Page 23 of Lord of Vice

Decisions. Decisions.

Who was I kidding? Eventually I would claim every hole. But maybe I’d be decent and start with one. My balls tightened from the thought.

While I was still locked in a haze of lust, I could tell the pup had trotted into the room. I heard his tags jingling. When I turned around, I wasn’t certain what to expect but the sight of Penny now in shorts and a different tee shirt, her hair pulled into a ponytail was as arousing as if she’d returned in sexy lingerie.

Fuck me. I wanted her more than I had any woman in a long time.

She studied me, trying to control her breathing. That was easy to tell. Her champagne glass was empty and she headed toward the bottle, taking her time to refill it. While I no longer gathered ascent of fear, the fact her panties had been soaked meant she was curious as to the naughty things I was going to do to her.

The way she was chewing on her inner lip was adorable, her outfit making her appear very much the innocentmalyshkabut as a wise man once said, looks could be deceiving.

“Is the room satisfactory, pretty Penny?”

“Yes, just dandy for a prison cell.” Her entire demeanor had changed. Was she now trying to pretend as if I didn’t bother her? Hmm…

“You’ll be allowed certain privileges.”

“I’m not eight years old,Daddy.”

If any of my men had acted so defiantly, they’d be given a broken jaw. It was funny how her calling me Daddy was thrilling, even if I wasn’t that much older than her.

As she took a sip, I noticed something I hadn’t before. Razor marks on the insides of both arms. Fuck. I knew what that meant. She had a past that indicated tragedy or something even worse.

What in God’s name possessed a lovely young woman to harm herself? While the marks didn’t look fresh, I had a feeling the pain remained. I’d seen a haunting flash in her eyes that couldn’t be hidden from a master of observation.

Was it the Morelli brothers? I wanted to crush the head of whoever had caused her to do that.

She noticed where my gaze had landed and turned around, sucking down almost the entire glass.

“Did the Morellis do that to you?” I growled. “If they fucking did, I will kill them with my bare hands.”

“Stop getting all hot and bothered. No. Of course not. I never allowed them to get that close to me. Leave it alone. Just… leave it alone.”

I moved to one of the groups of couches, sitting down with my drink. Her quick, pained answer prompted my thoughts as to why she’d come here in the first place. Maybe she was running from something in her past. Maybe she was lying. It was time to find out one way or the other. “Come here, Penny.”

The tension from before was even greater, every muscle in her body seeming to convulse. Two full minutes went by. I had a feeling I’d captured a tiger by its tail.

“Don’t make me ask you again, Penny. I’m not usually a very patient man and as you might understand, the events of this evening were… challenging. Someone knew I was inside that restaurant and I need to discover who that is.” I powered back the rest of my drink, trying to decide if I wanted to use the belt or not. What she’d done wasn’t that egregious, especially since I could tell by the way her car was packed she’d been tossed out just like she’d said. That didn’t mean I wouldn’t establish rules immediately.

“You still think I’m lying. Why would I be stupid enough to put all my belongings in my car, including my beautiful pup to lure some assassin to kill you then sit right there not only eating but stealing your food?”

“Stranger things have happened.”

“Maybe in your world but not in mine. I’m a decent human being.”

“Hence stealing in the first place.” I threw the same defiance back at her and could tell I was now getting under her skin.

“You are… infuriating.”

“Come. Here. I won’t tell you again.”

She finally turned toward me, the look of confusion and hatred returning. But for a brief second, I noticed tears in her eyes. But she was tough, refusing to give into fear, blinking furiously. That made her nose wrinkle as she picked me apart with her heated gaze. “Why are you insisting on this?”

“I already told you why. When you break the rules, you should pay the price.”

“I guess next time someone tries to take you out with a Beretta, I’ll let him.”

“You know your guns.”