Broken by His Hand - Piper Stone Page 0,61

that she wasn’t prepared to allow her defenses to fall. Why should she? She had no understanding of who I was. None. “You are correct.”

“I don’t know you at all, Michael. Nothing. We’ve spent incredible hours together without talking. Absolutely I checked your background and asked questions about this club you own. That is a prudent thing to do in this day and age, but that doesn’t mean I was brought any closer to getting to know you. You refuse to allow anyone into your mind or your world.” She laughed softly, her hand shaking as she brought the champagne glass to her lips. “And what’s funny? I want nothing more than to let go with you. That makes me feel like one stupid girl.”

Reaching over, I took her hand into mine. “You are anything but stupid. You are the most intelligent woman I’ve ever met, beautiful inside and out.” The electricity we’d shared since the beginning remained, yet we were both tense.

She curled her fingers around mine, lowering her gaze as she rubbed her thumb back and forth across my knuckles. “I wanted to believe that you’d sent the flowers, a sweet gesture indicating that I actually meant something to you. That’s ridiculous and I know it, but that’s the way I felt. When those black roses came, a part of me wanted to cut out your eyes, but I knew in my gut you couldn’t have sent them. You are powerful. You are dangerous. But you aren’t cruel. At least that’s what my heart tells me. I hope I’m not just a naïve and stupid woman.”

“You can ask me anything. I will answer every question I can. However, you will not defy me again or I will punish you.” I sat back in the seat, watching her intently as I took several sips of the champagne. While I rarely traveled, almost never in our private plane, I was happy to take advantage of the secluded atmosphere.

She pursed her mouth, placing her glass on the table before inching to her feet. Every action she made was pensive, yet she moved closer, peering down at me as if I was ready to punish her. When she crawled onto my lap, easing first one arm then the other around me, she took a deep breath. “What is your favorite color?”

The question almost brought a laugh. I hadn’t been asked any questions about my personal likes from anyone in a long time. “Red. The color of power.”

“Also the color of blood. What is your favorite wine?”

“Cabernet sauvignon, the richest blend of grapes aged in fine oak barrels.”

“Ruby red, the color of superiority,” she whispered as she lowered her head, allowing her hot breath to cascade across the side of my neck.

“Very true.” My cock was already throbbing, much like my pulse was racing. She had no idea what she did to me, the desire that would always remain just below the surface.

“What is your favorite band?” she purred, nipping my earlobe.

I was forced to take a deep breath before answering, closing my eyes as she undulated against me. The feel of having her close was for too intoxicating. Her scent. Her soft skin. Her long legs. “Red.”

A laugh slipped past her lips as she eased back. “Seriously?”

“Yes, they have an incredible album that I listen to late at night. Of Beauty and Rage. The songs are very powerful.”

“And very appropriate for a man who knows no peace.”

I slipped my hands under her dress, digging my fingers into her skin before crawling them up to her thighs. I lowered my head, pressing my lips against her neck, dragging my tongue up and down in a languishing manner.

She tipped her head back, a single whimper slipping past her mouth. “And what is your favorite food?”

I couldn’t resist the game, enjoying the way she believed she had control. “Red velvet cake. Delicious. Sweet. Perfect.” I envisioned slathering her body with the cream cheese icing, licking until I’d had my fill.

As she slowly lowered her head, taking shallow breaths as our lips came within centimeters, I could feel the slight quivers dancing down her body. “Yes, perfect,” she mumbled.

I pressed my mouth against hers, forcing her lips to part as I drank in her essence. She darted her tongue just inside, swirling it against mine as if tasting me for the first time. I could tell she was aroused, her panties wet as her desire continued to increase.

“Never forget. You belong to me.” My whisper was