The island of Aspasia is a jewel. It’s even more beautiful than I could ever imagine.

“Wow.” I admire the view on the patio that gives access to the beach.

“Yeah, it is gorgeous out here. Listen, Bass and Emma are still shooting. This is their cottage and there are two more spare rooms. You can go and take your pick.”

Something dislodges in my throat. I’m sharing a roof with Bass Cole? Mother of God! I think I have gone straight to Heaven! “Bass Cole . . . in the same house . . . I think I need to sit down for that.” I start to fan myself with my right hand while my excitement runs riot in my head.

“Isn’t he a little too young for you?” Drake leans against the stone railing while he watched me getting all hyped up.

“Who cares about age when a guy looks like Bass? He’s like… the most beautiful man . . .” I murmur as I picture the actor in that vampire movie of his and what a movie that was. Sex God, your name is Bass Cole!

Drake walks toward where I am sitting and yanks me off the chair. “Hey! What the hell is your problem?” I yelp and slap his hand that is clutching my arm, but to no avail.

He drags me all the way inside and pushes me against a wall. My breathing is frantic when I see the stormy eyes that meet me. “You better not fuck anyone here, Lil. There will be hell to pay if you do. I don’t want you talking to any man for that matter.”

My hand instantly slaps him. He has gall to manhandle me and issue orders. “If you think for a second that I will let you run around and dictate me, well tough, I am not that woman. I have my own mind, my own wants and my own needs. How I come about in achieving them is my business. Best you get that in that semi-insipid brain of yours because you missed the memo, Drake. I am not yours. Never was.” I press my hands on his torso and try to push him off me, but he’s way too heavy and way too pumped up to be moved.

Our noses are touching, our lips only a hairsbreadth away from brushing. I dare not snake my tongue out to lick my lips because this infuriating man might just take that as his cue to claim me for a kiss.

“I did get the memo, Lil. My fate was sealed the moment you were born into this world. You were mine since day one. You were definitely mine when I took your virginity. Do you honestly think that I would let you give your virginity away to any man? No, over my dead body, and you know it, too. You were mine then, and you are mine now.”

“This body hasn’t been yours for the last eight years, Drake.”

I close my eyes when he presses his body against mine. The stone wall is cold against my back and I shiver when I feel his breath on my neck. The tip of his nose brushes against my jaw, smelling me like I’m his meal, his woman, his property; but I am no longer his. Best he realizes that.

“How many?” Drake whispers against my ear. I flinch when the wet, hot tip of his tongue tastes my earlobe.

“How many, what?”

“Men . . . I want numbers, Lily.” Drake suddenly sounds menacing.

But . . . why? Sure, he maybe lusting for me now, but it sure was not the case eight years ago. Again, why now?

“I am not going to answer that. Let me go, Drake. Jared and I… I’m ready to be with him.” I have been thinking about it. A lot. Jared is a decent and sweet guy. To top that off, he is funny and easy to be around. Jared told me two nights ago that he wants things to be serious between us. I have yet to give him a proper answer, but it will be a definite yes.

“No, you’re not. How can you be ready, Lil? You can barely hide the fact that you want me. I still affect you . . . I know this because you still look like you’re in love with me.”

I feel like he just slapped me. My hand lifts again, ready to slap some sense into him, but he catches it this time. The steel band of his hand on my wrist is unyielding. “I love this temper of yours. It’s going to be fun unleashing this temperamental side of you while I dominate you in bed.” His hips push against me and his hard arousal makes me shudder. “Now that we’re back in each other’s lives, there will be no other man for you, except me. I don’t want anyone but you. It’s time we submit to it… to what is meant for us. I am ready for you now, Lil.”

Huh? He’s ready? How laughable because I sure as hell am not.

“I don’t feel the same. I don’t want you like that… Physically, yes, you’re very attractive, but emotionally, you’re not for me. Never were, so let’s drop it. This woman is not interested in your sexual prowess. Get off me before I knee your blessed balls.”

His nose flares while his eyes rage. “You will come to me. I am sure of it. Once you do, don’t expect me to let you go again because I won’t and don’t ever plan to. I’m counting down the hours until you come to me.” Drake speaks in a clipped tone before he finally releases my tense body.

After another hard stare, he spins around and goes to his room, striding ever so confidently. While I stand here, taken aback… troubled and dumbfounded more than ever.

What gets to me most are his parting words. The way he said them, it was like he knows. Does he think that since he’s ready for me that I’ll just happily oblige and let him back in?

He can think again.