Bound by His Command: A Dark Billionaire Romance Read online

  Then Willow had appeared like an angel from heaven, her long blonde curls and the softness of her voluptuous lips driving me to the edge of madness. I’d wanted her after watching her graceful body tilting and yielding to the powerful dance, her body aligned beautifully. Then I’d taken her like a true savage.

  What she didn’t know was that I’d just gotten started with her, my thirst yet to be quenched. I would take her again and again, brutally and without hesitation. I would feast on her pussy for hours in a desperate attempt to sate my needs. I’d fuck her pretty pink mouth, indulging in the way the tip of my engorged cock hit the back of her throat seconds before I spilled my seed. Then I’d drive my cock deep into her tight channel, shattering what was left of her innocence before claiming her ass.

  Then I would start all over again.

  Several vibrant images rushed into my mind, forcing my aching cock to shift to intense pain. Damn, the woman did this to me and there was no logical reason why. I’d had beautiful woman before, although the majority had been to quiet the irrational bullshit one or both of my brothers had given me. Why had the fair-haired vixen called to the darkness swirling inside? Time would tell but perhaps time was also my enemy.

  I couldn’t ignore the fact that she could be a plant, although I was beginning to think otherwise. Still, I’d have to be careful with my actions. If I had any rational sense, I would dump her, pay her a significant amount of money to get as far away from the club and my life as possible. However, I’d never taken the easy road or followed a rational path.

  I couldn’t keep her, even if she was completely innocent. While my two brothers had broken free of permanent bachelorhood, I held no such desire, nor did I believe in creating a weakness for my enemies to latch onto. There were always tragedies, those closest becoming casualties of an unnamed war. I’d learned that from my father.

  I was well aware of Michael’s belief our parents had been murdered, likely by one of the members of the inner circle. If that was the case and the asshole was alive, they would pay for their sins with my use of a serrated blade.

  They’d gotten careless, my father’s breach into the entitlement stage of his life costing him his. I had no plans to be that foolish.

  I’d left a message with my informant, the coded information requesting a meeting. He knew better than to stand me up. The only acceptable reason would be his death. I snickered at the thought. One day, the little weasel would attempt to betray me. That would be his last day on earth.

  Movement out my driver’s window yanked at my attention. Within seconds, I had the Glock in my hand, prepared to eliminate whatever enemy had been stupid enough to set foot on my property. I slammed the gear into park, immediately cutting the engine before taking a hard look in the direction of the front door. “What the fuck?”

  A goddamn dog.

  A freaking animal had decided that sleeping on my front stoop was in its best interest. Christ. I laughed softly as I got out of the Corvette, scanning the perimeter in case this was some kind of ploy to draw my attention. The wind had died down, leaving the night eerily quiet. Except for the hard thumping of the dog’s tail hitting the concrete. After a few seconds, I slid the weapon back into my jacket, moving closer while still maintaining an air of caution.

  The pup remained on his side, barely lifting his head. From where I stood, I couldn’t tell the dog was injured, but he certainly wasn’t prepared to run away either. I found myself inched ever closer, curious as to why the animal would fixate on this particular property. I was distracted by his odd coloring, his body entirely golden yet a dark patch of fur covering one eye. A mutt. And from what I could tell, the dog wasn’t wearing a collar. Great. What the hell was I supposed to do?

  When I was merely a few inches away, he stretched out his front leg, as if prepared to give me his paw. Jesus Christ. Didn’t the mangy dog know I wasn’t an animal person? When I bent down, taking a closer look at him, the dog even rolled over on his back, completely submissive.

  Why the hell couldn’t Willow have been that way?

  What was I even thinking? I preferred women with spunk and character, even if they pretended that they couldn’t stand my controlling demeanor. I was able to see he hadn’t been neutered and he looked in fairly good shape, although far too skinny, his long fur matted in several locations. “Well, I hate to tell you this, buddy, but you need to get out of here. You’re in the wrong place.”

