a whip, sharp and unrelenting. Mia stood a few foo

ice was firm. "I am not risking my li

I studied her, her defiance was amusing -almost. And the fac

put you. I paid a fortune for and I expected a return on my investment." Actually, I don't mean any of my

rall. Instead, she stepped closer, her voice shaking with barely restrained rage. "An

falter. "Don't mistake our arrangements for something, it

didn't back. "We aren't equ

nce between us. "After we shared a bed? Don't let that go to your head. It c

ge, it won't work. Didn't we both moan

oked suspiciously like hurt. "You're unbelievable," she whispered. "You use

ng in front of me. If you hated it s

eyes searching mine for something-an apology, maybe, or a hint of the man

ation, a distraction. Even in my anger, it took all within me not to claim her lips in min

er. "Go back to your room before

in death." Before I could turn to reply, she made her way outside and the

on

d in the air wit

cause I'd learned the hard way that trust was a luxury I couldn't afford. The streets of La

nsion. The suffocating walls of the study f

gine as I drove to my penthouse. Her words clawed at me, d

e in solitude. Trust? It was a luxury I couldn't afford. Trust did kille

eded to get distracted by a woman thighs. Our relationship was a perfe

wering on the third. "I tho

anter and went straight to the p

id, her voice ringi

w how to satisfy them, both in cash and in kind. A rare blend of charm and gener

lf a drink, the whiskey burning itself down my t

didn't notice I had a company

ll, blonde, and dressed in a mesh gown that put her breasts

olled myself. "Who

r. "Lisa couldn't make it,

ng a strange woman in my bed di

hing her hands slightly against my shoul

was wrong. "Leave, or I make you regret it,"

sure ab

l catching my eye. I dodged just in time, the knif

blade fell off her hands, hitting the floor

azed. "Consider

ted for the door. I followed, but the pain in my side slowe

hrough my fingers but I barely noticed. My gaze

ust the b

name I hadn't seen

message had confirmed my specu

her is

wants m