Read Online Trapped by a Dangerous Man by Cleo Peitsche - Free Book Online Page A

coming. You let me gloat!”
    He smiled. “You’re charming when you’re excited.”
    “And you’re drunk.”
    “Am I?”
    “Yes. And that’s question number two.” I held up two fingers and wiggled them. “Two. It comes after one.”
    He grabbed my fingers and lowered my arm gently, his eyes staring into mine. Heat flashed from where he touched me, and I did my best to ignore it, hoping it wouldn’t reach my cheeks. He released me. “No, it isn’t, because you didn’t answer truthfully. I’m not drunk. I’m not even buzzed. So. Question number two. How long have you been following me?”
    I sighed. These questions weren’t fun. “Since the card store. I didn’t follow you. I looked your car up, saw you on the list, figured it was fate.”
    He picked at the label of his beer bottle. “Yeah. Fate. That was stupid, you know, trying to drive out here like that.”
    “Is that a question?”
    “It is.”
    I gritted my teeth. “Yes, I know. Believe me, I didn’t intend to almost get myself killed.”
    “Do you regret coming?”
    “Answer four is no.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because maybe I’ll still bring you in. After the truce is up, of course.” I stared at my bottle. “But even if I don’t… I don’t know. I guess this is an adventure.”
    “Did you enjoy kissing me?”
    Oh, he knew how to make me blush. He could have been merciful and accepted my response as his answer, but instead he cleared his throat.
    “Did you enjoy kissing me, Audrey?”  
    “Yes.” My voice was a whisper. I looked defiantly at him. “Yes, I did. Next question.”
    “Question seven. How many people have you killed?”
    “None.”
    “How many bad guys have you taken down? I mean hardened criminals, not people who jumped bail and then hid out at their own homes.”
    “None of your business.”
    “If you don’t want to answer, then I’ll allow you to substitute a dare.”
    “What dare?” I was hoping it would be something slightly sexual. Or maybe really sexual, like give him a hand job while I rubbed myself.
    “I dare you to renounce your claim on me.”
    I made a face. “Renounce my claim? What is this, the 1800s?”
    “Audrey, please don’t take this the wrong way, but you aren’t going to take me anywhere.” He caught my chin in his hand and turned my face toward him. “I won’t hurt you, but I don’t want you to somehow get hurt. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.”
    “Why do you care?”
    “Guess everyone has a weakness.” He stood. “You can think about it. I’m reserving my last questions or dares until later because it’s past dinner time.”
    I started to get up, but he gently pushed me back. “No. You rest. I’ve got this.” I resisted a moment, weighing my dislike of cooking against my dislike of being told I needed to rest.
    But I was tired. I stretched out on the couch and turned on the news. I closed my eyes as the news anchors stressed how many records the storm had broken and how much of the state had no power.
    ~~~
    Dinner was some kind of exotic stir fry.
    “All these ingredients, I’m surprised no one noticed you before,” I said, then shoved a forkful of tangy goodness into my mouth.  
    “Had someone shopping for me.”
    “I’m even more surprised you would admit that.”
    “I’m leaving here, and I can’t come back, not now. You know that.”
    I did. So why did his words make me feel strangely sad? Maybe it was the alcohol, but a little voice whispered the answer back to me. I liked this man. Yes, I wanted to fuck him and rub myself all over his sinfully perfect body, but I didn’t want to walk away after. And there wasn’t any reality where I’d be able to be with him, lingering in the kitchen while he cooked something delicious, or relaxing in his arms on the world’s most comfortable and stylish sofa. He couldn’t even be my fuck-buddy.  
    Truly, I would never see him again.  
    For some reason, I found myself talking about my childhood, about how