Paige withdrew from his grip once more and stared at him, shock registering on her face. "We can't just leave... All those women that he has held there... Bella... I can't just leave and pretend none of this exists. We have to save them, Will. We have to!" Paige's voice had gradually risen higher and higher with each panicked word she spoke.
Will sat up and pushed his hand back through his hair. "Look I'll send someone else here. Someone who will know what to do... But we can't stay. I can't allow you to stay and endanger yourself any more. I almost lost you and I won't go through that again."
Paige folded her arms across her chest. "You leave if you must, but I'm staying. You brought me here. You brought me into this and I won't just walk away from it now... I can't, it would be like letting him win and I can't let him win... Don't you understand?" She turned and faced Will. Her eyes were filled with emotion, pleading with him to understand why she needed to do it.
Will released a frustrated sigh and caught Paige in his arms, dragging her onto his lap. "You have to be the most complicated woman I have ever met do you know that?"
Paige smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I wouldn't have said I was that complicated."
Will shook his head. "I would. Most women would run a mile from this place. They would understand the danger in staying but not you... Instead you want to waltz right into the middle of the lion’s den... I'm just hoping we don't live to regret it is all..."
Paige pressed her lips to the pulse that was hopping in Will's neck. She could taste his skin on her tongue, the faint scent of his aftershave and the familiar taste of him. It brought back the memories of all their past experiences in bed. The feel of his skin against hers, the way his body fitted around hers. Made for each other.
"Together we'll be fine..." Paige added, her lips slowly tracing feather light kisses up the column of his neck to his chin and then finally to his lips.
Will smiled as she kissed him. She could feel it in the curl of his lips against hers. Part of her wanted to ask what he was thinking? And why he was smiling. A larger part of her wanted to be lost in his touch. She wanted him to take her and wash the humiliation and pain of the last few hours from her skin.
Paige deepened the kiss, pressing her breasts against his chest as she wriggled on his lap. Will's fingers tangled in her hair, softly. His fingers trailing slowly down over her cheeks caressing every angle and line of her face as though he was trying to memorise her.
"Take me, Will... Please..." Breathlessly she pleaded with him. She could hear the desperation in her voice and she didn't care. In that moment the only thing Paige wanted was to feel loved and lost in someone's embrace who actually cared for her.
Will drew back. His hands capturing hers as she tried to unbutton the shirt he wore. "Stop... Not now... You need sleep and time to adjust..."
Paige shook her head and tried to kiss him once more but Will was firm and unrelenting. He held her at arm’s length and slowly shifted her off his lap and back onto the bed beside him.
"I don't understand... I thought..." Paige stuttered. Her heart was slowly crumbling. He didn't want her anymore. Chris had been right. Will wouldn't want damaged goods... Although she knew Chris hadn't managed what he had hoped to achieve physically with her... Will didn't know that... Perhaps he thought that Chris had...
"He didn't rape me!" Paige blurted the words out in blind panic. "I escaped before he could... I'm still yours!"
Will went silent and very still. His hands holding hers as he stared down at her. His face had hardened and Paige could see something that looked an awful lot like disgust flicker behind his eyes. It wounded her to see him look at her that way. When she was in Chris's house the one thing that had kept her going was knowing that she would get back to Will. That she would get back to his arms and feel his lips on hers... That he would love her. It was the only thing that had helped her keep it together and now after all of that he didn't want her anymore.
Paige turned away in an attempt to hide the heartbreak that she knew would be reflected in her eyes from him. He didn't need to see it. Will had enough power over her as it was. He didn't need to know that he had that as well. It was too much.
"I'll get some sleep." Paige added, closing her eyes and holding her breath.
Will lingered with her for a moment longer before slowly climbing from the bed. "I'll let you rest... I won't be gone far and I'll be back I promise."
Paige didn't answer him. She couldn't. She was afraid that if she did her voice would betray her and Will would ask her what was wrong... She didn't want to explain how she felt. Didn't want to tell him that his rejection of her had completely crushed her.
Will footsteps receded as he left the room. Paige lay on the bed. Her mind slowly going over everything that had happened. She didn't want to think about the painful parts again. She'd had enough of that. Instead she lay on the bed and let her own exhaustion wash over her. When her eyes finally drifted shut she was glad to notice that she didn't dream. Instead all she saw was darkness and with the way she felt that suited Paige just fine.
***
The sound of banging on the main door downstairs woke Paige. She turned over in the bed and Will lay beside her on his back. His breathing soft and measured. But the banging on the main door continued and was quickly followed by raised voices.
Will's eyes flew open and he sat up. His hand automatically covering Paige's as he listened to the commotion downstairs. They both recognised the sound of the main voice and it sent chills down Paige's spin to hear him again.
Will slid off the bed and made his way to the door. Paige made to follow him but he waved her back. "Stay here. I'll come get you when it's safe." He disappeared out through the door leaving Paige sitting on the edge of the bed alone once more.
She made her way across the floor and rummaged through the wardrobe in search of something to wear. Once she had found a suitable pair of jeans and a t-shirt she made her way to the shower and climbed under the hot spray.
