Bound by His Command: A Dark Billionaire Romance Read online

  I allowed him to roam as I placed dogfood and water into two bowls, every action perfunctory. He seemed completely out of sorts and obviously searching for the man he’d connected with. I found it odd, even disturbing the dog would find Christopher anything but abominable. Maybe the pup hadn’t known any comfort or joy in his life before being given a grade-A steak. I chuckled darkly.

  As I poured a glass of wine, I remained perturbed as well as uncertain what to do. I hadn’t actually told Christopher that I’d quit, but I couldn’t handle the thought of seeing him again.

  At least not in a sexual manner.

  I wanted to rid my mind of the man and my continued desires, but every other thought dragged me back to my hunger. I felt as if every nerve ending had been seared, my mind incapable of thinking of anything else.

  A wave of anger rushed into me and I dropped my head, almost wishing that tears would fall. I hadn’t allowed myself to sob in years, always reminding myself that I was stronger than all the brutality I’d been forced to deal with.

  There was no denying the softness, the heavy weight that was pushed against my leg. As I peered over my shoulder, Baxter’s eyes held a tiny bit more of a shimmer than before. There was no reason for my tentative actions, but as I reached down, finally stroking his head, I was rewarded with a single woof.

  I watched as he finally walked toward the food, sniffing at the kibble and taking a single lick of water. Dogs had a way of surviving through almost anything, although I was worried his sadness would lead to his demise. I only hoped the poor pup would survive whatever heartache he was feeling.

  After getting into my pajamas, I walked into the bedroom, grimacing as I noticed Baxter sitting in the doorway, looking out into the hallway. The pup was expecting Christopher to arrive at any moment. “I’m sorry, buddy. He’s not coming.” Not now. Not ever. I slid under the covers, waiting to see if he’d even glance in my direction. There was no reaction. Not a tail wag, not a single sound. “Hey, little man, why don’t you come over here.” I’d never allowed myself to own a pet, maybe because I was afraid of losing them. My heart was about to break seeing his woeful actions.

  I patted the bed several times, Baxter finally glancing over his shoulder. In a resigned manner, he approached, darting his gaze at the bed. “It’s okay. You can get up here.”

  Baxter hesitated for at least fifteen seconds before jumping on the covers and I was surprised that within seconds, he’d burrowed his massive body under the covers, placing his head on my other pillow.

  “Good boy. Such a good boy. We’ll figure out what to do. I promise you that.”

  As if I had a freaking clue what to do.

  Even though I turned off the light, I studied him for a few minutes, waiting until he’d gone to sleep before resting my head on the pillow.

  I had no doubt a brand new set of nightmares would derail any hope of decent sleep. At least I had a companion by my side. Huffing, I hated the way I’d allowed Christopher to get under my skin. I had no time for dancing with the devil.

  I’d once been called a fighter, a warrior with a heart of gold. I’d also been labeled sad as well as fierce, all words I hated, pretending that I was none of them. However, tonight as the sadness crept into every pore and muscle, I knew what the Russian had taken away all those years ago; his attempts to break me had succeeded on some level.

  As I pulled the covers over my head, sliding my arm over Baxter, I heard the chime of my phone and instantly, I knew the identity of the sender.

  We need to talk…

  Chapter 7

  Christopher

  Patience.

  That certainly wasn’t one of my virtues. I’d grown accustomed to having what I wanted within hours, often minutes of my request. I was particular in my tastes, never varying from some, including exquisite tastes in wine and food.

  And women.

  I simply wanted what I wanted.

  What I believed I deserved.

  Maybe that was a load of bullshit created by my father’s attitude. Or maybe I had been the spoiled rich kid never wanting for anything. I’d hidden my intolerance to the majority of humans for the most part, pretending to enjoy other members of society during my daily tasks. At least within reason.

  At this point, I’d run out of patience, hungering to take Willow again. It didn’t matter that she had made it clear she wanted nothing to do with me. I wasn’t planning on giving her a choice.

