Read Online Deadly Desire by Audrey Alexander - Free Book Online Page B

room.”
    Blinking the tears from my eyes, I turned to follow him out of the living room. The door to the playroom stared at me from the end of the hall, a glaring reminder of what we’d done the last time I’d been here. Only this time, nothing like that would happen. It’d probably never happen ever again. I wasn’t sure why it hurt as much as it did, but my heart felt raw from the thought of it.
    Pierce opened a door and flicked on a light. Inside, a double bed barely filled a massive room that looked clean and crisp and new. But there was the slight dank scent of something unused, like this room had never been slept in the entire time Pierce had lived here.
    From the sounds of his social life, it probably never had.
    “This is where you’ll be staying. There’s not much to it, but hopefully you’ll find everything you need.” He gestured to the bed. “Clean sheets. A closet, and a bedside table. Towels are in the bathroom.”
    I stared at the room, the numbness in my bones starting to ease now that I saw where I’d be staying. It seemed nice enough, almost too normal and too homey to be in a place like this. I’d almost expected satin red walls or something.
    Pierce handed me my bag. “I have some work I need to do, so I’m going to have to say goodnight. If there’s anything you need at all, I’ll be in the office down the hall.”
    Just as he turned away, I reached out and grabbed his arm. He stiffened and glanced down at where my fingers circled around his bicep. His muscles shifted as his entire body went rigid, and his face went hard. Quickly, I let go, my heart stuck in my throat. So, he didn’t like to be touched.
    “Are you sure you think all this is necessary?” I asked. “Staying here with you like this? It seems a little over the top.”
    “I know you don’t trust me, Emma,” Pierce said. “But I would never do something unless I was entirely certain it was necessary.”
    “Okay.” I turned to gaze at the bed. “But I could stay somewhere else, you know. Just to make things less…weird.”
    “I won’t allow that.” Pierce took my hand roughly in his and squeezed. “I protect my own. And you are mine in one sense of the word. I hired you to do the job, and I won’t allow anyone to hurt you because of my own actions. So, you’ll stay here. Until I’m sure you’re safe.”
    My heart throbbed in my chest, and my hand involuntarily squeezed his. His eyes briefly widened, almost as if he hadn’t realized he’d reached out to touch me. He pulled his fingers from mine and turned away, disappearing into another door down the hall. I stood there for a moment, staring after him. There’d been something there. Despite my limited knowledge of men like him, I still knew desire and attraction when I saw it. Even though he kept trying to push me away, he still felt something. And I did, too.
    Sighing, I went into the room and eased the door quietly shut behind me before leaning against it and sliding to the floor. This is not what I’d moved to the city for, and my parents would kill me if they knew what I’d gotten myself into. Not that they’d ever been particularly proud of me in the first place. My difficulties in finding a post-college job had quickly turned their pride into pure and utter disappointment, and when I’d signed on with Max, they’d given up the idea that I’d ever be a high-powered attorney waltzing along Fifth Avenue like I owned the place.
    And now, here I was, hiding away with some man I barely knew. A man famous for his penchant for BDSM and going through girls like popcorn. Groaning to myself, I pulled my tired body from the floor and changed into my pajamas before sliding under the crisp sheets. They were the softest material I’d ever felt, and in most circumstances, just being in a bed like this would send me right into the land of nod. But I had no idea how I was going to get any sleep with Pierce Donovan mere doors away. I knew he’d be sitting there