Through the hazy fog of sleep, hands were touching me up and down my back. When they got to my hips the warmth left, but the touch was still present. Heat surrounded me, but mainly focused on my back and the touch. It was light but present.

Blinking my eyes, sleep kept ahold of me and it took a few moments to focus. That was the moment yesterday flashed through my mind. Quickly, I moved away from the warmth and scooted as far to the side of the bed as I could.

Paxton laid there smiling, like he’d expected this from me. A deep burn fluttered through my body. It happened any time I was close to Pax and he looked at me like he was currently. There was this intensity to his stare, like I was the most important thing in the world to him. That he would cherish me until his dying breath. It was all a façade. Last night, I was so close to exploding. It was right there on the cusp, an orgasm that wouldn’t be self-induced for a change, but he pulled away. I was on to his little game. He wanted me to beg to be with him. Beg him to touch me. Beg him to fuck me.

While I wanted to say I wouldn’t be giving in to this request, I feared my body would override my logical thoughts. There was no need to set myself up for failure. I just needed to get my head in this game he was obviously playing instead of allowing my body to take the lead.

“Mornin’, angel.” He reached out and tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear. The touch was careful and meticulous. The feeling was utterly perfect and way too dangerous. I pulled away.

“Are you taking me home today?” I tried not to let my anxiety show.

He chuckled deep, moving a bit on the bed to get closer to me. If I moved any further, the floor would have my ass instantly. “Why would I do a thing like that?”

“Come on, Pax. If what you say is true and you really do care about me, you’ll let me go back to my life. Give me the money back and move on. I’m sure some woman would love the level of attention you are able to give. That woman just isn’t me.”

The ghost of stubble made his lips stand out more than normal, giving them a sensual feel. Instinct hit me hard, and I had to reel myself back. Was I really thinking of kissing the man who ripped me away from my life? Dammit, he shouldn’t get this kind of power over me.

“What you fail to realize is I have all the time in the world. Hours, days, years, decades—all right here in the palm of my hand. The sooner you acknowledge that fact, the sooner we can start our beautiful life together.”

Frustration was coursing through my veins, making me angry and on edge. “You’ve lost your mind. You know that, right? I think we should call a doctor for you and get some help.”

He pulled me to him and while I struggled, his grip became firmer until I finally gave in, letting him have this and knowing the battles were just beginning.

His hard cock pressed against my stomach as desire blossomed at having him so close to me. It was just a physical reaction, and it meant nothing. I told myself over and over again. It’s what I had to do so I wouldn’t get wrapped up in him.

Paxton Williams had charisma, charm, and this edge that screamed runaway at the very same time he sucked you in. He was easy to get lost in. He was easy to fall in love with. What he wasn’t, was easy to let go of. When Paxton was good, he was great. When he walked away, which he would inevitably do, he left a hole where he used to be. He knew it and made no apologies for it.

“Angel, you made me lose my mind back when we were kids and each tortuous year after that. You know this.”

I did only because he kept showing up everywhere in my life, telling me. That still didn’t mean that this was something a normal person would do. Or that it gave him any reason to ruin my life now.

I gave up reminding him that he left me years ago because it was a point he would argue but never explain. It was a heartache I didn’t need to revisit.

“Paxton, you can’t just come into my life and strip everything from me then expect me to just stay here with you.”

It was so fast, there was no stopping it. He leaned over and took my mouth hard and fast, my cuffed hands between us pushing him away, but not as hard as my brain was telling it to. His lips were so soft that I had to give in. It didn’t take much, and I’d beat myself up about it later.

His taste was toxic, a heady mix of him and nicotine which only dragged me further down. Paxton’s hand gripped my ass hard, while a small noise left me; it was such a damn turn on. I’d never had a man be so gentle yet rough at the same time. Shit, I was screwed.

The air around us crackled like a whip in the wind, and my desire turned into full-on lust that built into need. He pulled away and looked deep inside of me like he could see into my soul. Something I didn’t like one bit. We had this connection, and it always left me vulnerable and wide open to him.

“I’ll get breakfast.”

Stunned at the abrupt change, my mouth didn’t want to work and it took me a moment to get my bearings. The quick moment we shared was gone like a ghost in the night. It was fleeting, and now that it was gone part of me craved it. “Can you please uncuff me?”

He rolled out of bed, his hard ass staring at me. Any red-blooded woman would stare at that ass. I wouldn’t be surprised if it had a damn mold made out of it. When he turned around, a frog lodged itself in my throat. His cock stood straight up, hard and ready to play.

Memories flooded me fast and hard to the night I had never forgotten in my life. It was special, at least in my mind. To Paxton, that was a different story. The night I gave myself to him, freely and openly. I’d thought it was something unique and different. Come to find out, I was just many in a line for Paxton.

He said he wanted me, but if he did, then his actions would’ve shown it years ago. Just like that, the desire left the room.

“Sure.”

Surprise engulfed me and judging from the look on his face, he knew it and did it just to get the rise out of me. Jerk.

He reached into one of the dresser drawers, one I memorized in case there was a need for it later, and pulled out a small set of keys then approached me as he climbed back on the bed. The way he was so open with his nudity was something I’d never been. Paxton was always confident, but this was more. I couldn’t describe it, but he was comfortable in his own skin for sure.

