to fuck her until she can’t think straight. I want to wear her out, make her cry and scream, make her come, and then I want her to take my seed.”
“You want arm candy and a fuck toy.” I shake my head as realization takes hold of me, and the picture becomes clear.
“Pretty much, but…” Lycan reaches for my hair, tangling a lock of my long red strands around his finger before tugging. The corner of his mouth tilts upward when he continues, “I want someone with intelligence who can stand beside me while running my business.”
“And that’s why you chose me?”
“Oh, little red, no.” He shakes his head, the smirk on his lips curling, forcing my eyes to lock on the full, pinkish flesh. “I was given you as a payment. I didn’t know I would want you until the night we met.”
“That makes no sense.”
He tugs my hair once more before gripping my chin between his thumb and forefinger. “When you spoke back to me, when that fire burned in your eyes, that’s when I decided I’ll take you, and your father agreed.” A flash of satisfaction dances in his eyes before he leans in, his mouth teasing its way over my cheek to my ear. “And that makes you mine.”
The heat of his breath and the promise in his tone sends cold shivers down my spine while somersaulting my stomach with a flurry of nerves. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do here. I want to hate Lycan, and I think I do, but also, anger at my parents takes precedence.
“I won’t marry you.”
“We’ll see,” Lycan responds before stepping back, leaving me cold and shivering at his absence. “Eat, enjoy your coffee. I’ll see you later.” He heads to the door and stops on the threshold, glancing at me from over his shoulder before winking. And then he’s gone, and I’m left angry and frustrated.
Chapter Ten
Lycan
“Do you want us to do a hunt?” Kahn asks, his stare locked on me, waiting for the approval. This is what he was trained to do. It’s something he loves. There’s no doubt in my mind, if I were to nod, he would be out here in an instant, his predatorial instincts kicking in, and his team right behind him.
With the men here, I’m anxious. She heard the shot last night, and that’s not a good thing. When I saw him hidden in the trees, waiting, I took a chance. I pulled the fucking trigger but missed.
He wouldn’t go back to the Bardot mansion, that much is certain. Which begs the question—where is he now? Kahn’s watching me, waiting for a response to his question. If my brother were to die today, I’m not sure I’ll feel that pain. Actually, I don’t feel anything, not anymore.
My life has been a series of unemotional ties—one-night stands, contractual obligations—all offering nothing more than satisfaction for a moment. I never allowed myself to grow close to someone, to open what’s left of my heart, and to have someone burrow themselves into my soul.
Scarlett is merely a means to an end. I need a family; she has a womb. Marrying her means nothing to me but ensuring she gives me an heir. I push my chair away from the desk and stand. Buttoning my suit jacket, I round my desk after picking up the folder.
“Find him but bring him back alive.” The order is clear, and Kahn offers a nod. Once I’m alone, I head to the patio doors that overlook the garden. The spot where I breached the trees with Scarlett in my arms is right in front of me, and I wonder if she’ll ever come to terms with being my wife.
In a few days, she’ll take my name, and there’s nothing she can do about it. If she refuses, her father will go to jail, and something tells me it’s not what she’d want. Her life has been a series of events planned by her parents. Nothing she’s done has been of her own will, and now I’ll take the last remaining choice away from her.
I should feel bad.
But I don’t.
I turn and stalk out into the hallway. Gray is opening the front door to the wedding dress designer. Behind her are two younger girls pushing a brass railing with clothing bags lined up for Scarlett to choose from. When I selected the options from the website, I had her in mind. Picturing her wearing any of them had my dick