You Don't Own Me(18)

I slide into the passenger seat, Noah closes the door, and the feeling evaporates. I turn around in my seat to look at Mark, but he is gone. I crane my neck looking for him, but he has completely disappeared. Maybe he went down one of the side streets.

Noah gets in and starts the car. I quickly text Stella and tell her that Mark has her shoe before turning to Noah.

‘What kind of car is this?’ I ask. The interior smells of leather, glue, resin, and polished metal. A truly masculine smell.

‘It’s a TVR Sagaris.’

‘Hmm … it’s a gorgeous car.’

‘Thank you.’

‘How fast can it go?’

‘Zero to 60mph in 3.9 seconds.’

‘Wow, and the top speed?’

‘185mph,’ he says instantly and there is quiet pride in his voice.

‘I bet you get a lot of speeding tickets.’

He grins. ‘I don’t get speeding tickets.’

I turn to look at his profile. ‘How come?’

He winks. ‘Trade secret.’

I lift my hands up as if in surrender. ‘OK.’

There is a pause.

‘Have you worked for Zane for long?’ I ask and I don’t imagine the wariness that enters his body.

‘Not really.’

‘Have you lived in London all your life?’

‘No,’ he says shortly.

‘What about Zane?’

‘You’ll have to ask him that yourself.’

Just to see his reaction I ask, ‘What’s Zane favorite color?’

He scowls. ‘I have no idea.’

Jesus, getting information from him is like getting blood from stone. I throw my hands up. ‘Is there anything at all you can tell about Zane?’

He glances at me. ‘Not really.’

I reach forward and switch on the stereo and a Russian pop song comes on.

‘Who’s singing?’ I ask.

‘Pussy Riot.’

I stare at him. ‘Are you kidding me?’

‘Nope. I’m a big fan.’

I shake my head. ‘Of a band called Pussy Riot?’

He gives me a cocky look. ‘With a name like that what’s not to like?’





Nine


Dahlia Fury



Yuri opens the door for us and says something to Noah in rapid Russian who looks at his watch and immediately starts walking towards the study. I guess we didn’t make the twelve o’clock curfew.

‘Thanks for bringing me home, Noah,’ I call to his retreating back.

He lifts his hand in acknowledgement but doesn’t break his stride.

‘Goodnight,’ Yuri says.

‘Yeah, same to you,’ I reply and run up the stairs.

I actually feel a bit queasy. Getting into such a low swung fast car after drinking so much and eating a whole bag of greasy fries is not exactly a good idea.

I quickly clean my make up off, brush my teeth, use the toilet, change into my nightgown and go down to Zane’s bedroom. I open the door and he is already there. I have the impression that he is full of leashed energy, that he was pacing the floor impatiently, even though he is standing with his legs shoulder-width apart and looking at me with a deliberately blank expression. Sexy as hell, actually.

‘Hi,’ I greet.

‘Noah says a man was waiting for you,’ he says neutrally.

‘Mark was not waiting for me,’ I scoff. ‘We just ran into each other outside the bar.’ I shake my head. ‘I can’t believe Noah is such an old woman. Imagine running to you with that bit of gossip.’

‘It’s not a bit of gossip. It is Noah’s job to notice even the smallest inconsistencies. You didn’t just run into him. He was waiting for you and only approached you when you were alone.’

I frown. I guess he is right. Mark was waiting for me. I shrug. ‘It doesn’t matter. We’re just friends now.’

‘Is he the boyfriend that you talked about?’ His voice is very quiet, his eyes intense.

‘Yes, but I ended it before I came here and our relationship had not become physical.’

‘Are you still in contact with him?’

‘Yes. He’s a nice guy.’

‘I don’t want you to see him again.’

‘Why? We’re just friends. I feel nothing for him but friendship.’

He walks up to me, swirls my hair in his fist, and pulls my face upwards. From every pore of his body seeps raw masculinity, neither manufactured no harnessed, just a true force of nature. An Alpha in the truest sense of the word.

‘You might feel just friendship,’ he murmurs, ‘but he lusts for you, Dahlia. A man who waits on the street for a woman is crying out for her.’

I lick my lips.

His head swoops down. He takes my bottom lip between his teeth and sucks it. ‘You can tell him this. If I catch him within ten feet of you I’ll stuff his dick into his ass.’