Page 22

Margot

This time, when Dotty gets me for dinner, I’m ready.

Or at least I think I am. Until I step into the dining room and see my place set next to his.

So, we’re doing this again.

I grab my plate and move it to the other head of the table. Distance. I need distance. Dotty sighs in disappointment. She can get over it.

I don’t know which Matty I’ll get tonight. The seducer or the friend.

The seducer? He melts my brain with smooth words and heated touches. I’m struggling to keep denying him.

The friend? He confuses me. He feels like a trap luring me in with a false sense of security, only to attack.

Neither one is safe.

I take my seat and force myself to breathe. I took a yoga class once, but I quit immediately. I remember they taught deep breathing for relaxation .

I try to do it, but I sound like I’m wheezing. After a few more seconds of that, I give up.

Matty walks in a few minutes later, smiling.

A real smile.

And it does something dangerous to his face. It softens him. Makes him look younger. Warmer. More welcoming.

Like he’s not a kidnapper. Like he’s just a man.

His strides don’t falter when he sees where I’m sitting. He sighs, amused.

“I see you moved again. My stubborn girl.”

I’m getting Friendly Matty.

I can do this.

Can you?

Like last night, he grabs his setting and moves it to my right. I blush, remembering what he whispered last night. What he threatened to do to me on this table.

He doesn’t seem to notice. He sets up his place and, before I can react, leans over and kisses the top of my head.

What was that?

I freeze. I don’t have time to process it before Dotty comes in with our plates. The salmon smells amazing. Another one of my favorites.

“Tell me about your day?”

I blink.

It’s not a demand. It’s a question.

What universe is this?

“Sweetheart, will you talk to me? What were you and Benny up to today? Anything fun?” His gentle voice and open expression confuse me even further.

I hesitate. Is this some game?

“Oh, um, we went for a walk around the courtyard.” I clear my throat. “It was…nice?”

It comes as a question, not because it wasn’t nice, but because I still don’t know what the hell is happening.

“That’s good. Am I correct in assuming a guard was with you?”

I flash a grin. We made the guard fetch the balls Benny lost interest in.

“Yes, he was with us.”

“Good. Remember, don’t leave the walls of this house without a guard.” His tone is calm, but firm. Like it’s non-negotiable.

It can’t be about me. Maybe he just doesn’t want his landscaping ruined. Or maybe he wants his captive contained.

Or maybe he wants to keep you safe.

Safe from what?

I nod and take a bite of salmon. This time, I make a conscious effort not to moan. It’s delicious, but salmon is the meal, not me.

You wish you were his meal. His mouth between your legs.

I clench my thighs, irritated. Not now, tramp.

I need to get him talking.

“How was your day?” It comes out awkwardly. I still don’t know how to act around this version of Matty.

“It was productive. I had multiple meetings and was able to sign some important contracts.”

“Do you always work from home?”

I don’t think he’s left the house once since I got here. But he wears slacks and a button-up every day, like he’s going somewhere.

“Only when I have a beautiful woman in the house.” He winks.

Why is he being so playful?

He called you beautiful .

I blush.

Damn it.

“So, what do you do?”

“I’m the founder and CEO of Syndicate Enterprise. It’s a multibillion-dollar security and defense company. We handle physical weaponry and cyber security for the private sector and government.”

Syndicate Enterprise. Dotty mentioned it. What does that have to do with criminals? Are they arming bad people?

I don’t understand.

“That’s nice. You’re the founder. What made you start your company?”

His face lights up. His excitement is almost… cute.

And I hate myself for thinking that.

I let him talk. Half-listening. Half-distracted by the fact that I still don’t understand what’s happening.

“Enough about me.” He tilts his head. “Is there anything you need to enjoy your stay?” He says it so casually. As if this truly is the vacation he claimed, and not a kidnapping. As if I’m a guest.

“Can I have my phone back?” It’s out of my mouth before I think. Stupid. He’s not going to just hand it over.

He’s silent. Long enough I start to think he won’t answer.

Then, “If you behave and earn my trust, you can have it back.”

I blink.

He’d… actually give it back?

Of course, I wouldn’t be able to call for help. But I could at least have my kindle app.