  I’d texted her back, half anticipating that she’d ignore my request for conversation. When she called early in the morning, forced to leave a message, I’d been intrigued.

  And aroused.

  I wasn’t certain if she was playing a game, drawing me further into some web of deceit then reporting to Aleksandr. Michael’s points had to be respected as well as ruled out if necessary. It was entirely possible that he was correct, which continued to piss me off even more. However, the most surprising element was the message she’d left.

  “Christopher. The dog you brought in isn’t doing well. I hope that you will reconsider adopting him. If you want to talk, that’s the only discussion we’re going to have. Period.”

  I’d returned her call, refusing to meet her at the shelter. The location had been my choice, although benign enough she wouldn’t fight meeting me. So now, the game of cat and mouse was underway.

  I sat in the coffee shop, enjoying some alone time.

  And waiting for her arrival.

  She’d insisted on a safe location, one where she could flee if necessary. While those weren’t the words she’d said during our brief interaction, I’d read between her terse words even though I’d also gathered a sense of her continued arousal. My cock remained hard just thinking about her, but my mind had fallen into another level of darkness, desire mixing with a longing to find out her secrets.

  To understand her fears.

  There was no rational explanation as to my intentions, yet I knew I would never be able to let them go.

  Or the woman who’d captured the darkest part of me.

  Fortunately, there’d been no incidents at the club the night before, the Russian heeding the warning and staying away. That didn’t mean he wasn’t lying in wait, preparing some new onslaught. I’d instructed every bouncer to be on watch. They understood what we’d faced the last few months. They would perform as required with weapons ready.

  I took another sip of the smooth coffee, my body tensing.

  She was the breath of fresh air that walked into the coffee shop, her long curls now freed from their tight confines, the body-hugging yet sensuous dress meant to impress. But the color she’d selected issued a bold statement. Red. Like the color of perfect roses.

  The color of power.

  The hue exactly like a subtle string of blood.

  I sat back, my pulse racing and my nostrils flaring. I was able to gather a scent of her perfume even before she was within two feet of the table I’d selected, one smack in the middle of the front window. I had no issue allowing others to see the beautiful woman I’d selected to spend time with. Fuck Aleksandr. If this was a game, it was time to draw him out in the open. While I was cognizant that she’d likely not want to be seen together, she would soon learn that my power had far-reaching tentacles.

  Her expression remained benign until she noticed my location, her body immediately tensing. When she pulled her purse closer to her body, the gesture told me two important details.

  She had no intention of allowing me to know her home address.

  And two…

  She was fearful that I’d rip away the last of her defenses.

  Which I was determined to do.

  “Christopher,” she said in the same quiet yet lilting voice that had drawn me in from her very first sentence.

  “Have a seat.” The rush of sensations coursing through every centimeter of my body would have a lasting effect, the electricity overpowering.

  She didn’t fight my command, although she scanned the entire quaint little store as if expecting the boogeyman to jump out from the shadows. When she finally eased onto the hard wooden seat, she looked extremely uncomfortable.

  “Baxter isn’t doing well. He’s crying for you.”

  I was surprised by her words, or maybe an admittance that a creature could find me anything other than intolerable.

  “Baxter?”

  “Yes, my assistant named him. We always name our incoming animals to give them a sense of something other than the streets or even worse conditions.” She studied me intently, her lovely mouth pursed in confusion as well as apprehension.

  “I like the name. It suits him.” I took a sip of coffee before pushing the one I’d purchased for her across the table. The tension was palpable, but as her eyes darted back and forth, I knew that the door I’d already wrenched open into her very soul remained cracked.

  Prepared.

  Excited.

  I shifted in my seat, attempting to relieve the biting anguish as my throbbing cock pressed against my zipper.

  Willow fiddled with the cup, finally taking a sip, the look of surprise on her face giving me a moment of pleasure. “How did you know?”