As the water cascaded down over skin Paige tried to forget the feeling of foreboding that threatened to turn her legs to jelly. Her tummy chose that moment to growl and she realised that it had been far too long since she had eaten anything. After a shower it would be her first priority.
Faintly in the distance Paige could hear raised voices and lots of shouting coming from downstairs. She had no doubt in her mind what they were arguing about. But she trusted Will enough to know that he wouldn't let Chris just come and take her.
Climbing from the shower she dried quickly and tugged the clothes that she had found on. She didn't leave the bathroom until she was fully dressed. After the last time when she had caught Aidan standing in the bedroom door Paige thought it was safer to dress behind a locked door.
She left the bathroom and made her way to the large desk that sat under the window. She had seen it yesterday evening the moment Will had brought her into the room and it had left her with a feeling of comfort knowing that it was there. Picking up the collar carefully, she placed it around her throat and fastened the buckles in place.
The leather was soft and instantly warmed against the touch of her skin. It was comforting to know that it was on her. If someone had asked her a few days before about wearing a collar Paige would have certainly laughed at them. But not anymore. After what she had suffered at the hands of Chris and his men Paige would gladly wear Will's collar. It was a signal to those around her that she belonged to him. But it was more than that... It meant that he was hers...
Her mind tripped back to the night before and the way he had rejected her. Part of Paige hoped it was just Will's way of trying to look after her. That he had been genuinely concerned that she needed to rest but a much larger part of her was afraid that after the time she had spent under Chris's control that Will would no longer want her.
What if he never wanted to touch her again? What if he was so utterly disgusted by her that he couldn't bring himself to ever want physical contact w
ith her ever again? Was she really spoiled? Paige didn't think so. She ran her hands down across her jean clad thighs to the backs of her legs and the swell of her ass. They still stung. And the feel of the water on them had initially been very painful, but like everything else it had passed.
No as far as Paige was concerned she wasn't destroyed. Chris hadn't succeeded in his plan. And Paige knew she had Bella to thank for that. As she made her way to the bedroom door Paige couldn't help but wonder how the other woman was? Had she escaped? Or had Chris done something terrible to her...
Paige stepped out into the hall and the sound of Chris's voice drifted up to her from downstairs. It sent icy shivers trailing down her spine like an unwanted touch. If he was here it meant that Bella had been discovered...
As she made her way to the stairs Paige found herself doing something that she hadn't done in years. She said a prayer for the other woman. She prayed that she would be ok and that Paige would get to her in time... In time for what she wasn't sure but Paige owed Bella her life and that was not something she was willing to just overlook.
Paige paused at the top of the stairs and stared down at the scene in front of her. Chris stood in the hall four men at his back, whilst Will and Aidan faced off against him. Several of Will's men were present and it made Paige feel a little more comfortable knowing that they weren't so terribly outnumbered.
"You come to my island and just think you can break the rules as you see fit? That's not how it works around here! She wasn't wearing a collar therefore she is mine!" Chris's voice was filled with anger and his face was red with rage.
"No you knew she was here with me... You only want her for one reason and we both know what that reason is..." Will's voice was low and menacing and he took a threatening step towards Chris.
Chris laughed at him. A sudden barking laugh that made everyone in the room cringe. Even the men who stood behind him looked vaguely uncomfortable. Everyone knew he was mad and yet because he was so rich no one had challenged him. It seemed money could forgive a multitude of sins.
Paige started down the stairs. Each step calm and deliberate.
Chris spotted her immediately and his face lit up with a cruel grin. Paige recognised the look on his face from the evening before. It was the look of someone who was certain they had won and they were going to take great pleasure in taking their prize.
Will turned to watch her descend. She glanced at him for a second and what she saw in his eyes staggered her. It almost made her trip on the final step. It was the look Paige had been hoping to see in his eyes for her entire life. She swallowed hard. It wasn't that she had been fully aware of her need to see the look of pure unadulterated love in his eyes. But now that she had she knew it was exactly what her bruised heart needed. It was the perfect salve.
Paige tore her gaze away from him. She didn't want to but if she kept staring at him she knew she might make a mistake and that was not something she could afford. Chris was far too dangerous to make mistakes around. He sensed them like weakness.
Paige returned her gaze back to Chris. She fought back the fear that wanted to claim her and instead faced him head on. The look in her eyes must have been stronger than even she had thought she was capable of because the look of triumph quickly faded from Chris's eyes. It was replaced with a wariness that Paige had never thought she would see in him. If he was as mad as he pretended then he shouldn't have had any of those emotions.
"What are you doing here?" She asked. Her voice calm and cold. Just the way she had hoped it would be.
Chris made a move towards her but Will was there first. His body between Chris and Paige. He held his hand out towards the other man in a gesture that indicated back off or I'll make you.
Chris's gaze darted between Paige and Will before he started to laugh once more. "You wear his collar now? Where is mine?"
"I was never yours. I have always belonged to Will so of course I wear his collar."
Chris nodded, his eyes narrowing. "And is it Will's marks upon your ass? Was he the one to discipline you? Teach you a lesson, that all whores like you need? A lesson in pain and pleasure... I know how much you wanted me too..."
