Page 9
Story: Seducer (Legacy of Kings #2)
CHAPTER 9
Z ach
“Nice car,” Sara half whispered. She was shivering and it definitely wasn’t cold in my car.
I glanced over my shoulder, noticing she was rubbing the tips of her fingers across the dashboard and instrument panel. “I can tell by the sound of your voice you were expecting something different than a Charger.”
She shrugged. “Perhaps I was.”
“I’m curious as to why.”
Every time she laughed, my cock twitched. “Come now. My observation skills are excellent. You are an extremely wealthy man. I can tell by the watch you’re wearing. Don’t lie to me.”
“Fine, I can’t complain. What are wealthy men required to drive?”
“A Ferrari or Maserati. Maybe a Rolls.” She laughed again, having a good time making fun of those with money. Not that I could blame her. Some of the most arrogant assholes used their wealth, lording it over others. Jerry was that kind of man, but his behavior had been odd even for him. Something felt off and I couldn’t quite put my finger on why.
“Well, I prefer something simpler.” I started the engine and she took a deep whiff of the leather seats before leaning back. I wouldn’t say she was content, but at least she wasn’t clawing her way from the car.
Women were truly the most beautiful creatures on earth. I valued their uniqueness and distinction, their temperament and resounding strength. However, while being able to appreciate and enjoy something so amazing, I usually couldn’t care less about their feelings. I hadn’t been brought up that way.
In every home I’d been forced into, the men had treated the women as if they were objects. The shit had rubbed off on me. I wasn’t like Xander, finally softening enough to allow something to infiltrate his heart. There was nothing about me that desired a relationship. Why bother? That usually led to heartbreak and a thinner wallet in the end.
Did that mean I couldn’t help a damsel in distress? Obviously not. I’d sensed Jerry wouldn’t leave without getting in his digs. In his case, I hoped he’d finally learned his lesson. Although I’d discovered his address and detailed information about him while waiting for my wild kitty to finish her shift. The longing to keep her protected was a novel feeling for me.
If I had to be honest with myself, I’d admit that was only part of the reason I’d stayed after closing hours. The other was entirely selfish.
I wanted her.
To control and conquer.
An invitation to the game would come much later if I deemed it appropriate.
It had been a hell of a long time since I’d felt so strongly about doing so. Finding someone to suit my needs had become more difficult over the years. Few women hungered for what I did. I couldn’t be certain Wild Kitty felt the same. She seemed so sweet and innocent on the outside, the costumes and intense dancing allowing her to break free from her normal shell.
Of course, I could be out of my frigging mind. Although… I was an excellent judge of character. My interest in her had only grown when I noticed her engine had been tampered with. If I’d taken the time, I would have located the reason, but I hadn’t wanted to alarm her.
My gut told me Jerry wasn’t the source, although he’d been told to scare her. I could tell the girl was hiding something and it wasn’t just what he’d said to her. That had been easy to ascertain. Perhaps I’d need to have a nice, long chat with him instead of the few words I’d said to him before.
She hadn’t offered her name and I hadn’t offered mine. It seemed the anonymity was desirable for both of us.
That was fine.
For now.
Her mood had changed, her eyes locking on the road and she remained on edge as I drove. Even her body was crowded as close to the passenger door as possible. When the diner’s bright, neon-lit marquis appeared a block away, she sat up. I had a feeling she was fearful I’d drive right by. After the night she’d experienced, I couldn’t blame her for clutching her purse, ready to use it as a weapon. Something told me the girl could have a mean right hook.
I smiled at the thought as I pulled in. She was out onto the pavement almost the second I pushed the gear into park.
Trust wasn’t something she allowed herself to feel. Good girl.
The thought of touching her, guiding her into the diner by placing my hand on her back came naturally to me, but I ignored the desire, doing nothing more than opening the door for her.
We were motioned to a table near the back, far removed from the other customers who’d also been spaced out amongst the tables. Maybe it was believed anyone who entered a diner at three in the morning needed their personal space.