That’s better than nothing.

Dinner ends, and I make my way to the door. Footsteps echo behind me. I turn to find him trailing.

“Why are you following me? ”

His brows furrow like he’s confused by the question.

“I’m going upstairs to our bedroom.”

“ Your bedroom.” I correct.

He chuckles. “You’ll come around soon enough.”

I snort. No, I won’t.

He holds out his hand. I take it instinctively. It’s warm, steady, and sends a shiver up my arm.

And I hate that I don’t pull away.

When we get to his bedroom, we both head to the bathroom. We brush our teeth and wash our faces in a comfortable silence.

Comfortable. That should worry me.

I go to his closet, grab a pair of sweats and boxer briefs, and change behind the closed door. Panties in hand, I return to the bathroom to wash them in the sink.

A low growl rumbles from next to me.

I glance up and find Matty staring.

Not at me.

At the black lace in my hand.

His gaze is scalding. It drops from the lace to my pantiless body beneath his sweatpants. His stare consumes me so thoroughly, I wonder if he can see through the layers. Lust radiates off him.

There’s the Seducer Matty I know. And love.

A thrill shoots through me at finally getting a reaction I pretend not to notice his obvious erection and keep scrubbing.

As if you’re not just as wet from his lust.

I use his distraction to ask him something that’s been bothering me.

“If you’re not going to let me go, can you at least bring me some of my clothes from home?”

“No. ”

He doesn’t even look up, his eyes still locked on my body.

I huff. “Matty, I need more panties. And I’m sick of wearing your sweats.” I don’t even care that I’m whining.

“Just don’t wear any panties. And I like you in my clothes.” His voice is gruff.

I roll my eyes and change tactics.

“I need panties. Do you really want me walking around your men bare?”

His lethal gaze shoots to mine.

I knew it. Possessive bastard. What a brute.

As if all your book boyfriends aren’t possessive as hell. That only makes him hotter.

His jaw locks.

“No one gets to see what’s mine. And no one gets to be around you with that sweet pussy bare except me. I’ll have new panties for you tomorrow.”

I bite my lip to hide my smirk. Predictable.

But insanely hot.

“And some clothes?” I push. “I’d rather not walk around looking like a prisoner.”

He exhales sharply. I can tell he doesn’t want to give in.

“I’ll get you some clothes. But only for the day. You wear my clothes to bed or nothing.” His eyes narrow. “Don’t argue.”

Victory.

I huff dramatically and storm out. I settle onto my side of the bed, debating whether to build another pillow wall. Before I decide, I hear rustling. I glance up, and instantly regret it.

Matty is undressing.

First, his shoes.

Then, his shirt.

His belt.

His slacks slide down his legs, pooling at his feet.

Until he’s left in nothing but tight boxer briefs .

I forget how to breathe.

He’s all muscle, all power. Perfectly sculped, every inch carved from stone. And when he turns, when he walks into the closet and shoves his boxers down…

I suck in a sharp breath.

His ass is magnificent. Sculpted. Muscular. Bitable .

He pulls on a fresh pair of boxers, completely unaware of my internal crisis, and heads toward the bed.

A chill runs down my spine. It’s not fear. It’s lust.

“What are you doing?” I squeak out.

He stops mid-step. His brows furrow. “Getting ready for bed?”

“Why are you naked?”

He looks down at himself, confused. “I’m not naked. I’m in my boxers.”

“You’re practically naked.”

He shrugs. “I always sleep like this. Clothes make me too hot.”

“You can’t get in here like that.”

His lips twitch. “I’ve slept in my boxers next to you the past two night.”

I freeze, realization dawning.

“But I didn’t know.”

“Now you do.”

That doesn’t make it okay.

I glare at him. He has the audacity to look amused.

“We just haven’t gone to bed together yet,” he adds smoothly. “But that’s going to change.”

“What?” I barely breathe the word.

He just smirks .

Fine. I’m not playing this game. I turn my back to him and scoot as far to the edge of the mattress as humanly possible. Not that it’ll do any good. By morning, I already know where I’ll be.

If this is how it’s going to be from now on…

I don’t stand a chance.