Page 26 of Commit
She opens her mouth to argue, but I turn my wrist and look at my Rolex. “I don’t have all day, birdie.” I allow my eyes to move over her body, just barely resisting the urge to rip Abbot’s clothes off her. “And put something else on. You look like you just crawled out of bed.” I turn and walk away as she takes in a shocked breath.
I grin as I head down to the kitchen and text Atlas and Kenzo that I’ll be unavailable for the rest of the day, except for emergencies. I make myself a coffee and drink it as I read the paper and wait.
Fifteen minutes later, Starling appears, wearing no makeup and ripped black jeans. Her white tank top with a black bra underneath has my eyes stopping on her chest for a second before they take in the rest of her. A worn leather jacket is draped over her arm, and a pair of battered biker boots are on her feet. Her buttery blonde hair falls down her back in a riot of waves. Her eyes dare me to say something, her mouth set in a defiant grin that says, fuck you.
I have to fight back my own smile. So my little birdie has sharp claws, after all.
I did wonder how she survived this long if she bruises so easily. Looking at her now, it’s clear that she has a stubborn streak a mile long. My cock stirs at her bratty attitude. The thought of putting her over my knee and reminding her who the boss is makes me want to wrap my fist in her hair and yank her to me. But I’ll wait, knowing it’s better to keep her on edge.
“That’ll do, I guess,” I say. I don’t tell her that the only way that outfit would look better is if it were on my bedroom floor.
“Sorry, I don’t have many choices,” she replies tightly.
“Let’s go.”
I walk out to the garage and opt for the Range Rover. I’m not sure how much stuff we’ll be bringing back with us. She follows behind. I open the door for her, and when she goes to get in, I slide my hands around her hips and give her a boost.
She gulps as I close the door and walk around to climb into the driver’s seat. She says nothing until we’re on the freeway.
“Where did you say Abbot was?” she asks.
“I didn’t. He was leaving as I was getting back from my run. I don’t know his friends or where he hangs out, so you’ll probably figure out where he is before I do.”
She bites her lip before looking out the window.
“I’m actually surprised he didn’t take you with him. You two seem to be joined at the hip.”
She shakes her head. “Like you said, you don’t know him or me. The last few days have been hard on both of us, so we’ve stuck together. But usually, we do our own thing. We’re both pretty independent.”
I make a mental note of that and pull up outside an electronics store. I walk around and open the door for her, unbuckling her seat belt before she has a chance and helping her down. She bites her lip, looking up at me as I crowd her against the truck door.
“I-I can m-manage, but th-thanks.”
“It’s my pleasure.” I don’t keep just how much I like the feel of her body against mine out of my voice.
Her cheeks flush as she looks away. I close the door and grab her hand, leading her toward the store’s entrance. She tries to pull her hand from mine, but I tighten my grip and lean down.
“Stop struggling. I just don’t want to lose you.”
She looks at me with a frown but stops struggling. When we enter the building, a man wearing a name tag and a smarmy smile walks over to us.
“Hello, my name’s Donny. Is there anything I can help you and your daughter with today?”
I look at him. His fake smile quickly slips from my face. “She’s not my daughter,” I tell him firmly. Then, to prove my point, I wrap my arm around her waist and yank her into my side. Her body is rigid beneath my touch, but she doesn’t pull away.
“Right, sorry,” the fool mumbles.
“We need a couple laptops, tablets, and cell phones. Think you can manage that?”
“Yes, of course, sir. Budget?”
“No budget. I want the best.” He starts to turn, but I strike, reaching out and grabbing a handful of his shirt.
“Don’t try to fuck me,” I warn him. “The best doesn’t always mean the highest price.”
“Yes, sir,” he says, and scurries away when I let him go.
“Can you let me go now?” Starling asks me in a small voice.