  “What coffee you like? Hazelnut with a touch of cinnamon. I do my homework, Willow. On everything.”

  Her expression turning cold, she leaned forward. “Just so you know, I’m not coming back to the club. I think it’s in my best interest to concentrate on the shelter. I apologize for the short notice, but you have other incredible dancers at your disposal.”

  “While working with animals is admirable, the thirty-five thousand dollars a year you make won’t pay for the remaining hospital bills from your mother’s wretched illness before she died. Given we are in one of the most expensive cities within the United States, I can
only imagine how difficult it is for you to pay rent, taxes, and feed yourself.” My comment clearly pissed her off, but I pressed on. “I suggest you reconsider your options. If you are worried about Aleksandr, I will have him banished from the club. That is unless he’s someone from your past, his dangerous profession something you’ve run from but are still drawn to. Or perhaps what you shared with the Russian was a relationship.”

  She bit her lower lip, her eyes flashing but the single hint of fear was the way her hand began to shake. “How dare you look into my life. I’m nobody to you. I’m just trying to keep a roof over my head. That much you obviously figured out. I only agreed to meet with you because I thought you might actually give a shit about Baxter, possibly altering your affluent and no doubt distinguished life in order to save a precious animal. I can see that I was wrong.”

  The second she rose to her feet, I issued a low-slung growl. “Sit down, Willow. We are not finished with our discussion.” I was pleasantly surprised when she finally sat back down after a few seconds. “Actually, I do care about the dog and I’m happy to provide whatever amount of money you will need in order to secure him a good home.”

  “Money. You really do think that if you throw around enough money, you can have anything or anyone you want. What that dog needs is love and compassion, an owner who will provide him nourishment and a big back yard to play in, toys to keep him occupied.”

  Goddamn, her defiance was refreshing, my balls feeling that they’d just been slapped into a tight vise. “That sounds exactly like what everyone wants, Willow. Sadly, life is often disappointing.”

  “Jesus. What happened to you in life? Why are you so jaded?” she threw out, doing her best to recoil from me.

  “What happened? I’ve worked very hard to get where I am in life and I refuse to allow some scum of the earth to derail my plans.” She had a way of getting under my skin like no one else had, her independence and push for answers even more aggressive than my own. I also realized I had a soft spot for the damn dog. The thought was almost as unnerving as the hunger chiseling away at my insides, forcing me to accept the fact I craved having another person in my life.

  “You know what? I understand about derailment. It’s a crushing blow, but it builds character and stamina. It also builds resolve.”

  Was she trying to tell me something about her own life, a past she’d been forced to run from, or was this simply another way of dodging my questions?

  “I don’t need any additional stamina, sweet angel. I’m living every single day exactly the way I want to.”

  “Alone and lonely.”

  Goddamn, her words were haunting. I pulled back, taking a deep breath before answering.

  “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I do need to own a pet.”

  Her eyes opened wide, her jaw clenching as she fumed. “What do you want from me, Christopher? I’m not your pet or anyone’s pet for that matter.”

  I leaned over quickly, inhaling her delicious perfume. “The truth. You share a past with the Russian. I need to know what that was. Or what that continues to be.”

  “I’ve told you before and I’ll tell you again. I do not know him, and I assure you that I don’t want to. Why is he important to you, Christopher? Does he threaten your pristine way of life, or do you fear whatever level of retaliation he has on his mind? Maybe you’re the one with a dubious past.”

  Her words were a clear indication she had full understanding of what the Russian was capable of. “He is of little consequence to my world, but I don’t allow predators to hide behind the walls of the club. What do you know?”

  “Nothing. Why can’t you understand that?”

  “Sadly, I know that you are lying; however, I will do everything in my power to protect you from him given he seems to have attached himself to your… persona. But, as I told you before, I can only do that if you are honest with me. And only if you trust me.”

