Read Online Hijacked (A Retribution Novel) by Cindy Stark - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Cindy Stark
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would cost him more than he could stand to watch Eliana leave with Gideon. So, he’d leave first, because punching his brother in the face wasn’t an option at the moment.
Blood thick with jealousy curdled inside him as he returned to the front with Gideon hot on his heels. Eliana still sat at the bar, her mug of beer barely touched. He wanted to grab her and whisk her away, but he remained stoic instead.
“Hey, sweetheart.” Gideon sidled up next to her, placing a casual hand on her back.
She glanced between both men. “Did you finish conducting your business?”
Christian wanted to reassure her he did not do business with his fucked up brother, but he had to hold his tongue.
“Business conducted.” Gideon gave her a once over. “Time for pleasure.”
She shook her head. “We didn’t agree on our business arrangement. Do we have a deal?”
“We do. On to more important things now.”
Disgust mixed with anger creating a dangerous cocktail in Christian’s gut. He had to get the hell out of there. “Later,” he said to his brother and strode toward the front door. He couldn’t stomach any more of what tonight would bring.
He pushed through the black-tinted glass door and into the fresh Portland evening air. Moisture clung on a breeze, letting him know it had rained while he’d been inside. The fresh shower brought forth scents of earth and blossoms that drifted from the trees downtown. He inhaled deeply, and then turned and punched the wooden trim alongside the front door.
“Fuck!”
Eliana would open her legs to his fuckup brother, and he’d know that sweetness that should belong to Christian. He knew she had the right and the will to make her own choices, but… “Goddammit.”
Pain throbbed in his hand, and he shook it out before examining his knuckles in the light that hung over the bar’s entrance. Abrasions in his skin leaked blood, but the aching in his hand was preferable to the agony in his heart.
The door opened next to him, catching him off guard. Eliana seemed as surprised to see him as he was to see her.
“Oh.” She stopped before fully exiting. “It’s you.”
Pure freaking bliss exploded inside him. She wasn’t going to sleep with his brother. So, she had some class after all.
“Hi, love.” He took a step back, giving her room to come out. “You leaving?”
“I’m sure as hell not staying. Your brother seems to think my agreement to be his lawyer also means he has a right to my body. What did you say to him?”
Christian had been so happy to see her that he hadn’t clued into the fact she seemed pissed. But it was hard to miss the sparks shooting from her eyes now. “I didn’t say anything about you to him. Damn. Is that what you think?” Was she implying he’d suggested to his brother that she was an easy lay?
“He seemed pretty certain he’d get me into bed.”
Christian snorted. “He seems pretty certain he can get anyone he wants into bed.”
That seemed to stop her. By degrees, he could sense her level of agitation dissipating. “You didn’t tell him we’d…”
He caught and held her gaze. “No. Despite what you might think, I don’t treat women as objects to be used and discarded.” Although, that’s exactly what she’d done to him.
A spark flashed in her eyes. “If you tell me you never use sex as a recreational activity, I’m going to call you a liar.”
He smiled then. “I didn’t say that. But let me clarify. I never have reckless sex. When I’m with a woman, it’s because I want to be with her. She’s not a placeholder, and I’m selective who I’m intimate with. Even if we’re only together for one night, I honor that time we spend, and I make damn sure the lady I’m with receives as much pleasure as I get. Would you care to argue that point, counselor?”
Even with only dim lighting, he could swear a sexy blush highlighted her cheeks.
She blinked a few times, and he took great satisfaction in knowing he’d robbed her
Blood thick with jealousy curdled inside him as he returned to the front with Gideon hot on his heels. Eliana still sat at the bar, her mug of beer barely touched. He wanted to grab her and whisk her away, but he remained stoic instead.
“Hey, sweetheart.” Gideon sidled up next to her, placing a casual hand on her back.
She glanced between both men. “Did you finish conducting your business?”
Christian wanted to reassure her he did not do business with his fucked up brother, but he had to hold his tongue.
“Business conducted.” Gideon gave her a once over. “Time for pleasure.”
She shook her head. “We didn’t agree on our business arrangement. Do we have a deal?”
“We do. On to more important things now.”
Disgust mixed with anger creating a dangerous cocktail in Christian’s gut. He had to get the hell out of there. “Later,” he said to his brother and strode toward the front door. He couldn’t stomach any more of what tonight would bring.
He pushed through the black-tinted glass door and into the fresh Portland evening air. Moisture clung on a breeze, letting him know it had rained while he’d been inside. The fresh shower brought forth scents of earth and blossoms that drifted from the trees downtown. He inhaled deeply, and then turned and punched the wooden trim alongside the front door.
“Fuck!”
Eliana would open her legs to his fuckup brother, and he’d know that sweetness that should belong to Christian. He knew she had the right and the will to make her own choices, but… “Goddammit.”
Pain throbbed in his hand, and he shook it out before examining his knuckles in the light that hung over the bar’s entrance. Abrasions in his skin leaked blood, but the aching in his hand was preferable to the agony in his heart.
The door opened next to him, catching him off guard. Eliana seemed as surprised to see him as he was to see her.
“Oh.” She stopped before fully exiting. “It’s you.”
Pure freaking bliss exploded inside him. She wasn’t going to sleep with his brother. So, she had some class after all.
“Hi, love.” He took a step back, giving her room to come out. “You leaving?”
“I’m sure as hell not staying. Your brother seems to think my agreement to be his lawyer also means he has a right to my body. What did you say to him?”
Christian had been so happy to see her that he hadn’t clued into the fact she seemed pissed. But it was hard to miss the sparks shooting from her eyes now. “I didn’t say anything about you to him. Damn. Is that what you think?” Was she implying he’d suggested to his brother that she was an easy lay?
“He seemed pretty certain he’d get me into bed.”
Christian snorted. “He seems pretty certain he can get anyone he wants into bed.”
That seemed to stop her. By degrees, he could sense her level of agitation dissipating. “You didn’t tell him we’d…”
He caught and held her gaze. “No. Despite what you might think, I don’t treat women as objects to be used and discarded.” Although, that’s exactly what she’d done to him.
A spark flashed in her eyes. “If you tell me you never use sex as a recreational activity, I’m going to call you a liar.”
He smiled then. “I didn’t say that. But let me clarify. I never have reckless sex. When I’m with a woman, it’s because I want to be with her. She’s not a placeholder, and I’m selective who I’m intimate with. Even if we’re only together for one night, I honor that time we spend, and I make damn sure the lady I’m with receives as much pleasure as I get. Would you care to argue that point, counselor?”
Even with only dim lighting, he could swear a sexy blush highlighted her cheeks.
She blinked a few times, and he took great satisfaction in knowing he’d robbed her
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