"I won't hurt her unless you're too slow!"
Frozen in place, Emily hardly dared breathe. This disgusting creep had a bruising grip on her arm and the gun muzzle was way too close to her head. Her stomach churned and she hoped she didn't throw up.
Nick picked up the stone penis from the dresser within the bag and held it out to him.
"Yes, yes," the man hissed near her ear, as if in near ecstasy himself. "Now place it on the bed and leave the room."
"Emily's coming with me," Nick said firmly.
"No. Emily's going to help me with something." He rubbed his face against her hair.
Ugh! She drew away from him, but he held her fast.
"What?" Nick glared.
"I have to test this thing and see if it does what it's supposed to."
"And what is it supposed to do?" Nick asked, his gaze arrow sharp.
"Give the man who uses it on a woman untold sexual powers."
Emily's nausea intensified.
"And how do you plan to use it?"
"It's a dildo, Einstein. How do you think?"
"You're fucking insane if you think I'm letting you do that," Nick growled.
"You don't make the decisions around here. I have to find out if it works and I'm not leaving here until I know. Besides, I've grown quite fond of Emily while I've been keeping an eye on her."
Emily's skin crawled when his tone changed. He seemed almost benign, like a nerdy professor. But that made him even more dangerous, like a psycho with several warped personalities.
"I can't think of anything better than seeing her naked and wildly turned on," the weirdo added.
"It can't be used that way now," Nick said, obviously trying to reason with the nutcase despite his anger. "It's far too old and rough. It would hurt her."
"Do you think I care?"
Nick clenched his jaw. "If you hurt her, I'll kill you. That's a promise."
How could she disarm this nutcase? If only she could turn around, she'd smash her knee up into his groin.
The guy switched the gun from her head and pointed it at Nick two yards away. "Not if I kill you first."
No! Emily almost screamed the word, but controlled herself and remained silent. How could she help Nick gain the upper hand? She could hit the psycho's arm or the gun, but it might go off and shoot Nick. If the bastard had a crush on her, she might use that to distract him.
"I can kill you right now and get you out of the way," he told Nick. "Then I can do whatever I want to her. Jared took my wife, so now I'm taking his."
"Jared took your wife?" Nick frowned.
"Shut up!"
So, another woman Jared had screwed? Didn't surprise Emily. Nor did she care at the moment. She simply wanted Nick out of danger…and herself, of course.
"What's your name?" Emily asked, attempting to make her voice seductive, instead of terrified, as she was.
He glanced at her and she forced a sexy gaze and pouting mouth.
"Um…Ge—George. You can call me George."
"Okay, George," she breathed, knowing that probably wasn't his real name. But he appeared distracted simply from the words she'd spoken to him.
"The artifact does have paranormal powers, but it doesn't need to be used as a dildo for it to work," Nick said.
"What are you talking about?" George swung the gun back and forth between them.
"All a woman has to do is hold it in her hands, and she gets aroused. It could be worth millions. You can have it if you just leave Emily alone, take the damned piece of marble and walk away."
George shook his head quickly. "I have to see if it works first."
Nick's gaze darted back and forth between her and the creep. "Emily and I will show you it works."
"How?"
"She'll hold the artifact in her hands, and when she gets aroused from it, I'll pleasure her and you can watch. You like watching, don't you, George?"
She glared at Nick. Was he out of his freaking mind? She didn't want this psycho watching her while Nick pleasured her. What was he planning to do?
"All right." Still wearing the ski mask, George waved the gun, then took the handcuffs and keys from the dresser. "Handcuff one of your hands to the footboard," he told Nick.
"Nick?" Emily tried to keep the fear out of her voice. Was he insane? How could he suggest this?
"It'll be okay, sweetheart. I won't hurt you." Nick cuffed himself to the bed.
"Yeah, sweetheart," the intruder breathed in her ear.
She recoiled. "Stop! You bastard!"
"Get on the bed." George shoved her forward, making her stumble and fall half on the mattress. He caught her ass and squeezed it.
"Get your filthy hands off me!" She kicked at him, wishing she could smash his nose.