Page 47 of Unlocked Desire: Vol One
Chapter 7
CLARISSA
Anger rises in me. I don’t know who Vance thinks he is. The asshole abducted me, tied me up, spat in my mouth, and had the nerve to point out how wet I am. The thing is, it’s true, and that pisses me off. I am turned on, really turned on. I’m like Niagara Falls, gushing at everything this man does and says.
What the actual fuck is wrong with me?
Vance hasn’t spoken since he rudely pointed out how my body was a treacherous slut, ditching every ounce of pride for some dick. His dick. I’m not sure if I like the silence or hate it. It’s nice not to feel like I’m going to burn up either by his words or his touch, but it’s driving me crazy that he isn’t paying me attention.
“We’re here, sir,” that prick, Tony, says when the car stops. I’m not sure if Tony is a prick; he could be a nice guy, but since he helped Vance do this to me, I’m calling him a prick.
I hear shuffling and a car door opening. A cool breeze teases my skin before it slams shut.
“Fucker, you gonna keep me in the car?” I demand before another door opens and a firm hand tugs at the belt cuffs.
“Easy. I don’t want you falling again,” Vance says.
I slowly get out of the car, heeding his words. His hands move torturously along my arm, making me shiver. I hear the fucker chuckle. He knows exactly how I’m reacting because his eyes watch me like a hawk.
Once he reaches my head, his fingers curl into my hair, tugging gently. “I’m going to take off the blindfold.”
I nod as his fingers remove the obstruction from my eyes, and his green gaze is the first thing I see.The heat of his stare is so intense it could light me on fire. I’m not sure what to do with the emotions this man evokes in me. The sensations of fear, want and need tumble within me until they create a toxic concoction.
I’m not sure if I want to fuck him, kiss him, beat him, or run away from him. His eyes bore into mine, and his lips turn up into a callous smile as if he knows what I’m thinking.
“All in good time, Little Bird,” he whispers, sending goosebumps along my flesh and a jolt of electricity to my clit. If the man can perform voodoo with words, what can he do with his touch?
“Sir, I have your package here,” Tony says, handing him a small box wrapped in what looks like a brown paper bag.
Vance takes it from him. “Thank you, Tony. Have a safe drive back to the city.”
The city. Those words bring me back to reality. He’s abducted me.
I glance around to see we’re standing in a circle of land surrounded by hundreds of trees. In the middle is a small cabin with what looks like an oversized garage behind it. That’s it. No other houses, no people. I’m in the middle of fucking nowhere with a man I barely know. This is straight-up a scene from some horror movie, yet I’m not scared. Maybe I’m certifiable.
“Um, Vance, how are we gonna get back without Tony?”
“We aren’t,” Vance says. His hand lingers on the belt still tied around my wrists. “At least not for the weekend.” He undoes the belt, tossing it around my neck, and focuses on my wrists. Two angry welts now replace the black leather. Vance frowns, massaging my wrists. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think I tied them that tight. Fuck.”
He falls to his knees and places sweet kisses all along the insides of my wrists before turning them over and repeating the gesture. The act is incredibly tender, and a cluster fuck of emotions rages in me for this man. Most of them I’m not close to understanding and probably never will.
I know what I’m about to ask is stupid. My voice cracks, but I ask anyway. “Are you going to hurt me?”
Vance stares up at me, his eyes flashing with pain, anger, regret, and sadness before he masks them, locking everything up in an impenetrable fortress I can’t reach. “I don’t hurt innocent women. I would never hurt you. I’d fuckin’ die before I let one hair on your head get damaged.
“Is it a sex thing?”
“No,” he whispers. “I want you, but no. I didn’t bring you here to make you my sex slave, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Then what am I doing here?”
“I just want you here.” He pauses for a moment as if rethinking his words. “I need you here. I was drawn to you from the moment I saw you; that’s never happened before. I don’t know what to do about”—he pauses for a moment—“feelings.”
“So you make it a habit of kidnapping women you’re attracted to?”
Vance pushes up from the ground and backs away from me. He doesn’t hide what he’s thinking this time. His hands fist at his sides, and his eyes are like molten lava. “What makes you think I’m attracted to you, Little Bird?”
His words are like freezing water dumped over my head. I’m shocked at how much they sting, but I refuse to let him see the pain they’ve caused. “You broke a guy’s hand a week ago. You did God knows what to that guy tonight. You sent me groceries. You kidnapped me. You either want to fuck me or kill me.”