Page 106 of Captive Audience

In the bedroom, he laid me down carefully, slid in behind me, and tugged me against him.

His cock, already stirring again, pressed into the curve of my ass.

“Is this okay?” he asked.

Was it? After what had just happened in the bathroom, lying together hardly seemed taboo.

I nodded, determined not to think too hard about it. “Just for tonight,” I whispered.

His arm tightened.

Then I fell asleep, blissed-out and wrapped in Rook’s warmth, wondering what the hell I’d done and why it felt so good.

40

ASHA

Iwoke in the morning to a splitting headache, an empty bed, and a stark recollection of why I wore no underwear.

I slapped a hand over my face and groaned. “Brilliant. Just brilliant.”

Giving an Irish gangster explicit instructions on how to eat me out wasn’t on last night’s bingo card, but here we were.

What the hell was wrong with me?

Alcohol. I was firmly blaming my lack of morals on alcohol.

And yet I didn’t regret it. Not even a little, and that was the part that scared me the most. Because somewhere between Rook’s dirty mouth and reverent hands, between the control he’d handed over and the tenderness he’d shown after, something inside me had changed.

Rook was still my captor. Still the man who’d forced me into a fake marriage. Still dangerous, manipulative, and entirely untrustworthy. But he also made me feel wanted in a way no one had before. And when he’d carried me to bed last night and held me as if I were?—

Shit.

I squeezed my eyes shut and inhaled a slow breath.

I wasn’t supposed to feel safe with him. I wasn’t supposed to feel cared for, adored, or like I actually mattered to Rook at all.

When I opened my eyes, I rolled over and spotted two pills, a glass of water, and a handwritten note on the bedside table.

Take these to help with the hangover. Rest today so you’ll feel better for the opening tonight.

R

Of course he had to go and be thoughtful just to mess with my head.

I stared at the note. “Don’t you dare be nice, gangster.”

My phone buzzed.

Husband

Let me know when you’re awake.

I’m up.

How’s the head?

It’s been better.