She slunk onto the seat, holding her purse tightly against her for another few seconds. Coffee was immediately poured into two mugs already on the table. I’d prefer a drink, but not here. Not now.
“What would ya’ll like?” our waitress asked in a southern drawl.
“Two cheeseburgers with a hefty plateful of fries and two chocolate malts,” I ordered and my reward was a strong, slightly agitated flick of Wild Kitty’s eyes.
The waitress said nothing, but eyed us carefully. I would think she’d seen all walks of life inside the joint. Maybe I was wrong.
As soon as the woman walked away, Wild Kitty launched into me. “Why do all men feel it absolutely necessary to take over everything for a woman including ordering food? I’ve been on my own for a very long time. I assure you not only have I eaten in cheap diners but five-star restaurants and know my way around various cuisines as well as wines. Just in case you were thinking I was some hapless girl close to begging for food.”
Normally, such terse words invoked anger that had been drilled into me after years of abuse. With her, the emotions evoked were all about passion, a hunger that burned brightly over everything else. A single vision of fucking her from behind while we stared at each other in the mirror tore at my sense of decency.
She continued to look me directly in the eyes, a rarity. People were often terrified of new experiences or people who were obviously on a different plateau. Whatever apprehension she’d felt before had been tossed out onto the street, her emotions all about indignation.
“I assure you, Wild Kitty, I wouldn’t have dared to order for you had you not mentioned what has to be my favorite food.”
She didn’t blink or move at first, but a nice slow crawl of color forming on her jawline gave away a hint of embarrassment for being so forceful. “You like cheeseburgers?”
“Could live and die eating them. Maybe with some supreme pizzas thrown in.”
The fire remained in her stunning violet eyes, but there was also amusement. “Extra cheese, of course.”
“Of course.”
At least some of her tension eased.
“Also my two favorite foods,” she admitted.
“Then we have something in common.”
“I would think you’d prefer fine cuisine.”
“Such as?” She had me curious.
“Oh, I don’t know. Perhaps something like a French bistro with a lovely bottle of Chateau Lafite Rothschild.” She leaned forward, her arms crossed and elbows on the table.
Ah, the little lady was testing me.
“Depends on the year.”
“Two thousand and nine.” She tilted her head, her eyes flashing.
“Very nice. I do love a French wine, but I’ll let you in on a secret.” I shifted forward as well, our heads crowded so closely together, it was as if the two of us were telling secrets.
“Please do.”
“I prefer either California wines or a few from down under.”
My answer seemed to please her. Her smile wasn’t practiced as it had been at the club or strained when she’d thanked me for saving her. The gesture lit up her face, incapable of hiding her natural beauty even behind the artistically created makeup in shades of fuchsia, violet, and cobalt covering her eyes and a good portion of her cheek. In this light, the sparkles imbedded in the substance flicked on and off as if a light switch was being toggled.
My cock pressed hard against my trousers, the zipper biting into my shaft. Even after her long night, I was able to gather a slight whiff of strawberry. The fragrance suited her.
“I admit that does surprise me as well,” she admitted.
“Pleasantly so, I hope.”
“Yes, I’ll admit to that.”
I’d called a man who’d done some work for me prior to climbing into my car, giving him explicit instructions not only to meet me here, but to handle learning more about Jerry as well. He was a freelancer, a man with no traceable past and no family. I’d used him throughout the years for more complicated business issues.
I’d never said I handled everything on the up and up. That wasn’t possible in the gaming world. I also couldn’t care less about walking the fine line as if I was a decent man. That just wasn’t the case. I was born and bred of evil, just like my brothers. Perhaps we didn’t know the full extent of our dark cravings or the reason behind our desire for bloodshed, but it existed. That had been proven on more than one occasion.
Killing Jerry would have satisfied me for tonight, but only for tonight. I liked to plan how to handle the worthless people who deserved to face my wrath. With the jerk, my instinct had been to snap his neck and I could have with one hand. He was lucky. I only hoped he never approached her again or his luck would run out.
