“Yeah.”
“It’s isolated from everything else. That’s why I like it so much.”
“Don’t you like being around people?”
“Not particularly.” His shoulders were hard and defined like he was made of stone.
I chuckled. “I don’t like people either.”
“I got that impression.” He moved his gaze to mine. He stared at the braid over my shoulder then studied my face. When his eyes moved to my lips, my pulse sped up.
I felt like I was on display. All I could do was stare back and try to ignore how gorgeous his body was.
But it didn’t change anything. He tried to take my father because someone paid him to. I would never want someone like that touching me.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have a choice.
He watched my mouth like he was considering how it would taste. He didn’t make a move, but his eyes announced everything that was about to happen. He’d wanted me since the first time we met, and now he was finally going to have me.
And there was nothing I could do about it.
Parker slowly moved in, finding my lips with his. They were soft but aggressive at the same time. His facial hair didn’t brush against me like last time because he’d just shaved.
The kiss was slow like he wanted to take his time. He pulled my bottom lip into his mouth before he moved on to the top one. Then he tilted his head slightly as he massaged my mouth with his.
I liked it. I hated myself for liking it, but I did.
My lips responded to his instinctively. I’d kissed him before, and it was magical. But I’d never been kissed the way he kissed me now.
He deepened the kiss then wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me to him with the strength of a mountain. I could tell by the way he gripped me he had no intention of letting me go.
My breathing picked up because I enjoyed when he touched me as if I belonged to him. I kept my hands to myself but they yearned to touch him. Eventually, one broke free and moved to the bottom of his chest. It felt like a concrete wall. I absorbed the warmth of his skin and slowly moved up, feeling the prominent muscles of his chest and then eventually his shoulders.
He gave me a quick taste of his tongue, and I liked that too. I gave him the same teaser and felt the temperature between us increase by ten degrees. My arm locked around his neck, keeping him anchored to me.
He picked me up and laid me on the bed in a fluid motion. Hovering above me, he was still kissing me. His hand cupped my cheek before it traveled down my stomach to my hip. Then he slowly pulled down my bottoms.
That’s when I started to freak out.
He was going to take me however he wanted. I didn’t have a choice in the matter. The pleasure I got from his kisses evaporated. This man was a monster and hunted people for money. How could I let him touch me like this? I could kiss him and protect my mind, but sex was another matter.
He got my bottoms off then felt my smooth legs.
I tried to control my breathing and suck it up because there was nothing I could do about this. There was nowhere I could run. I couldn’t try to fight him off because that would just make it worse. He would come back with a vengeance and hurt me. At least he was being gentle now.
But I still didn’t want to do it.
Parker kept kissing me then pulled my top over my head. When I was just in my bra and panties, he broke our kiss and stared down at me for a moment. “You’re beautiful. I’ve wanted you for a long time.”
Those words didn’t sound romantic. All they did were bring me pain. I’d become someone’s weak plaything and it disgusted me. I did this to save my father and I didn’t have any regrets about that, but I didn’t realize just how difficult this moment would be. I had to let him use me over and over. My body no longer belonged to me.
I took a deep breath and tried not to cry.
Parker kissed my neck then gripped the lace of my thong. He started to pull it down, his kisses becoming more heated.
I didn’t want this.
But, I could do this. It would get easier every time.
“Stop.” I tried to push him off, but he was too heavy. Tears fell from my eyes because I knew my protests were pointless. He would just hold me down and take what he wanted. But I had to fight. I had to do something. “Please don’t do this to me. Please.”
Parker immediately stopped and moved off me. He lay on the other side of the bed and watched me. Instead of anger in his eyes, there was concern.
My breath stuck in my throat, wondering what would happen next. I didn’t expect him to get off me. I thought he would just keep going until he got what he wanted.
Wasn’t he going to rape me?
Tears were still coming down my face, so I ran into the bathroom and locked the door behind me. I didn’t believe Parker would come after me, but the lock made me feel better.
I got in the shower and sat in the corner, letting his touches and caresses wash off me and down the drain. Now I didn’t know what was going to happen. We made a deal, and he said if I broke any of his rules, he would kill my father. Would he kill him over this? Did I just kill the man I was trying to protect?
Chapter 6
I didn’t leave my room all day.
Jana brought food and left it by the door. Without that, I would have starved. There was a TV in my room, so I watched that until the sun went down. When it was dark, I sat in front of the fire and watched it dance.
I was avoiding Parker. As much as I hated to admit it, I was scared of him. I’d never seen him in action, but I knew he was powerful. There was no other way he could get a group of men to respond to him so quickly.
What would he do to me tonight?
Had he already killed my father?
I didn’t have to wait long before his knock sounded on the door.
I immediately flinched in fear, something I hated myself for doing. I wanted to run away, but I had no money or passport so I couldn’t get on a plane or a boat.
I was stuck.
Parker cracked the door and peeked inside. “Can I come in?”