“Thank you.”

He inserted the key and twisted, my wrists finding instant relief. “Don’t thank me yet.” He released the second, and there were bruises mixed with redness all around them. He inspected them like he cared if I were hurt, got up, and came back with some kind of ointment. It wasn’t what I put on them yesterday, this was in a different bottle.

He reached for my hand, and I pulled back on instinct. “Now, Laurel, I’m just gonna make you feel better.”

It took me a bit to allow him to have my wrist. When he put the ointment on it, there was a slight burning then a cooling. Funny how that worked. It was kind of how I felt being in Pax’s world at the moment. A burn that I could feel deep and then a cool comfort.

“Thank you.” I couldn’t believe that I was thanking the asshole who took me, but there I was going for it. After he was done, I rolled my shoulders and stretched out my arms, each muscle tight. It felt damn good to move freely again.

“After we eat, I’ll rub you down.” He leapt from the bed and grabbed a pair of pajama pants, slipping them on.

“Why are you wearing pants to get breakfast?” I asked, wondering why he refused to wear clothes in bed with me which would make me comfortable. Was this part of his game, another play against me?

He snapped the elastic on his hard abs. “Want me naked, huh? Good to know.”

“No … I …” Dammit!

“A friend of mine is downstairs and going to make our breakfast. Thought I’d hide the peep show.”

What was this feeling? This twisting, burning and slice at the heart. No. It couldn’t be jealousy, could it? By nature, I wasn’t a jealous type, except when it came to this man. It’d been since grade school, and I hated it. He was the only person who made me feel this way.

“Awe. Don’t you worry, angel. All this,” he grabbed his junk, “Belongs only to you.”

Right. I didn’t believe that for a second. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. And I was no fool, not anymore.

“I’m hungry,” I clipped, hiding the raging feelings brewing. “Can you get me food?”

His eyes drifted down to my chest, and my nipples instantly pebbled. I quickly covered myself, forgetting for a moment that I wasn’t wearing a shirt. Shit.

“I’ll be back.”

I watched carefully as he plugged in the numbers on the code box, but only got a couple of them down. He looked over his shoulder. “I wouldn’t bother. The numbers rotate every couple of hours. You’ll never figure it out.”

“Doesn’t mean I won’t try,” I fired back at him.

“And that’s why you’re here.” He left the room, and I tossed the pillow at the door when it locked.

I found some clothes first, locked the bathroom door, and jumped in the shower. It had five different jets in it and heated up to perfection. I quickly cleaned and dressed wanting to be ready when he came back to the room.

Pax always wanted the upper hand, and I needed to stay on my toes at all times. At any sign of escape, I was taking it. He was clever, and I’d need to be on my game.

The view was remarkable. Seeing the tops of the trees and the way they blew with the breeze was breathtaking. Like a picture you thought was out of reach, but was before you in all its glory. One thing I could get used to would be looking at this every morning. Not that I would, but it made the situation not as bad at least for a moment.

Rubbing my wrists, I was almost tempted to put more of the ointment on myself, but decided against it. I would push through the pain and irritation so that Pax wouldn’t have anything else to have over me.

The door flung open, but Paxton was too quick and had it shut and locked by the time I got over to that side of the room. Not to self: always be close to the door for opportunities.

He set the tray down on the bed and lifted the lid on the plates, the smell of French toast hitting me like a punch. Shock and surprise had me grabbing my chest. “You remembered.”

“Told you, angel. I remember everything. I even have your favorite buttercream icing.”

My stomach took that opportunity to grumble. I did need to keep my strength up after all. There was no acting like a lady while eating. No one had made this for me since I was a kid, and having it was a comfort I completely absorbed.

We ate in silence. When the last bite entered my mouth, I sighed. It was delicious.

“Thank you.” I could barely see him through my eyelashes, part of me embarrassed that he did something really nice for me, yet I hated his guts. Hate was a deep emotion and over the years I had felt both love and hate for Paxton Williams. His latest antics in my life, I loathed him. He took everything from me and left me in a place where I felt thankful for a damn meal. This wasn’t settling well. My emotions were spiraling out of control. And with Paxton Williams, I needed to be in control of myself.

“Knew how much you loved it.”

“Yeah.”

This wasn’t going as I’d planned. I jumped off the bed and stared at the view. Warmth surrounded me as arms came around me. I didn’t even bother fighting it because it wouldn’t matter. He’d do whatever in the hell he wanted.

He leaned down to my ear. “Stop fighting it.” His lips nibbled my lobe. “You know you want this just as much as I do.”

My head fell to the side suddenly feeling like jelly as his lips touched me.

That’s when it hit me. To get out of this, all I had to do was play along. Do what I needed to—get him to trust me, and then I could make a break for it. If that meant sex, so be it. My body was already there anyway.

I could play house with him for a few days, gain his trust and get out of this room. Once I was out, I could get out of the house, in his SUV, and back to my home. This was possible. Might be a long shot, but grabbing on to the only hope I could come up with was gratifying. Even if I couldn’t get my money back, I could have my freedom and my life.

Turning in his arms, I pulled his head down to mine and kissed him hard. His lips reacted instantly, and my back was pressed to the glass.

I was all in on this plan. Whatever it took, I would get out.