When I woke, it was dark in the room. The curtains were drawn, so I couldn’t even see the light the neighbor usually kept on at night above his garage. I knew the room well and managed to get up and make my way to the bathroom before stumbling out of it and crossing the room.

I didn’t bother with the light, too driven by hunger. I hadn’t eaten a real meal since Heathrow and wanted to eat while I was still hungry. I was certain if I spent too long contemplating my circumstances, I’d lose all appetite. Knowing I needed strength to deal with Ivanov, I made my way downstairs.

The track lights that lined the hallway made it easy to navigate into the kitchen without flipping a light switch. I went straight to the refrigerator and opened it to remove a carton of milk. It was nearly empty, so I tipped it back and drank straight from the carton before tossing it vaguely toward the recycle bin. I would pick it up later, but didn’t have the energy now.

I bent down to forage in the refrigerator, finding a piece of cheese between a carton of eggs and an old container of leftovers that had to be from Dad’s memorial service, brought by one of the attendees. It looked moldy, and I made a mental note to discard it tomorrow. That would be soon enough to deal with it.

I’d just closed the refrigerator door, plunging the kitchen back into darkness other than what filtered in the windows from the streetlights, when arms engulfed me, dragging me against a hard chest.

I didn’t fight, immediately recognizing Spencer’s scent. I swore it was still embedded on me from his flannel shirt that I hadn’t returned. Somewhere over the Atlantic, I’d cursed the lack of forethought in not taking it with me, knowing I would’ve enjoyed curling up with it at night as a reminder of what we’d had.

And here he was, in the flesh, and there was nothing better than that. I snuggled against him. “What are you doing here?”

“Watching you be a bad girl and drink milk from the carton.” He said it with humor, but there was a hint of husk in his tone that revealed his hunger for me.

“How did you find me? Did you buy my information from Sid Moreau?” The idea was repulsive, and I wasn’t certain I could overlook it if he had. That was the ultimate betrayal of my trust.

“Of course not. He almost let your surname slip, though not all of it, and I was able to piece together you’re from New York based on things you said last night. I hired the best people to find you, and they did.”

I pretended to be angry, though I was secretly melting inside at the lengths he’d gone to in order to find me. “You aren’t supposed to be here, and you certainly weren’t invited into my house. Everything ended this weekend on the island.”

He stiffened, but didn’t let go of me. “No, I didn’t. It doesn’t have to, anyway. I’m not ready to let you go.”

“I want you gone.” I said it without conviction though. I was already melting against him, revealing my true reaction.

His arms wrapped even tighter around me, and he pulled me back against the hardness of his erection. “Make me.”

I shook my head. “When a lady asks you to leave, you should leave.”

“I’m not leaving here until I have you again, Anya. I want to feel you under me again, to be inside your sweet pussy once more. Will you give me that?”

I took a deep breath, stealing myself for his reaction when I said, “You’ll have to make me.” I trembled with excitement as I uttered the challenge. There was eagerness in my tone, and I was positive he knew that I wanted him to stay, to claim me again, but I also wanted him to work for it. Without the cameras to inhibit us, we could be totally free with our wants and desires.

It was like a switch flipped in him, and he spun me in his arms. I put my hands against his shoulders, shoving him away from me as I kicked out my legs when he lifted me. He grunted when I made contact with his shin, and I was briefly worried I’d hit him harder than I planned.

From the light coming through the nearby window, I could see the animal lust on his face, but there was tenderness underlying it. “How should I make you?”

“Why don’t you figure it out?” I kicked his shin again, but used the side of my foot this time to ensure I didn’t hit his bone or cause genuine, lasting damage.

He took me into the living room without turning on a light, and he seemed familiar with the layout of the house. I wondered how long he’d lingered in there, waiting for me to wake up. Had he stood over me while I slept? It should’ve been creepy and disturbing, but I found the idea comforting instead.

Until my thoughts turned a different way, and I imagined him fisting his large cock as he stared down at me while I slept, stroking himself until he came with a splash of white against my purple bedspread. I groaned at the thought, my nipples tightening and my clit throbbing with need.

He dropped me on the couch, and I immediately scrambled to my feet as he moved across the room to the windows. The curtains parted slightly, allowing the moonlight the pour in, but didn’t quite illuminate what he was doing there. I didn’t stick around to find out. Instead, I took off at a run, but headed for the stairs rather than the door. I wanted to make sure he caught me, and I couldn’t do that if I fled into the night.

I made it halfway up before a hand snaked out and grabbed my ankle, arresting my flight. He was right there behind me, keeping me from falling into the wooden step as I collapsed forward.

I repaid his thoughtfulness by biting him on the palm of his hand until he cursed and pulled away. A second later, he threaded his fingers through my long hair, grasping the ponytail and tugging sharply to pull back my head. His teeth scraped on my neck, biting forcefully at the column of my throat before he started sucking like he was draining my very essence.

I moaned and whimpered as I writhed against him, certain he would be leaving marks on me. Again. While getting ready that morning, I’d discovered bruises on my hips that matched his fingers and in various other places on my body. These love bites would simply join my collection of battle scars. I reveled in it, almost ashamed by how hot it made me to think of him leaving his mark on me and claiming me as his own.

Spencer let go of my hair briefly, but just long enough to bind my hands behind my back with the curtain tiebacks. Now I knew what he’d been doing at the window. I tested the bonds, but they were too tight for me to escape.

My legs were free, and I tried to kick out at him as he tugged on my shorts. They gave way with a rending sound, and then he ripped off my panties. “Let me go, you animal.” I was panting heavily as I said the words, barely managing to breathe and talk through my excitement.

