Chapter 22

Mia

As I went down the stairs, I smelled coffee and bacon. James must have been cooking breakfast again.

I found him in the kitchen transferring crispy bacon from a frying pan onto plates.

“Good morning, sunshine,” he said, eyeing me with interest as I descended the last few steps.

The word sunshine tugged something deep within my heart, and I felt weak in the knees.

“Morning,” I replied as I hopped onto a barstool.

He poured me a cup of coffee.

“Thanks,” I said.

“You’re welcome,” he stated, smiling.

He appeared to be in a fine mood after what happened in the bedroom only twenty minutes ago. I eyed him with interest, too, as I raised the hot cup of coffee to my lips. I noted his dark hair was wet and that he had on a pair of jeans and a simple T-shirt. Despite the fact he wasn’t in a suit, he still looked handsome as hell.

After the thorough examination of his person, I decided he must have had a cold shower to cool himself down as I’d suggested. Oddly enough, I felt a little disappointed about that, and I had no idea why.

He placed a plate in front of me. In it was a portion of scrambled eggs, three pieces of crispy bacon, and two slices of toast. I blushed as I stared at the delicious meal.

“Thanks,” I said, thinking I should have been the one who did the cooking since I was the freeloader after all.

I’d always cooked back home for both myself and Andy. I was quite an excellent cook even though I wasn’t allowed to show off my talents at the restaurant. The reason? I was a girl and I wasn’t a chef from a prestigious school and, therefore, must not know how to even fry an egg. At least Andy appreciated my food, and that was good enough for me.

“What’s wrong?” James queried.

“Huh?” I raised my eyes to him. “Nothing. Um, I was just thinking about Andy.”

He snorted. “Andy again, huh?”

He looked a little pissed at the mention of my brother. Then I thought I’d better remind him of his promise. “You said you’d take me to see—”

“I got it. I got it.” He took a sip of his own coffee.

I returned my attention to my meal and then started eagerly eating. I was surprised that I was actually hungry.

The sound of a male chuckle reached my ears, and I raised my face with a questioning look. “What?”

James said, “Did I tire you out that much?”

The moment I understood the meaning behind his words, my face reddened with embarrassment. “You’re a beast, James. How can you be so energetic?”

“I’m a man, Mia,” he stated as if that were obvious and would explain his wolfish behavior in bed and the need to spread his seed. “Now move in closer so I can kiss you.”

I paused and put down my knife and fork. Then I straightened my back. As I leaned toward him, I noted the smirk on his face, as if to tell me I was a very obedient child indeed.

I stopped and said, “No.”

His eyes lit with fire in an instant. I knew it was dangerous to disobey him. But heck, I couldn’t resist. I flew off the barstool before he had the chance to grab me. Then I raced farther away from him. When I stopped in the middle of the living area and faced him, I noted he was in the process of coming after me. I panicked, but at the same time, I felt this sort of thrilling excitement within me too.

What was wrong with me? Why did I feel so excited all of a sudden?

I said, “You told me to disobey you. So I’m doing just that.”

He stopped in his tracks at my blunt statement, and then a slow smile spread across his face. He suddenly looked so dark and dangerous that I knew the game had only just begun and he was the one in charge. My body shuddered with delight at the thought that soon he’d make me do things I didn’t want to do but had to, that I had no choice in the matter, and what really mattered was that I obeyed his every command. Shit! Was it normal to feel enthusiastic about that?

James came around the counter and headed toward me. When I saw him fully, I sucked in my breath.

Shit! Shit! Shit! Oh, Mother of God! He hadn’t cooled down at all. The bulge in his pants was still there, and I cursed myself for not noticing it earlier.

Well, I reasoned with myself, how could I have noticed when he was standing behind the kitchen cabinets? I couldn’t possibly see the lower half of his body. And now he was ready to stamp his mark on me again.

I’d only met him two days ago and we’d only signed the contract yesterday. Already he’d taken me three times, once straight after the contract yesterday and twice last night. Now so early in the morning, he was going to do it again?

“James?” I whispered, my throat suddenly dry as dust.

His response was, “I love that smell on you, Mia. What is it?”

“Huh?” I was confused. God, I couldn’t think straight.

He was making his way toward me like a predator hunting its prey. I felt quite helpless and trapped, yet quite lovely too. My body became weak and willing as I took a step back.

“Mia? Tell me what’s that smell on you,” he demanded again, coming closer toward me.

Even in this state of bewilderment, I was still going to provoke him, as he’d ordered me to do.

I held my head high and haughtily said, “Find out yourself.”

He stopped suddenly as he cocked his head to one side, his eyes intense on me. I blushed when I noticed the bulge in his pants was getting even bigger.

Shit! Then it hit me. Was my playing hard to get turning him on? Was that why he made me disobey him? That realization made my core burn hot with excitement.

Oh God! I just realized that I, too, got turned on by playing the weak, resistant maiden who’d be ravished in the end anyway.

No, it couldn’t be. It couldn’t be true that I liked being chased. Was this even normal?

“Mia?”

I jumped at his dark voice. “Yes, James?” I replied, a docile look in my eyes as I gazed at him through my lashes.

“Strip for me,” he ordered.

I blinked. “What?”

“I want to find out what that smell is. Strip for me,” he commanded.

I licked my lip again, my hands slowly moving to the hem of my shirt. I rubbed the cotton material between my fingers and thumbs, contemplating whether to obey his order or not.

“James?” I queried meekly.

“Yes, Mia?”

“You didn’t cool yourself down at all, did you?” I was playing with the material of my shirt now as I gazed at the floor.

He chuckled. “No, I didn’t.” He came toward me as he said, “I kept thinking about your obedient body, about your cute breasts and your tight little ass. I kept thinking about your wet pussy and how much I want to fuck you.”

My body shuddered at his blunt explanation, and my face burned red. I raised my eyes and glared at him. “Why do you have to use such foul language?” I demanded.

He arched a brow at me. “The shower didn’t help,” he admitted. “Now come here and let me find out what that smell is.”

I frowned, pissed suddenly. “Why do you want to smell it so much? That scent?” I couldn’t help but ask.

“Because I like it,” he stated bluntly.

I pursed my lips.

That cursed frangipani scent. That cursed shower gel I’d brought from Mystic Spring. I had no idea it could cause so much trouble. I liked smelling nice though, and it was the cheapest option out of all the other shower gels too.

I released my shirt then and turned on my heel. I decided on another tactic. I changed the subject completely. To one I knew got on his nerves.

“Aren’t you going to take me to see Andy? It’s getting late, isn’t it?” I headed toward the stairs, hoping like hell the subject of my brother would make him livid and that strong emotion would annihilate his arousal. I was sure getting someone pissed would definitely slaughter that mood.

“I’ll get my bag,” I added as I ascended the steps.

I didn’t dare turn to look at him. I was too afraid of what I’d see. Had my smart tactic somehow managed to douse his excitement? Yet the thought of his desire for me completely dissipated disappointed me.

I was halfway up the stairs when I heard a growl, followed by, “Fuck, woman, you’re too good at stirring me up.”

I gasped at the rude insult and twisted in anger. The moment I saw him coming after me, my anger scattered into the air, and a mixture of fright and excitement erupted within me. I took action immediately and raced up the rest of the steps as fast as I could.

James laughed sarcastically, loud and clear, as he chased after me. “Mia,” he called out.