Page 13 of Ruthless Commander

I smiled and made my way into the bathroom, undressing as I went. I took my time, using his washcloth under the hot spray, washing the tiredness from my body before I turned off the spray and stepped out. I used his towels, rubbing my body dry, and then dressed.

Flick.

Elastic slapped my hips as I slid my panties in place, looking at myself in the mirror before switching off the lights and stepping into the bedroom…and froze.

There was something different.

Something…

A shiver raced along my skin, making my pulse race as I stepped out of the bathroom and rounded the bed. Movement came from the doorway. He moved like a predator, striding from the shadows, and with a savage roar, he lunged.

I was gripped around the throat. Those dark eyes were wild as he roared,“Who the fuck are you?”

I tried to answer, tried to speak, tried to do anything other than tremble in the man’s grasp. He drove me backward, his gaze boring into mine. I saw the flicker of recognition in the moment he shoved me toward the bedroom wall.

I readied myself for the impact, tensing a second before a breath rushed from his lips and he shoved his other hand out, taking the brunt of the impact. Still, I slammed hard against the wall, the back of my head hitting with athud.

Pain followed, cleaving through my head as he sucked in hard breaths, then looked down at me. “Xael.”

So, no Ms. Davies?

That was a start…

My chest rose and fell as I sucked in air.

He jerked his gaze to mine. “What the fuck are you doing in my apartment? And inMauritius,for Christ’s sake?”

I licked my lips as all the rehearsed lines I’d spent a year crafting went out of my head. “What does it look like?”

What does it look like? He lowered his gaze to my mouth, my lips, where his hand had clasped around my throat, then my breasts, shuddering as I still gasped for air. “What it looks like is a fucking mistake.”

Fear speared through me.

But I couldn’t speak, not as he stopped, his focus on my breasts, barely concealed by the lace cups. He didn’t speak, didn’t meet my gaze, just lifted his other hand and with a gentle caress, slipped the top edge of my bra lower.

My nipple popped out, tightening under his gaze. Still, he never moved his grip around my throat. “Are you a mistake, Ms. Davies?” He lifted his gaze to mine. I didn’t answer. It didn’t matter what I said.

Yes…

No…

Maybe, who the fuck cares?

He lowered his head and shifted his thumb, sliding it across until it lay along the middle of my throat. But his mouth found my nipple and warmth closed around it. Delicious. Fucking. Warmth. I unleashed a moan and he pressed his thumb harder against my throat.

As though he'd wanted that reaction.

As though he'd craved the sound.

This moment was all I’d hoped for…and more.

6

Mateo

Jesus…Xael Davies.

I opened my lips, taking her peak deeper into my mouth, and grew hard.