?”
“Be nice to her. She’s had a tough life, you know. She’s a junky bitch, after all.”
Rage tears through me. I want to yell and scream and tear him to pieces, but instead I just calmly hang up the phone.
He’s trying to goad me. He knows what he’s doing.
Doesn’t make it any less disgusting. And I’m no less pissed off.
But that’s for tonight. I stand up and grab my jacket, putting it back on. For now, I’m going home to see Aria. I don’t know what’s going to happen between me and Richard tonight, and I want to see her before anything goes down.
I hurry home, a knot of worry in my stomach.
24
Aria
I’m surprised when Ethan brings my lunch instead of Jenkins, though I probably shouldn’t be.
He walks into the room and takes off his jacket.
“You’re home early,” I say.
“Being the boss has some perks.”
“I’m sure it does.”
He smiles and sets lunch out on the table. “At this point, I’ve given away most of my tasks to subordinates,” he says. “I have a capable staff. I’m a very good judge of character.”
“I know you are.” I say. I sit down at the table and he sits across from me.
“All of this...” He pauses. “It’s weighing on me. I don’t trust myself right now.”
“Why not?” I ask him.
“It’s a critical time, and if I take too much on, I could make a mistake.”
“That doesn’t sound like you.”
“It’s not. None of this is like me.” He smirks and shrugs. “But it’s fun, at least.”
I laugh. “It’s fun?”
“Sure it is.”
“I’m not sure I’d call any of this fun.”
He cocks his head at me. “Are you sure? You seemed like you were having fun the other night.”
I blush and look away. “I guess I wasn’t thinking about that.”
“I was,” he says.
“Maybe that’s why you can’t work.”
“Maybe,” he says seriously. “I keep thinking about you, my little pet. I keep seeing you tied up to my bed... do you like your punishments?” he asks.
“Yes,” I say softly. I can feel a flush in my body, that familiar hum of desire starting to grow in my core. The tension lately has been overwhelming, and I’m surprised that I’m suddenly craving his touch in a way I never imagined. I thought I was too upset to feel this way, but clearly I was wrong.
He leans forward over the table. “What do you like?” he asks.
“What do you mean?”
“When I touch you.”
I bite my lip, blushing like crazy. It’s silly to blush and feel embarrassed, but I can’t help it. I’m not used to a man being this direct, especially a man like Ethan.
“I don’t know,” I say.
“Do you like it when I spank you?”
“Yes,” I admit. “I didn’t think I would. But it’s...”
“Hot,” he finishes for me.
“Yes,” I say. “And it feels good. It’s strange.”
“It’s not strange. Pleasure and pain. They’re not so different.” He stands and looks at me. “Are you still my pet?”
“If you want me to be.”
“I do.” He walks around the table and takes my hand, helping me up. He takes my hips and pulls me against his body. He’s so large and muscular, he practically swallows me up. I love the feeling of him against me. I love knowing that he can break me, destroy me, throw me around easily if he wanted to. I love knowing he can dominate me.
“Tell me what you want,” he says.
“Punish me,” I whisper, surprising myself.
“Good girl.” He steers me toward the bed then presses me against one of the posts. “Stay,” he orders, before leaving for the closet.
He returns a minute later holding the familiar pieces of black silk. He walks slowly toward me and I can feel my heart pounding in my chest, practically trying to leap out of my ribcage.
“This will be very simple,” he says, stopping in front of me, his body against mine. He reaches around me and takes my wrists, crossing them behind the post. “I’m going to tie you here. And then I’m going to take what I want from you.”