“Did Jerry say something to scare you in the parking lot?” I pushed.
“Not really. He was being a jerk, acting like we were going to share a night together.”
“Mmm…” I was positive she wasn’t telling me the entire truth. What was she so afraid of?
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed my useful buddy had pulled in. He’d been instructed to remain in his vehicle. As soon as I looked out the window, Wild Kitty was once again on edge.
“Who is that?”
“Remember the friend I mentioned? He owns a mechanic’s garage and I’ve known him for years.”
“Oh.” She didn’t relax and I could tell she was processing whether what I was telling her was the truth. Her stare out the window was long and hard, her eyes never blinking.
When I touched her hand, brushing the tips of my fingers across her skin, we both felt the extreme chemical reaction. She gasped, instantly pulling her hand away and curling her fingers. She was none too happy with my touch.
“Can I have your keys? I assure you that if you have valuables anywhere in your car, they will not be touched. If they are, I’ll kill him.”
My words were truthful and frank. And just what she needed to break out of the ugly spell she’d allowed herself to be caught in. She burst into laughter this time, the small snort I’d heard before coming twice.
She slapped her hand across her mouth as if embarrassed, but her eyes were still dancing. Fuck me if I didn’t crave tossing her over the edge of the table, fucking her just like I’d envisioned only moments before.
At least my truth allowed her to grab her keys, doing her best not to touch my skin when she handed them to me. I rose to my full height and she followed my action, her chest rising and falling from more labored breathing.
“I’ll be right back. If the food arrives, please don’t wait. Eat it while it’s hot.”
“Okay.” She threw another glance toward the window and offered a nod. Did she really think she was allowing me to exit?
The thought kept me fully amused as I headed for the door, annoyed from the sound of the bell indicating someone was entering or exiting. I almost ripped it off… I didn’t. I’d finally learned self-control over the years. It was best to use it at this point in my life.
I didn’t need to hide my actions from anyone. I was only providing instructions and nothing more. As I headed to Walker’s truck, I was keenly aware of my surroundings. There was a chance the attack had been more about my enemies versus anyone in Wild Kitty’s life. Whatever the case, I remained pissed she’d been caught in the storm.
Walker had his window rolled down, his engine idling. “Zach. I was surprised to get your call.”
“You shouldn’t be. You owe me.”
He nodded several times. “Yeah, I know. What do you need?”
“First of all, I need you to determine how my companion’s car was disabled and fix it. If there’s any evidence of the culprit, I need to know. I also need you to perform some surveillance for me.”
He flitted his eyes toward the bank of windows across the diner’s front, immediately realizing the woman I was talking about. “She’s important to you?”
I thought about his question. We weren’t friends, at least not in the traditional sense. I’d used him for cleanup situations when I’d needed a body dumped, all evidence disposed of. I’d also utilized his security and military style surveillance tactics through the years, relying on information he’d provided.
For that, I’d eliminated two difficult people who’d stood in the way of his success. Plus, I paid him well for his services.
He would owe me for the rest of his life.
“She’s important.” That placed the operation on the upper tier of my command.
“Then I’ll handle this carefully.”
I handed him the keys. There was no need for further discussion about her car. There were always telltale signs of anyone attempting to disable a vehicle. I hadn’t lied to her. He was a damn good mechanic, also the only man to work on my fleet of vehicles. Plus, he wasn’t immune to the darker necessities that came with men holding such great power.
The thought brought a snicker and a smile to my face.
“What if I can’t get it running?”
I hadn’t thought about that option. “Then I guess I’ll provide her with a better version.”
“What’s the surveillance gig you need?”
“I need you to check on a buddy of mine.”
Walker snorted. “A buddy? I didn’t think you had any friends.”
I kept a hard, cold glare on him. “Find out why Jerry Offsinger targeted my guest. See who he talks to and if he has any issues.” He knew exactly what I meant. The best way to handle an enemy without ending their life was by use of blackmail. Find an ugly proclivity and you could use that against him for life.