  When the dog released a single snort, I was surprised a smile curled on my lip. He didn’t move, only used the same paw to wipe across his muzzle. I glanced at the obligatory trees surrounding the carefully manicured lawn in front of the pristine yet cold house I’d purchased a few years before. My closest neighbors were at least a half mile down the road.

  I rose to my full height, taking a whiff of the night air. It was frigid outside, yet my entire body remained red-hot, likely from my interaction with the Russian. I stepped over the dog, unlocking the front door then pressing my finger against the key fob securing the Corvette’s doors. She could remain out of the garage for the night. I had the distinct feeling tomorrow would be one damn early day.

  “Sorry, buddy. You’re going to have to make it on your own. You’re not coming inside.”

  The dog sat back onto his haunches, dropping his head as he stared at me, his tongue hanging out. There was no whine or cry, no pitiful attempt at getting inside. He just sat there, studying me as if I was the one who didn’t belong here.

  When I closed the door and tossed the keys onto the hall table, I chuckled. The poor dog would eventually figure out what a bastard I was. After disabling the security system, I stormed into the kitchen, barely flipping on the lights before heading straight for the bottle of bourbon that I kept on the counter. By the time I’d yanked a glass from the cabinet, tossing in a few ice cubes and filling it almost three quarters, I realized the dog remained on the forefront of my mind.

  What the hell?

  Was I attempting to ease some cosmic round of karma for taking something that didn’t belong to me? What bullshit. I couldn’t care less whether the dog was cold and hungry. I rolled the glass over my forehead, taking several deep breaths before downing a swig. The last few days had been shit. Tonight had nearly pushed me over the edge.

  Nothing another round with the lovely Willow wouldn’t cure.

  Sweet. Delicious. Willow.

  “Jesus Christ.”

  I yanked off my jacket, tossing it over one of the steel island stools, ready to grab a cigar and enjoy an hour or two of peace. Maybe I’d make a giant steak. Hell, I hadn’t eaten all day. Why the fuck not? ‘Live a little,’ both brothers had told me more than once. Maybe that’s exactly what I’d been attempting to do.

  Another sip.

  Continued thoughts about the damn dog.

  Another gulp.

  What if he was thirsty?

  “Fuck me.” I slammed the glass on the island before grabbing a bowl and filling it with water. Giving the dog liquid didn’t mean a damn thing, other than there might be some decency left inside me. When I walked to the front door, the dog remained sitting exactly where he had been even though the lights had gone off automatically.

  “This doesn’t mean shit, dog.” As soon as I placed the ceramic piece on the stoop, he lifted his paw again then tentatively walked to the bowl, sniffing before lapping the entire amount within seconds. I’d leaned against the doorjamb, watching him with curiosity. Even a monster like me had to admit that he was a nice-looking dog, or at least he would be underneath all the filth coated in his fur.

  I rolled my eyes with a deep sigh. I had to freaking be out of my mind. The whapping of his tail drew my attention, his eyes more animated than they’d been before. I wasn’t the kind of man to feel empathy for anyone, including when they begged for mercy. This was… entirely different.

  “Fuck, buddy. You hungry?”

  The single woof brought another smile to my face.

  “How about a steak?” After
grabbing the bowl, I searched the darkness one last time, almost certain someone had been by the house. It was a gut instinct and nothing more, but it troubled me. When I opened the door a little wider, the dog seemed confused, requiring use of my coaxing skills. Another trait that I wasn’t good at. I demanded and people responded, obeying without question.

  When he finally padded inside, his tail constantly shifting back and forth even though it was between his legs, I couldn’t help but wonder what the hell I was doing. Had Willow brought out some massive urge to actually pretend I gave a damn about anything? I snarled as I jerked open the refrigerator, finding the massive single steak and little else.

  As I rolled up my sleeves, he continued to watch me intently, his ears perking up every time I spoke to him. “At least you’re intelligent. Likely more so than half the people I deal with on a daily basis.”