  The red-hot heat erupting from the closeness was intense, pulling me into a mindset that I knew could alter the course of our intimacy. I eased a single finger under her chin, expecting her to pull away. Instead, she opened her luscious mouth, her eyes darting back and forth across mine. Of course, she was searching for my intentions, attempting to determine if she could trust me on any level. The touch was far more intimate than I’d imagined, a powerful reminder of the connection we shared.

  My balls were tight and aching, the need to explore every inch of her skin powerful. I wanted to spend hours taking her in every hole, in several different ways until we were both left sore yet sated. I could see the same desire in her eyes, a wanton hunger that was difficult to deny.

  “Trust? I can’t trust anyone,” she said in a quiet voice, leaning in further, her hand sliding close to mine. “Besides, it’s earned and not a God-given right. I’m not certain you can understand that.”

  “More than you know, Willow. While you may not be able to trust me just yet, I do demand respect.”

  “Demand?” Her eyes filled with fury again before she laughed, jerking out of my reach. “That’s also earned and not something I give out freely.”

  “Do you give out the truth freely?” The woman was maddening in almost every way, pushing me closer to the darkness that I’d fed on for so long.

  I expected a hard slap across my face, but it would appear she refused to give me the satisfaction of finding another reason to punish her.

  “Forget I came here. Baxter deserves to be with someone who will actually give a damn. I made another mistake.” The force of her move created a scratching sound as the legs were dragged across the tile floor.

  Then she jerked up, attempting to move away from the table, I snagged her wrist with ease. “Don’t make a scene, Willow. We’re here to discuss a situation like adults, including regarding the dog.” Did she smell my lust for her? Did she sense I was the true predator?

  She yanked her wrist away, huffing as she glared down at me. “I’m merely going to the restroom. Then you will tell me if you have any intentions of giving a damn about Baxter. After that, we have nothing to talk about.”

  I didn’t watch as she walked away, although I concentrated on the sound of her high heels as they clipped against the solid floor. I wasn’t used to anyone walking away from me, daring to defy my orders. The fact she had the gumption to do so was yet another reason my attraction for her was increasing.

  A part of me was determined to play this out, to try to gain her trust, if only in some small way. But it was just like before. My desire overrode any concept of common sense. Thankfully, the coffee shop was nearly empty, the morning rush long since gone. Even the folks behind the counter were paying almost no attention to their customers, jabbering away while rock music blared in the background.

  I pushed my coffee away before rising to my feet, taking long strides in the direction of the bathroom. There was no hesitation as I burst into the small room, catching Willow completely off guard.

  Her mouth twisted in fury as she backed away from the sink, venom lacing her eyes. “What are you doing in here?”

  “Taking what belongs to me.” I grabbed both her wrists this time, yanking them above her head and grasping them in one hand. They were slender, far too fragile for a beast like me. My thoughts drifted to visions of her naked body, the longing I felt shattering my control as well as my resolve. As I pushed her against the chipped tile wall, she gasped.

  But only for a few seconds until I crushed my mouth over hers, drinking in her sweet essence as if it was the only thing to allow me to breathe. This wasn’t about romance, but the sickness dwelling within. I kissed her roughly, crudely, and in a manner that I knew she craved.

  She wiggled against me, trying her best to break free of my hold, her muffled moans adding to the exhilaration of the moment. We were both on fire, the onslaught of emotions mixing with an insane level of hunger.

  As I thrust my tongue inside, instantly dominating hers, her continued reticence only fed the beast. I shifted my other hand down her side, rolling my fingers delicately over her breasts before sliding them down further until I was able to gather the thin material of her dress.

  She jerked harder, almost able to free her hands as I kicked her legs apart. The tips of my fingers were seared from the touch of her skin. She was soft and delicate like a flower while the vixen inside created wetness between her legs. When I cupped her mound, her entire body shivered, her angry moans turning into whimpers.