I stared at the fire and ignored him.
When he knew he wouldn’t get a word out of me, he came inside and joined me by the fire. He wore sweatpants like yesterday, but today he had on a shirt.
I waited for the threats to ensue. I waited for him to try for sex again tonight, and this time, I knew he wouldn’t grant me mercy.
“Are you alright?”
That was the last thing I expected him to ask. “What?”
“Are you alright?” He stared at the side of my face, watching every reaction.
“Yeah.”
He turned away and blew out a deep breath. “I didn’t mean to upset you last night. I’m sorry.”
He was sorry?
He rested his arms on his knees like the night before.
“Are you going to kill my father?” I had to ask, even though I didn’t want to hear the answer.
“Why would I do that?” He turned back to me, one eyebrow raised.
“Because I didn’t sleep with you. I didn’t do as you asked.”
Confusion lingered in his eyes before it morphed into pain. “I never asked you to sleep with me, Sierra.”
“Yes. That was the compromise.”
He closed his eyes and sighed. “The compromise was you. But that doesn’t mean I own you.”
Now I was confused. “What does that mean?”
“I could take what I want from you, but I won’t.” He watched the expression on my face, his was completely blank. “Rape isn’t my thing, and it never will be. I want you to want me. That’s what makes sex fun.”
“But I…” I didn’t know what to say.
“It’s no secret that I want you. I still do. Last night…” He shook his head in memory. “I don’t think I’ve ever been that hard in my life. But if it’s not something you want, then don’t worry about it.”
“If that isn’t what you want me for…then why do you wan
t me?”
He turned his gaze back to the fire. “I can’t say.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have a reason, but I’m not ready to tell you what it is. Actually, you aren’t ready to hear it.”
What other reason could he possibly have?
After a moment of silence passed, he turned back to me. “I’m not the monster you think I am. I’m one of the good guys, I promise. But I know you won’t believe me—at least not yet.”
“My dad works for the CIA. He’s one of the good guys.”
“He told you that?”
“No…”
“Then why do you think that?”
I shrugged, thinking back to when I first realized he was lying about his job. “I just noticed things over the years. Guns…trips…weird phone calls.”
Disappointment filled Parker’s eyes. “I know he’s your dad so it’s hard to hear something like this, but he’s a bad guy, Sierra. He’s one of the most dangerous men in the world. He’s not who you think he is. His job is to be deceitful. The man you know isn’t real. It’s just an act.”
My heart raced. “That’s not true…” I remembered every holiday and every time he took me to get ice cream. He was a great father. He was always there for me when I needed him.
Parker sighed in sadness, shaking his head as if he pitied me.
I lifted my chin defiantly. “Do you have any proof?”
“I do. But I don’t want to show it to you.”
“Why not?”
He was quiet for nearly a minute. “It will be less painful for you if you just take my word for it. Because when I show you…you’ll be crushed. I don’t want you to feel that way.”
My blood was pounding in my ears as terrible thoughts swam in my head. “How do I know you aren’t lying to me?”
“I guess you don’t. But you’ll realize it eventually.”
I didn’t know what to believe. Maybe Parker was just trying to get inside my head. But what if he wasn’t lying at all?
“Just for the record, I would never hurt you. I would never make you do something you don’t want to do. I’m sorry I gave you that impression.”
I looked into his eyes and saw his sincerity.
“I felt like shit last night. I couldn’t sleep. I wanted to check on you, but I assumed you needed space.”
I nodded and gave him a small smile. “Thanks.”
He extended his hand to me like he wanted me to take it.
I eyed it before I placed my palm in his.
He interlocked our fingers together while he watched me. “I can’t do relationships because of my line of work. I can’t devote time to a woman because I have to devote it to my clients. And I’m always on the go, always moving. There’s nothing I can offer anyone besides nice gifts and one-night stands. That’s why I am the way I am.”
It was all starting to make sense.
“I can’t offer that to you either, but I can offer something—if you want it.” He stared into my eyes without blinking, searching for my soul.
“What?”
“Friendship—mixed with some awesome sex.” He gave me a flirtatious smile.
I still didn’t know if he was good or evil, but if he really was evil, wouldn’t he have hurt me by now? Wouldn’t he have raped me when he had the chance? Would he be holding my hand like this?
He released my hand and pulled me into his side. He wrapped his arm around me, and I pressed my face against his chest, breathing in his clean scent. His chin rested on my head, and he blanketed me with his warmth.
I took a deep breath and cleared my throat. “Parker?”
“Hmm?”
“Did you know I was his daughter when we met?”
“No.” He said it without hesitation.
I pulled away and looked into his eyes. I was getting better at reading him, and the answer to every question I had was usually in his gaze. He could hide the expression of his mouth and body, but his eyes couldn’t be controlled. When I asked about his family, there was a reaction there. When I asked about his job, there was also something in his eyes. “When you dropped me off at my house, did you know then?”