Spencer didn’t reply, but silk brushed against my face a moment later as he jammed the ripped panties in my mouth. I tossed my head, struggling to reject the cloth, but they were wedged firmly inside. There was no way to get them out without my fingers, and my hands were bound tightly behind me. I was helpless and at his mercy.

I loved it.

My pussy wept at the pleasure, and I shifted restlessly. It might’ve given the appearance I was still trying to escape, but I was just looking for relief now. I wanted him, and there was absolutely no holding back this time. There were no cameras to watch us, no stupid reality TV show between us, and no barriers.

It was just him lining up his cock and slamming it home inside my soaking wet pussy. I took him easily, though he was vigorous, almost aggressive, right from the start. His hands settled in the familiar place on my hips, which were a little tender from the previous bruising. For some reason, the pain just made it all that much better and more exciting. It was like a tangible reminder I was already his, and he was simply staking his claim again.

“I kept thinking about you all day, Anya. I told Glenn to work quickly to find you, knowing I needed to be inside your sweet little cunt as soon as possible.”

I whimpered and arched back against him as he continued to thrust forcefully into me while whispering filthy things that made my heart race and my pussy even wetter. Each impact of his body sent me colliding with the wood, but I was beyond feeling any discomfort. I was riding high on a wave of euphoria that blossomed into pure bliss as I started to come. My channel clenched around him, and his dick spasmed inside me.

He convulsed several times, filling me with his cum, and reminding me of the first time he claimed me. This was even better than then, and that was partially because it was just us and for us. There were no voyeurs observing, and no one was getting their rocks off watching the hunter conquer his prey. The only ones getting off were us, and because we both wanted to do this. No one was charging him, and no one was paying me for this incredible ecstasy.

With a tender kiss to my temple, he lifted me in his arms from the stairs a short while later to carry me up the rest of the way. He laid me on my bed and untied my hands before removing the panties from my mouth, so his lips could cover mine. He kissed me hard and possessively, but his fingers were gentle when they glided over my skin, as though searching for any unplanned injuries.

When he lifted his head, his concern was visible as he clicked on the lamp. “Did I hurt you?”

I purred with satisfaction and stretched. “Mm hmm, but it was amazing.”

He frowned. “I didn’t want to hurt you. I’m not sure what came over me. You said to make you, and it was like I lost all control. That was what you wanted, wasn’t it?” Anxiety shadowed his ice-blue eyes.

I reached up and pulled on his tie, urging him to join me on the bed. His pants were somewhere, probably abandoned on the stairs along with my ripped shorts. I made a mental note to clean up the evidence before my sisters came home in the morning, but that could wait.

“It was exactly what I wanted and needed. I never realized I had that fantasy before, and having you break in and just take me, to subdue me and force me to bend to your will…” I trailed off with a shiver of pleasure. “It’s a game I’ll never get tired of playing.”

He sat down on the bed beside me, gathering me into his arms. “I’m glad you said that, because you’re moving in with me.”

I stiffened, frowning at him. “The caveman routine ends at the bedroom. You don’t get to dictate that sort of thing to me.”

He looked unrepentant. “Sorry, but it’s happening. I can’t live without you.”

I scowled. “You don’t even know me, not really. You don’t know my circumstances, or anything about me.” I crossed my arms over my chest as I scooted away from him and sat up to lean against the headboard. “For example, you don’t know that I’m responsible for my two younger sisters, and we’re most certainly a package deal.” I said the words with a hint of challenge, expecting him to run as soon as he realized I wasn’t a carefree young adult like he probably anticipated.

He looked surprised, but not dismayed. “That’s no problem. I have a huge apartment above Wallingford Holdings in Wallingford Tower. Foster lives in the other penthouse apartment, so you don’t have to worry about questionable neighbors. Your sisters will be perfectly safe there.”

“You have to be joking.” He shook his head, looking calm and assured. I frowned. “You know what kind of responsibility I’m talking about here? Carrie’s seventeen, but Sasha is just fifteen. Our father just killed himself, and—” I broke off, not sharing the ugliness of the Ivanov story with him yet.

I probably should, because it was guaranteed to make him run away, but I was honest with myself and admitted I didn’t want him to. I wanted him to overcome my objections and steamroll me into living with him despite our short acquaintance. After having him for a brief weekend, I couldn’t imagine going back to sleeping alone and not having him as part of my life. Getting to know each other could come in time, but I was ready to throw away caution and move right in with him.

His expression softened. “I’m sorry to hear that. It must’ve been hard to lose him.”

I blinked rapidly, not wanting his sympathy, or it might reduce me to another round of sobbing. I did enough of that earlier. “It’s just a lot to take on. You can’t really mean it.” I was aware of the hint of hope in my voice, certain it bled through. He had to know I really wanted him to be sincere, though I should try to hide that too. I didn’t want him to give me what he thought I wanted just because I wanted it. That was no basis for starting this crazy thing between us—or continuing it, as the case may be.

He shrugged. “Believe it or not, I’m used to responsibility. I have a boring corporate job, but it’s at the top of the company and requires me to think about everyone who’s employed by us. I’m not going to run away just because your sisters are part of the deal. So, pack your stuff and prepare to go.”

I shook my head. “I can’t leave tonight. They’re due back tomorrow morning.”

He seemed to take that as capitulation, but that’s only because it was. I was done arguing with him and making excuses about why I shouldn’t move in. It was rash and reckless, but that cord binding us together strengthened every moment we spent together, and I wanted it to grow stronger. Breaking it because that was the conventional option wasn’t a choice I wanted to consider.

He gave me a sexy grin. “I’m sure we can think of something to occupy ourselves until your sisters are home.”

I’d just had that nap, and our rough sex had left me invigorated, so I was up for playing all night if he was. “What did you have in mind?” I was open to just about anything as long as it involved Spencer.