an age, he rested his elbow on the arm of the couch and swirled the dark liquid up the sides of his glass. “Why were you at the club?”
“Duh. Why do you think? I was working.”
“Working? Or fucking? I swear to god, Athena, you’d better have only been serving drinks because if you’ve been spreading your legs for money…” His voice dropped to a menacingly low tone. “I will lock you up and throw away the key.”
The fact he thought for one second I could ever prostitute myself sliced through my heart so deeply, I wasn’t sure the gaping hole could ever be repaired. If only he knew the truth. That my vagina was well and truly sealed up, and the man sitting opposite me was the sole owner of the key.
I breathed in through my nose, taking a moment to swallow the hurt before answering. “I was waiting tables, that’s all,” I replied sullenly.
“But why? It’s not like you need the money. Why would you degrade yourself like that? I saw that guy pawing at you. Can you imagine what Elliot would have done if he’d seen the same thing? I’d be posting bail on his ass, that’s what, because he’d have torn the guy’s arm off.”
I suppressed a wince, thanking my lucky stars it’d been Ryker who’d spotted me. It wasn’t like I’d expected them to be there. I knew Ryker owned a few clubs in various cities around the world, but, really, what were the chances? I felt like Rick Blaine in Casablanca. Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, he walks into mine.
I hit back. “But it’s okay for all those other women who work there, and in your other clubs, to ‘degrade’ themselves, but not me, huh? Why not me? What’s so special about me?”
“You’re my best friend’s kid sister, that’s what’s fucking special,” he roared, showing an unusual fit of temper.
If he calls me a kid one more time… “I am not a child.”
He scraped a hand over his face and muttered, “No, you most certainly are not.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He ignored my question, staring me down. Neither of us was willing to give an inch, nor to show weakness of any kind. We were both as stubborn as the other in our own way, although I was well aware my stubbornness often presented itself as irascibility whereas Ryker’s came across as commanding.
Pfft. Being a woman sucks sometimes.
“I need to go back to my place and get some clothes.”
Ryker slid his eyes over to me. “You’re going nowhere. I’m not letting you out of my sight until we’re back in the US. Where are you staying?”
Ignoring the flush of heat through my core at the intensity of his gaze, I reluctantly gave him the address. He took out his phone and made a call to… someone, instructing them to clear out my hotel room and fetch my clothes to this location. I waited for him to end his conversation.
“I’m not going back to America, Ryker. I’m staying in Japan.”
“The hell you are.”
I tightened my jaw, clenched my hands into fists. “You can’t force me to do anything.”
His lips curled at the edges, so subtle, almost evil. “Oh, darling, we both know that’s a lie.”
I hated it when he called me darling because my idiotic heart always skipped a beat. The stupid thing couldn’t tell the difference between a term of endearment and a sarcastic put-down.
“Oh yeah?” I snorted. “Good luck muscling me onto a flight. I think one of the airline staff might notice I’m being coerced.”
“That’s what private planes are for.”
“I’ll fight you every step of the way.”
He scratched behind his ear. “I believe you. Which is why you either capitulate, or I’ll walk down the hall and fetch Elliot. Your choice, Athena. Me or your brother.” He released a glimmer of a smile and tapped his watch. “Ticktock, little bird.”
Bastard. He’d cornered me. Cut off my options. Presented me with Hobson’s choice.
“I hate you.”
He rose from the couch, crossing over to where I sat. He rested his fine ass on the arm of the chair.
“I should put you over my knee and give you the hiding of your life for this,” he murmured, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear.
I broke out into goose bumps both at his words and the tenderness of his caress. Closing my eyes, I breathed him in, and the faint scent of cologne mingled with Ryker’s own scent—one I’d