"You bastard!" Will made to lunge towards Chris but he stepped out of reach laughing.
Paige put her hand on Will's arm and held him. She knew she wasn't strong enough to hold him back. If he genuinely planned on going after Chris she wouldn't be able to stop him, but the touch of her hand on his was enough. He stopped and gazed back at her. A look of pain and anguish in his eyes.
Paige could sense his need to hurt Chris. To take retribution against him. Chris had cost Will so much already and now this. But Paige knew it was a fight they would lose. This was after all Chris's island and he made the rules here. Here he was judge, jury and executioner.
"There is nothing here for you. I think you should leave... But know this... I remember everything... The accounts... I remember it all and I won't rest until everyone knows the truth." Paige smiled at Chris. Just a small quirking of her lips but it was enough to cause fear to register in his eyes. Real fear.
Chris turned on his heel and walked out through the front door, his men following behind him as he stalked down the steps and climbed into his car. Paige knew that he would return to his own house and take his frustrations out on someone there. But what other choice did she have. They needed a little space to arrange some plans.
Paige stalked out of the hall and made her way into the kitchen. The smell of freshly brewed coffee made her stomach grumble again and she quickly grabbed a cup and poured herself a tall mug of steaming rich goodness. She cradled the mug in her trembling hands as she leaned against the counter and watched Will and Aidan follow her into the kitchen.
"What do you mean you remember? You didn't tell anyone? You didn't think it would important to tell anyone?" Aidan demanded as he pushed his face into Paige's.
She leaned back away from him. Although she still felt calm her body was beginning to behave strangely. She was trembling from head to toe and the cup she held in her hand was dangerously close to getting spilled.
"Aidan, back off. Give her air to breathe!" Will moved in and pushed Aidan back. "I told you to leave, I still want you gone."
Aidan looked at Will in disbelief. "You can't be serious. After this morning you still want me out of here? Don't you think that will just prove worse for you both?"
"Will, leave him. We're going to need him. This is a mess he created and he can fix it." Paige added taking a small sip of the hot drink. It curled down her throat leaving a trail of warmth in its path.
Putting the cup down Paige picked up one of the many fresh rolls that sat in a basket on the counter. Taking a bite she closed her eyes and savoured the sweet flavour. It was like manna from heaven.
"Paige, you said you remembered..." Will asked. His voice sounding strained as he stood to one side of Aidan. His eyes constantly darted to the other man as though waiting for one false move.
"Yeah... I've certainly had plenty of time to think about it... Can you show me the accounts again. I have a suspicion as to where the problem is."
"A suspicion?" Aidan's voice was filled anger. "You told Chris you knew, that you remembered. Why would you tell him that if you just had a suspicion? I'm not surprised they took you hostage..."
Paige had, had enough. Constantly listening to Aidan's bitching on top of the fact that he had left her in that god-awful place to fend for herself was proving too much. Dropping the roll on the counter Paige took a step closer to Aidan until she was practically in his face. She wasn't really tall enough to get in his face but the meaning was understood.
Without any warning Paige drew back and slapped him hard across the face. "That is for what you did to me. I haven't seen you come up with any plans yet or was your entire plan just to dump me in there with Chris in the hopes that I figured something out and escaped with my life? Or perhaps you wanted me dead all along? Could you have used my death as a way to push the police i
nto arresting him? It certainly would have looked suspicious."
Aidan watched her stunned. It was as though he hadn't truly expected Paige to grow a back bone and stand up to him. She had been so nice all along. Too nice and he had used it to his advantage.
"No doubt you used Bella's sweetness to your advantage too... The case was just too good to give up... Not even for her life could you give it all up..."
"Don't you bring her into this." Aidan gritted the words out between his teeth. His face was beginning to flush with anger.
"You do know she could be dead now..." Paige dropped the words out there like tiny little bombs.
Aidan's face just like the evening before began to crumple. He tried to hold it together. She could see him struggle to maintain his anger and Paige understood that. Anger was the one thing you could use to keep yourself together.
"Why? Why would she be dead now?"
"Because she rescued me. She was the one who helped me escape and Chris knows it..."
It was too much for Aidan. He turned away and covered his face with his hands. "I never meant for her to be involved. I never wanted her to get caught up in all of this but Chris had other ideas... If I had known..."
Paige shook her head and looked at Will. He was leaning back against the counter watching the exchange with interest. Paige smiled at him. It was a small tentative smile but it was one none the less. She wanted to know that he still wanted her. That she was still as important to him as she had seemed to be before Chris had taken her.
Aidan whipped around quickly. Faster that Paige had anticipated. He wrapped his hands around her throat and rammed her back against the wall. Paige choked and gagged, her hands scrabbling at his in an attempt to get him to loosen his grip but he didn't.
"If they have killed her... If I've missed out on the opportunity to save her and he killed her because she saved your worthless hide, then Chris won't be the one you'll have to worry about... I'll kill you myself."
Desired by the Billionaire 4 (Loved By Him) Page 4