He shifted his gaze toward the diner’s window. “As in the dude making all the waves in the justice department?”
“That’s the one.”
“What did he do?”
“Cross me the wrong way for one.”
The way Walker whistled meant he believed he knew me very well. He didn’t. “Bad night for him.”
“Not nearly bad enough. See what his deal is.” The way the guy had acted brought a brief thought back to the warning I’d received earlier. Was there any chance Jerry had been trying to rile me, thereby issuing a warning of a different kind? I’d at least store the thought in my mind.
“Are you looking for anything specific other than if the asshole is a perv?”
“I need to know who he’s friends with. I want names. That will do for starters. Just make sure he has no clue you’re tailing him.”
“It’ll cost you. He has tight security or so I’ve heard.”
I leaned in further, crowding his space. “As I said. You owe me. I suggest you remember that.”
“Whoa, buddy. Fine. But my debt is paid in full after I do this. I don’t like messing with the justice department.”
Of course he didn’t. He’d been running a car theft ring on the side for years. That’s why I knew I could trust him. “We’ll talk after you provide me with information. If he so much as looks at her again, I need to know immediately. Got it?”
He laughed. “You like her. How fascinating.”
“Just do your job.”
“Fine. I’ll call you.”
I turned, taking a deep breath as I walked away. Jerry Offsinger was rumored to be dirty, in bed with various corrupt politicians. However, I had no idea what that had to do with the Blackwell Group. I would find out soon enough.
“Take care of your girl,” he said in passing. “Good to finally see you with someone.”
After stopping just on the sidewalk, I threw him a look over my shoulder. He raised his arms as if to surrender. He knew better than to question me on anything, whether business or pleasure. I was a private man for several reasons. I not only preferred it that way, but doing so had kept me alive and earning money.
Lots of money.
As I headed back to the diner’s entrance, my thoughts drifted to the reason why I not only liked but admired the young woman. Truth be told, she was far too young for me and much too innocent for the kinky thoughts rambling around in my mind. Yet she called to me, her vulnerability adorable, her snort a reminder of the good things I rarely allowed myself to enjoy.
Why did I have the distinct feeling she had an appreciation of the darker side of life?
Perhaps she’d enjoy the possibility of partaking in the upcoming Obsidian Society festivities. A hunt perhaps or another non-con event? The thought was evocative and kept my cock twitching.
Once inside, I noticed the food had just been placed on our table, the waitress giving me a watchful eye as she passed.
Some people knew evil when they felt it. Perhaps the older woman was more perceptive than I’d given her credit for.
I took my time returning to the table, admiring my wild kitty as she picked at a single fry. She sensed my presence, I could feel it in my bones, but she was trying to avoid eye contact. Was that because our connection was too strong? I hungered to learn everything about her, mostly regarding the woman hiding under the surface.
I slipped into the booth, immediately grabbing a fry and dipping it into the ketchup, which just happened to be at the same time she did.
She lifted her gaze, darting her eyes back and forth across mine. I sensed she was asking herself if she could trust me.
Perhaps that was the moment I decided that someone so fragile and beautiful shouldn’t be left alone. I not only wanted to touch and taste her, I craved discovering everything about her.
Every nuance.
Every desire.
Every aspect of food and drink she preferred.
Movies she enjoyed.
Books she read.
And music she listened to.
Only then could I do what was innate in my system.
Breaking down her defenses and making her mine.
The thought tightened my balls. Soon, the luscious woman with a killer stage presence would learn what crossing a man of my substance would mean.
She would be sent an invitation to the game. It was entirely possible she’d win the prize. I’d be very curious how well she handled herself. That would tell me everything else I needed to know.
Even if she lost, I wouldn’t give a shit. She’d awakened something dark and demonic inside, the electricity we shared phenomenal.
I’d stalk her.
Protect her.
Taste her.
Touch her.
Fuck her.
After that, she would quickly belong to me.