“No.” He held my gaze as he answered the question. “I knew he had a daughter, but I didn’t know what you looked like. That’s the honest truth.”
He might be a skilled liar, especially if he was once some kind of special intelligence, but I didn’t think he was lying to me. And if he was, did it really matter? “Okay.”
Chapter 7
When I came downstairs for breakfast, the table was set with French toast, bacon, and eggs.
Parker came downstairs shortly after I did. I still didn’t know which bedroom was his, but then again, I never asked. He wore boots with dark jeans and a long-sleeved shirt fit nicely across his chest. “Hey, Jana. It smells good in here.”
I noticed he always gave her compliments. He was unusually sweet to her, and I wondered why.
“Thanks.” Jana beamed with pride every time he praised her.
I wondered if she had a thing for him.
Parker was ten years younger than she was, but then again, I was five years younger than him. Age didn’t really matter.
He sat across from me at the table and ate his breakfast. “Sleep well?”
“Yeah.” It was the first night I actually slept for more than a few hours. After the conversation we had, I was at ease. I still didn’t trust him fully because there wasn’t enough evidence to, but I didn’t feel the need to walk on eggshells either. If he wanted to hurt me or do something worse, he would have done it by now. I truly believed he didn’t mean me any harm. “How can I not sleep well when I’m in a sleigh with silk sheets?”
He nodded and swallowed the food in his mouth. “I have a hard time getting up in the morning.”
I imagined what he looked like when he was asleep. He was probably not as rough around the edges. I knew what his naked chest looked like but sometimes I wondered what the rest of him looked like. “Me too.”
“Do you have plans today?”
Plans? I had no money, and I was a prisoner. The only type of plans I could have were showering or napping. “No.”
“Would you like to visit the village?”
And get out of the house? “Duh. I’m getting cabin fever over here.”
“Great,” he said. “You’ll love it.”
I bundled up in the warmest clothes I could find, but Parker only wore jeans and a light jacket. The cold didn’t seem to affect him the way it affected normal people. His temperature naturally ran high, and I wondered if that was because of all the muscle he carried.
We walked down the road until we reached the entrance to the village.
“Why didn’t we drive?” My hands were in my pockets and a beanie was on my head, but I was still feeling the bite.
“There are no cars allowed down here.”
“What?” I couldn’t imagine a town without cars.
“This village is really old, built long before automobiles. Besides, there’s no way to get them here. You have to take a train just to enter the valley.”
I was on a train when they brought me here? How did he accomplish that?
“How do you get groceries?”
“Jana takes the train.”
“Wow…” It seemed like so much effort, but the reward of living there made it worth it.
“That’s what makes it special,” he said. “You feel like you’re stepping back in time.”
I rubbed my palms together to warm them up. “I guess I’ll have to experience it myself.”
We stepped onto the cobbled street and entered the tiny town. The pathways were narrow, which was probably why only foot traffic and horses were allowed. The village was decorated with white lights and garland. Christmas was in the air. Clydesdales pulled sleighs through the streets, and passengers hopped on and off for rides. Bells hanging from the huge animals could be heard from blocks away. Shops lined the streets and several re
staurants and bars were open. Some of the buildings looked like chalets where people lived, mixed in between shops.
Parker watched me, a ghost of a smile on his lips. “So, what do you think?”
When I turned back to him, I was smiling and showing all my teeth. “It’s…magical.” There was no better way to describe it.
We entered a few shops and looked around. I found a sweater with the village on it. I immediately wanted it, but then I remembered I didn’t have any money. That reality hit me hard in the chest. I had absolutely no independence whatsoever.
Parker took the sweater from my hand and paid for it without asking me anything. Then he carried the bag as he kept walking through the store.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
He ignored what I said. “If you want something, just tell me.”
Even though I was financially dependent on him, I couldn’t do that.
“I’ll give you an account. That way, you have some spending money.”
An account? What kind of kidnapper was he?
We kept walking through the town and visited several other shops.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
My hand rubbed my belly right as it rumbled. “A little.”
“I know a great place.” He guided me to a fondue restaurant. Once we walked inside, the smell of bread and cheese filled my nostrils. He turned to me with that attractive smile. “It’s not fried cheese sticks, but it’s the closest thing to it.”
I smiled for the tenth time that day. “It’ll do.”
We sat at a table near the window, and the view of the Swiss Alps was in our line of sight. I stared at the snowy mountains and forgot about the whole rest of the world that existed outside of that valley.
Parker watched me from across the table. His mouth was relaxed, and it didn’t look like he had anything to say. When the waitress came, he ordered two hot chocolates and a pot of fondue to share. Then he returned to staring at me in silence.
The more time I spent with him, the harder it was for me to be on my guard. He was still a hired assassin, but it was easy to forget that truth. This man was someone I didn’t really know, but I felt like I did.
Intense - Aspen Drake & Emily Cain Page 5