  Woof.

  “If you’ve trying to get on my good side, you might be succeeding.” What struck me as odd was the care I took in preparing the steak, grilling it to a medium rare perfection with a mere hint of spices. As I dragged out a plate, he inched closer, although he never attempted to jump on the counter. Now I was analyzing a dog. I was about to share a three-hundred-dollar piece of meat with a freaking stray and I was also attempting to get into his psyche.

  Maybe I needed another shot of whiskey.

  After cutting several bites, I placed the plate on the floor. I couldn’t take my eyes off the way he inhaled every single bite, licking his chops and woofing several times in appreciation. I took a single bite of my portion, feeling almost guilty for doing so. “What the hell. Here you go, buddy.” As he ate the remainder, I poured another shot and leaned against the counter, my thoughts shifting to the various events at the club.

  What unnerved me the most was just how quiet everything had been over the last few months. Until tonight. Two incidents that were troubling. Two situations that could erupt into something else.

  And Willow.

  I wasn’t the kind of man who believed in coincidences. The game my brothers and I had been embroiled in was coming to an end. Whether or not the ledger was found, the inner circle was swarming closer.

  The inner circle. What a joke. A few men from my father’s world who’d been allowed to make various decisions with him, as if they were judge and jury for either blackballing or destroying certain esteemed members of the club. I think Michael felt guilty that my father’s fortune had been made from the ugly information used versus his expertise in building a corporation.

  Men with secrets.

  Men harboring lies.

  All based around the hunger for wealth and power.

  Maybe that was the case, but I didn’t hold that guilt. The bastards had deserved what they’d gotten. However, the remaining members of the inner circle was something else entirely. While no one had come forward claiming to be a member of the elite group, all three of us had felt their presence. At least one if not more were current members of the club. I’d bet my life on it.

  That was the single reason in my mind why securing the ledger was so important. We needed to have the upper hand. I sincerely doubted the inner circle members were unscathed. That simply wasn’t the way of gaining influence, certainly not power.

  Quiet meant time to develop a plan of destruction.

  Fuck. No.

  The liquor seemed to have zero effect except for fueling my continued anger. As the plate was bumped against the bottom of the cabinet, I peered down, trying to rein in my rage.

  Another bowl of water.

  More fuming.

  I certainly wasn’t going to solve anything tonight. I was pissed that Michael had banished the family attorney, threatening him in an uncharacteristic manner. While I’d hated the loathsome man, William Rappaport had provided certain uses. If only I’d known my father better, then perhaps I could put a finger on where the old man would hide the ledger.

  Another swish of a tail dragged my attention back to the floor.

  Woof.

  When he lifted his paw for a third time, I finally reached down, taking it into my hand and rubbing my other across his head. The light in his eyes was entirely different, as if the simple gesture of kindness had awakened his soul. My finger became tangled in the matted fur almost immediately, forcing a slight growl from my lips.

  Funny. The dog didn’t seem put off by my surly demeanor in the least.

  I thought about a conversation I’d had with Pops, his laughter the day I’d told him that I wanted to be an attorney. Granted, I was only ten at the time, but his words and the way he’d scoffed at me was something I would never forget.

  “An attorney? Don’t be stupid, boy. You don’t have either the intelligence or the drive to become an attorney. Plus, you’re an asshole just like your old man. That won’t bode well in a court of law. Nope, son. You’re going to follow in your father’s footsteps as the true enforcer of the club.”

  “I don’t know, buddy,” I said to the dog. “You can’t stay here, but at least I can make you more comfortable for the night. What the hell are you doing, Christopher?” The question I asked myself was difficult to answer. Perhaps fighting my very soul. The poor pup had ended up at the wrong house. That was for certain. A sudden thud of the dog’s tail forced me to shake my head. One night wasn’t going to kill me.

  After grabbing my weapon, I guided him upstairs and into the bathroom.

