Page 37 of Weeping Roses
CHAPTER 20
VALENTIN
Something snapped inside me when Samantha Burrows misplaced the keys. At least that’s what I’m telling myself, but if I’m honest, it was the way she referred to Veronica and my father as if they were a loving couple.
Home.
That word triggered a violent reaction inside me because thinking of my father’s home anywhere other than with his family, set about this chain reaction that will not end well for anyone involved.
Polly is coming with us, of course she is. She is an integral part of my investigation and I am not ready to let her off the hook so soon. We have unfinished business in more ways than one, and when the opportunity presented itself to make her indebted to me, I seized it like the heartless bastard I am and detailed the payment I expect.
I never even considered the cost, why would I? I never intended on her paying me for any of it but when I saw the fear in her eyes and the uncertainty on her face, it stirred the beast inside me and gave me the opportunity to prolong our encounter.
It’s an amusing turn of events and so when I cast a disparaging glance around the emptying coach house, it’s with a smile on my face rather than the frown that caused this to happen.
London will be easier. I will feel more like myself and the first item on the agenda is some clean clothes and a decent meal in civilization, just how I like it.
As the cars pull out of the driveway of Thorn House, Polly sighs and says wistfully, “It feels wrong leaving.”
I say nothing and note her sad expression as she gazes out of the window, her hands resting in her lap, and for some reason she looks so vulnerable I want to reassure her that everything will be okay.
I can’t imagine what her life has been like until now. First she lost her parents and now she’s inherited a fortune from an aunt she never really knew. If anything, I admire her strength. To stand at the grave of a woman she never knew and subsequently deal with the shit that brought with it makes me admire her more than I have anyone. The usual people I admire are businessmen, a well-executed deal, or the closing of a rare piece of art. Not struggling to adjust to the shit that life throws at you, seemingly alone and yet maintaining her dignity.
I resist the urge to reach across and grasp her hand, to reassure her that everything will be okay and not to worry. She’s not on her own anymore. But I can’t. She is on her own because, as sure as I will fuck her later on tonight, I will also leave when the chase takes me elsewhere. I don’t hang around and I don’t accept passengers past their use to me.
As she rests her head against the window, I turn away and glance at my phone, to distract my attention with emails and texts, anything to stop thinking about her.
We reach London inside an hour and as the buildings grow in size and the streets become busier and the traffic louder, Polly sighs heavily. “I wish we had stayed in the Cotswolds a little longer.”
“We are not on vacation, Polly. We have serious business to attend to.” I snap, causing her to say indignantly.
“Well I don’t. For your information, I could have stayed there quite happily and got to know everyone.
“Everyone?” I smirk. “Are you referring to that gruesome woman who lives next door or the gardener who is sure to be scintillating company?”
“They would be better than my current companion, for sure.” She fires back and glares at me with an anger that interests me.
“Honestly, Valentin, your social graces could use a lot of work. I mean–” She cocks her head on one side. “You bowled into my life and took over without even asking if I was okay with that. Then–” She jabs her finger in my direction, “You start throwing your money around and then tell me I must repay you in, um, kind, and I’m expected to be happy about that; honored in fact.”
I say nothing and just stare because it’s an unusual scene playing out before me. Nobody challenges me—ever. They shut up and do as they’re told and yet Polly is throwing everything I’ve done back in my face and rightly so. If anyone dared treat me the way I have treated her, they would be wearing one of my bullets in their brain right now. I demand respect. I always have, and the way Polly is firing insults in my direction is seriously cute.
She huffs and frowns adorably as she says roughly, “So, this is what will happen. You can drop me off at my aunt’s flat and then head to your own. If you like, you can call me later and invite me out for dinner and we can work out a mutual beneficial arrangement.”
“Arrangement?” I lean back and wait with interest for her grand plan and she nods, emboldened by my response as she believes she has the upper hand at last.
“Yes. I have information you need, so you better start treating me with more respect. So, in exchange for your security cameras, I will meet with Marsha Steele to discover what she knows. I will then relay the information back to you and you can take it and leave with a firm handshake and nothing more.”
“A firm handshake.” It makes me laugh out loud.
“I expect more than a firm handshake, Polly. I expect you spread out for my pleasure and to fuck you all night if I feel like it. Your proposal sucks.”
Her heated gaze betrays her angry expression as she attempts to disagree, but her body is already reacting to my demands and her emotional complexity is captivating as she fights to control them.
I love watching her react to the dirty words I throw out like confetti, wishing she could tell me to go to hell but knowing she wants it as much as I do.
In one sudden move, I reach for her and pull her sharply against me and whisper, “You are still wearing my cum in your already drenched pussy and yet you can think of nothing else than filling it with more.”
“You’re disgusting.” Her frantic breathing and lust-filled eyes tell another story, and I inch my hand under her skirt and ease aside the panties. She tenses as my fingers dance in her betrayal and I say huskily, “I will enjoy turning your body against your mind. I will delight in exploring every inch of you and claiming your soul as mine. You see, Polly.” I bite gently on her earlobe and her small needy moan causes my cock to jerk in my pants as I whisper, “I own you already and there is fuck all you can do about that. I am controlling every part of you against your wishes because your body wants me, even if your mind is ringing the alarm bells. You belong to me, malyshka, until I fucking say otherwise, so just accept the situation and enjoy it while it lasts, because you will soon get your wish when I have what I need.”