Page 76 of Carnal Urges

“Like what?”

“Emotional.”

It unnerves me that he’s right. When I brush past him, headed toward the cockpit to talk to the pilot myself, he grabs my arm and pleads with me.

“You don’t understand! He asked me all these questions aboutyou. About us. He wanted to know everything. I think he’s obsessed with you!”

“The only person he’s obsessed with is himself. Let me go.”

“Mamochka,please!”

I turn back to him, frame his face in my hands, and say, “Stop.”

He stands in front of me with his head hanging down and closes his eyes.

We’re silent for a moment, until I say, “I love what you did for me. You were very brave. Now I’m going to do the same for you. And you’re going to let me.”

He inhales and exhales deeply. Then, reluctantly, he nods.

“Good. Now, listen. When this is all over, I’ll help you find the girl you need, okay? We both know it’s not me. But your match is out there, and I’ll make sure she’s good enough for you. In the meantime, you won’t make any more deals with anyone to spy on Kazimir. And if anyone asks you to, you’ll tell me. Understood?”

He nods again.

“Okay. Now give me a hug.”

He wraps his arms around me and sighs.

I pat his back, wondering where I’m going to find a girl who wants to play mommy to a grown man with a raging women’s shoe fetish and an addiction to livestreaming himself playingWorld of Warcraftin his underwear.

Then I remember he’s super rich and know I’ll have plenty of takers.

The pilot opens the cabin door. The airstairs unfold. I say goodbye to Stavros, kiss his forehead, and descend. Seething, Declan waits for me at the bottom, the rocket launcher discarded at his feet.

As soon as I step foot onto the tarmac, he picks me up, throws me over his shoulder, and stalks off toward the waiting SUV.

TWENTY-TWO

SLOANE

I’m tossed into the back seat like luggage. Declan leans into my face and orders, “Stay.”

He slams the door, runs around to the other side, gets in, and barks at Kieran in the driver’s seat to get going.

“Hi, Kieran. Long time no see,” I say calmly, ignoring Declan doing an excellent impersonation of an erupting volcano on the seat beside me.

Kieran suppresses a chuckle. “Hullo, lass.” He puts the car into drive, and we pull away.

Then I hear an alarming metallic clinking. I look over at Declan just in time to see him pull a pair of handcuffs out of a pocket on the back of the driver’s seat. In a burst of panic, I fumble for the door handle, but the door is locked.

“Those child locks are a real pain, aren’t they? Pity the car we used in New York to pick you up didn’t have them. I won’t make that mistake again, either.”

“You smug son of a bitch.”

Smiling dangerously, he dangles the handcuffs from a fingertip. “Hold out your wrists.”

“Go to hell.”

“Been there every day since we met. Do it.”