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She cried out as he caught and twisted her arm up her back. “Warren, stop. Shit, that hurts!”
He pushed her to the floor and slammed his body onto hers. “Show me how strong you are, my dear. Once I deem you worthy enough to stand on your own two feet, I’ll let you go.”
“Fuck you! Who the hell do you think you are?”
“I am the man who wants what’s best for you.” A soft kiss landed on her cheek. She shuddered and closed her eyes. “The only man who knows what’s best for you. Why do you fight me?” Another kiss caressed her jaw before it trailed down the side of her neck.
“Warren, get off me.” She tried her best to emulate calm even though her heart was racing loud enough to drown every other sound.
“I’d never hurt you. Not the way he did.” He brushed her hair off her temple and trailed his fingers over the shaven patch above her ear.
That touch… right there in that exact spot, felt like the worst violation. She relaxed her body long enough to distract him, then launched herself up. The back of her head caught his nose.
He grunted in pain. She scrambled to her feet, but his grip on her arm tightened. Using the advantage of his superior strength and height, he yanked her closer. Her wrist exploded in agony, but she didn’t have time to acknowledge it before he lifted and propelled her back against the wall. Once he had her caged in, he let go of her arm.
“I’m sorry, Leia. I didn’t mean to frighten you. Please don’t think badly of me.”
Fear and shock held her rigid long enough for his head to descend toward hers again.
Oh God.
She started to turn her head but couldn’t avoid him quick enough. His mouth crashed onto hers. Cool and moist, he explored her with a clinical expertise that left her cold. And angry.
She lifted her hands to his shoulder, ignoring the painful throb in her left wrist, and locked her fingers behind his neck. He made a sound, perhaps of satisfaction. Or arousal. She didn’t waste time examining it. With his thighs braced on either side of hers to trap her, he’d left himself wide open.
She brought her knee up hard and fast. Bone connected with soft tissue. An angry howl accompanied her freedom.
Leia stood over Warren’s bent form, her heart thumping in pain and disappointment. “You taught me to defend myself, Warren. Did you think I wouldn’t defend myself against you?”
He wheezed in answer, his impeccable hair hanging around his face in disarray. Weirdly, Leia pondered how that made him seem a little bit human.
She backed away, keeping an eye on him as she neared the door. “Come near me again and it’ll be more than just your crushed balls on fire.”
Noah checked his watch and cursed himself for the hundredth time for not taking his Maserati. Why the hell was he stuck in the back of a limo? Oh yeah, that’s right. He didn’t plan on getting through this evening sober. But then he should’ve ordered a different car or taken a goddamn helicopter to the event.
Because sitting in the same spot as Leia had done last night, surrounded by her exquisite perfume and the lingering smell of her arousal, was beyond stupid. Not to mention the enclosed space and the images smashing through his mind were giving him the boner to end all boners. He would be lucky if he arrived at his destination alive.
He lowered his window and let in fresh air he hoped wouldcleanse his mind. Feeling marginally better, he passed a finger beneath the collar of his studded shirt. As the key speaker at the Silver Spoon Charity Ball, he hadn’t been able to back out as he’d wanted to when Maddie had sent him the reminder yesterday.
King’s Ransom had given a lot to the charity, which rehabilitated young offenders and victims of abuse. He’d agreed to give this speech because Gabe was also on the board of the charity and had talked him into it.
Gritting his teeth, he re-read the text message he’d received ten minutes ago:
Must pass on wing-man duties. Angie’s back. She wants to talk. My dick may not fall off after all. Don’t wait up.
Fucking Gabe. A spike of jealousy shamed him. He would’ve given his right arm for an uncomplicated life right now. Leaning back, he rested his head against the seat then immediately swung his gaze upward. Sure enough, there were the two indents in the felt roof where Leia had planted her feet before ravaging herself to orgasm.
His cock hardened so fast his vision blurred. Holy fuck. Would he ever be able to sit in this car again without those hot memories torturing him?
“We’re here, Mr. King,” his driver informed him.
With a stiff nod, Noah threw open the door and strode past the group of paparazzi crowded at the stunning entrance to the five-star hotel.
He greeted business acquaintances, drank champagne and schmoozed for fifteen minutes then breathed a sigh of relief when the announcement was made for guests to take their seats in the main gala room.
As he passed the easel that held the seat allocations, he paused. Irritation snapped through him when he realized who else was on his table. Shannon Gleeson, his ex-therapist.
This should be fun…