Read Online Willing Captive by Belle Aurora - Free Book Online Page A

her cheeks,
and it takes just about all I have to stop myself from running my
thumb over her pink, pouty lips.
    Trouble. I knew
you’d be trouble, missy.
    Clearly, this is all
her fault. If she would just learn to do what she’s told and tried
for a goddamned second to think rationally, none of this would’ve
happened. When she wakes up, we’re having a serious talk.
    Oh
yeah, it’s all her fault.
She’s a petrified young woman with a simple request of speaking to
someone she trusts and she’s the
issue. You’re losing your touch, man, acting like a mall cop on a
power trip.
    Me? I’m doing everything I can to keep her safe and this
is my fault?
    Keeping her safe
isn’t enough. She’s not like you. She’s fragile. A girl needs more
than just being told to trust. You gotta show her you’re willing to
compromise. Meet her in the middle.
    Meet her in the
middle. Compromise. I’m not sure I can do that.
    What would you do if
you were her?
    Run. Run like hell.
And I’d hurt whoever got in my way.
    The dull throb in my
temples being a sure sign of an oncoming migraine, I carry Lily
bridal style out of her room, down the hall into the west wing, and
stop in front of the very last door.
    My door. My
room.
    Hesitation stalls
me. This might not be the best idea but she’s my responsibility. I
need to keep her somewhere I can keep an eye on her. Somewhere I
can babysit and work at the same time. Holding her tight with one
arm, I open the door to my bedroom and walk Lily’s limp body
inside. Gently as I can, I lay her down on my bed and she moans
softly.
    A good sign. She’ll
be awake again soon.
    Picking up the
two-way radio by my bed, I press the button and call into it,
“Vito, I got a situation here. Where’s Boo?”
    As I release the
speak button, a trilling noise sounds and I wait. A beep followed
by, “Yo, what kinda situation we talkin’ about here? Boo’s around.
I’ll find her.”
    Running a hand down
my face, I tell him quietly, “Lily. She fainted.”
    Immediately, the
two-way sounds and an amused Vito probes, “What the hell d’you do
to her, Nox? She’s just a girl, man. You probably scared her to
death.”
    Vito’s young. He
still doesn’t quite grasp the authority thing yet. Picking up the
two-way, being extra careful to not crush it in my hand, I growl,
“Find Boo. Now.”
    Still clearly
amused, Vito signs off with, “Sir, yes, sir.”
    A minute passes and
I realize I haven’t moved an inch. Placing my hands on my hips, I
turn to view the little woman in my bed and mutter to myself, “Knew
you’d be trouble.”

    ***

    Lily

    Groaning, I roll
myself into a tighter ball, trying in vain to find some relief from
the aching.
    Aching. All
over.
    Every muscle in my
body feels too tight, and moving even the slightest bit, painfully
stretches me. Squeezing my eyes shut, I breathe rapidly. I feel
like I’m going to be sick, but that can’t be right. I haven’t eaten
more than an orange in two days. What could I possibly throw
up?
    My eyelids flutter
but refuse to open without a fight. As soon as I manage to pry an
eye open, I groan louder. The light in the room hits me with such
force, the ill feeling returns with a vengeance.
    Shuffling alerts me
to the fact I’m not alone, and when the light switch is turned off,
I breathe a sigh of relief. Finally able to open my eyes, I sit up
against the headboard. I’m completely disoriented. It takes a full
minute before I can see what I can’t believe I’m seeing.
    Nox sits at a desk
at the back of the large room typing away on a laptop. The laptop
the only source of illumination in the room, I look around some
more.
    This is not my
room.
    Navy blue cotton
sheets surround me. This bed is bigger than mine. This is clearly a
man’s room. No furniture. No closet. A chair in the corner of the
room holds a stack of folded black clothes. Underneath is a pair of
army-style boots.
    Shit.
    This is Nox’s
room.
    Opening my mouth to speak, all that comes