  “Time for a bath, buddy.”

  Almost an hour later, I emerged from the shower, grabbing a towel, the stench of the dog’s filth finally gone. I ran my hand across the mirror, studying the almost two-day stubble on my face. Maybe it was time to grow a beard. I stared at my reflection as I toweled off, my thoughts drifting to Willow. As my cock began to stiffen, I realized just how much I craved her.

  The sound of an incoming text at four-thirty in the morning wasn’t usually a good sign.

  And the message brought a hiss from the core of my being.

  Can’t provide assistance.

  Like hell the fucker couldn’t. It would seem that Luis was alive and refusing to follow through with the requirements of our arrangement. He would meet with me whether he wanted to or not, but our discussion would take on an entirely different tone.

  He had no choice in the matter.

  I quickly dried off, images of bloodshed shifting back and forth in my mind. Dumping the towel and turning off the light, I padded into my bedroom. At least I would get a few hours of sleep before continuing my investigation into the Russian. I stopped short, shaking my head. The dog had fallen asleep at the bottom of my bed, his light snores a sign of just how comfortable he’d become.

  In my house.

  With a stranger.

  With a monster.

  Exhaling, I debated kicking him off the bed. No one had ever spent a night by my side. Fuck it.

  When I crawled into bed, the dog didn’t move, his breathing regular and easy. What the hell, he could stay where he was for the night.

  However, tomorrow, I’d find a freaking shelter. No one got close.

  Ever.

  Willow

  “Boo!”

  “What the hell?” I glared at Jennifer as she jumped into my cramped office, the same smile on her face that she always had. Today, it pissed me off that she was so bright and sunny, the very reason I’d hired her in the first place. She was excellent with the customers, but today I wanted nothing more than to bury myself in my work.

  “What’s wrong with you today, little Miss Sunshine? It’s a beautiful day out there.”

  “What’s so beautiful about it?” The racket in the old building seemed louder than usual, adding to my already vicious headache. I had a mountain of paperwork to finish, including going over the financials. Plus, I found it difficult to sit down without being incredibly uncomfortable. All because of Christopher.

  The brutal spanking.

  And the delicious round of filthy sex.

  I swallowed hard after thinking h
is name, which was something I’d done several times. The man didn’t deserve that kind of honor.

  Except he also made me wet, my nipples aching.

  Jennifer folded her arms as she leaned against the doorway. “Okay, what’s wrong with you today?”

  “Nothing.”

  “You can’t kid your best friend. Come on. Did you have a bad night?”

  A bad life was more like it. Jennifer was a nice girl from an even nicer family, as squeaky clean as they came. She knew nothing about my life other than I enjoyed French roast coffee and espresso, loved a nice glass of merlot, and had a penchant for sterling silver roses. What she would never know is what I did on my off time.

  Including being spanked like a bad little girl then fucked like a whore.

  “I couldn’t sleep. I can’t seem to catch up and the noise in here is driving me crazy!” I realized I’d raised my voice in some ridiculous attempt to garner some quiet.

  And privacy.

  There was none of either. Ever.

  As I reached for my coffee, I realized my hand was shaking. The experience with Christopher had left me shaken, the long hot shower unable to relieve any of my aches and pains. There wasn’t enough antiseptic or harsh soap to scrub away the feelings of his filth or his cum. I still felt dirty and his scent had managed to cover every inch of me.

  Musky.

  Exotic.

  Woodsy.

  Damn it.

  “Wow, you really don’t look good. I just wanted to see if you’d like to grab dinner later.”

  Dinner. Normalcy. My instinct was to say no, but given my nerves were on edge, maybe company was the best medicine. At least I could take a night and pretend that I hadn’t just unleashed the beast. Maybe two.

  “That sounds nice,” I managed, although I remained nauseous. I’d checked the locks on the windows and doors four times before crawling into bed, yanking the covers over my head. I doubted I would ever feel safe again.