“I guarantee he could do something. He gets these letters to you without being seen. And I don’t care about the media.”
Miya rolled her eyes and turned to set her teacup in the sink.
“From here on out, you don’t go anywhere without me.”
She stared at him with wide eyes filled with anger and frustration. She opened her mouth to say something, but Alex held up his hand, cutting her off.
“Miya, you will not fight me on this, so don’t even start.”
“You can’t follow me around everywhere. Don’t you have chancellor work you need to do?”
Alex snickered and raised an eyebrow in amusement. “Chancellor work?”
“I don’t know what it is you do,” she said as she slapped her hand against her thigh. “But you can’t—”
“My chancellor work as you call it, can wait. My first priority, at least until your family gets back, is to make sure nothing happens to you.”
She leaned one hand on the island and the other hand on her hip. She looked so adorable pissed he had a hard time not smiling at her.
“You’re not a bodyguard,” she argued.
Alex grunted. “I think I can manage, Miya.”
She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes in a way that gave Alex a bad feeling.
“Fine,” she said.
Alex had a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach. She was up to something. Miya never gave up on anything that easy.
“If you go with me everywhere, then that means you go with me to the club SinFire tomorrow night.”
And there it was.
Alex shook his head. “No. I don’t do clubs.”
“You own a club.”
“That’s different.” He gave her a tight-lipped smile, hoping his next words would fluster her enough to drop the club idea. “I have sex in my club. Think I could have sex in this one?”
“Well,” she said and shrugged one shoulder. “I’ve seen people having sex in the darkened corners. I’m sure you would fit right in.”
Alex scowled. “That’s just drunk idiots who are too far gone to know any better. What the hell are you doing going to a place like that, anyway?”
“Don’t start with the whole what’s-a-girl-like-you nonsense. I know the band that is scheduled to perform, and I promised them I would be there. So we’re going.”
Alex didn’t answer her. He didn’t trust himself to, so he did what he’d done most of the last couple of hours…silently count to ten. If she were a sub, he would’ve already put her over his knee. But she wasn’t. He needed to remember that, keep his hands to himself and his Dom temper in check.
He pulled out his communicator and called his assistant. “Johnson, I need you to bring me some clothes.”
Miya’s jaw dropped.
“Clothes, sir?” his assistant asked.
“Yes, I’m going to be staying with Miya Marcone until her family returns,” Alex answered as he watched Miya’s cheeks turn red. “Bring them to apartment 4053 at the Beechor Tower.”
“Anything in particular?” Johnson asked.
“No, just casual stuff is fine. And bring the tablet I left on my desk this morning.”
“Yes, sir.”
Alex closed the communicator and waited for Miya’s blow up. He didn’t have to wait long.
“You can’t stay here! I only have the one bed, and the couch is too small.”
Alex glanced over at the red couch. It really was too small, but Miya couldn’t sleep out here, and he damn sure couldn’t sleep in the bed with her. Talk about playing with fire.
“I’ll be fine, Miya. I’m staying.”
Chapter Five
Miya wasn’t sure whether to be happy or angry. Alex was just moving in, not giving her a choice, claiming she couldn’t go anywhere without him. Talk about bossy.
“I’m not your submissive, Alex. You can’t just move in here and boss me around like some troglodyte.”
Alex stood and leaned his palms on the counter. Bending forward slightly, he brought his angry glare in line with hers. “What’s the real problem here? I know you’re smart enough to realize just how much danger you’re in, so stop fighting me on this before I show you just how much of a Dom I can be.”
Please do were the only two words Miya could think to say. So instead, she said nothing. There was no point fighting. He was as stubborn and headstrong as her father, and fighting him never got her anywhere. But fighting Alex had a much different effect on her body than fighting her father ever did. If only they could go beyond fighting. Doing this with Alex made her think of hot, sweaty sex. Hell, doing anything with Alex made her think of that.
“What’s going on, Miya?” Alex growled. “The truth.”
Miya sighed and stepped back to lean her hip against the counter behind her. Crossing her arms over her chest, she pursed her lips and tried to think of what to say. “I know I’m in danger. I do, but do you have any idea what it’s like living as a female Marcone?”
Alex didn’t say anything, just watched her with those heavenly eyes of his.
“I thought life was bad when I lived at home. I had no idea the prison I would live in once I started singing for the opera. My father doesn’t have to hire security for me, because there’re so many cameras hanging around.”
“Miya—”
“Oh, shut up,” she snapped. “If my father or even my brothers find out just how serious this is, they’ll lock me up.”
“They will not,” Alex said in exasperation.
“My brothers would, and you know it. I love singing, Alex. I don’t want this to take that away from me, and I guarantee the second my family finds out about this, my life with the opera is over. I may be able to convince my dad to let me stay, but Hayden and Chris? No way.”
Alex sighed but didn’t verbally disagree. When it came to her brothers, they could be incredibly stubborn and overprotective. Alex walked over and touched her cheek lightly with his fingers. Understanding shone in his eyes, but it was the flash of heat that made her stomach flutter.
She held her breath, waiting. She wanted him to kiss her so badly. She licked her lips, contemplating whether or not she should kiss him. He worked with her brother, and if Alex told him, she would die of embarrassment. Alex was too close to their family to screw this up.
He trailed the tip of his finger over her bottom lip, his touch light, but at the same time wickedly hot. Bending his finger, he brushed the back of his knuckle over her chin. When he gripped it with his thumb and forefinger and tilted her face up, Miya held her breath, silently praying he would actually kiss her.
Unfortunately, the moment was over as fast as it began. He lowered his hand and walked toward the other side of her kitchen. Her heart ached, but at the same time, it soared. He wanted her. She could see it in his eyes. Did the complications of her family hold him back? Or was it her age?
Yes, he was older than her by ten years, but did that really matter?
“Maybe we can use the media to our advantage,” he said as though nothing had just passed between them.
She frowned at the sudden change in topic and tried to keep her mind on what he was saying and off her fantasies. “How so?”
“Well, those last two letters were sent after you were seen in public with a date.”
Miya shook her head. “He wasn’t a date—”
“Your admirer thought he was, and that’s all that matters.”
Alex opened the refrigerator to look inside. Miya almost giggled at the frown he cast her way once he realized it was empty. “Now I know how you keep that figure. You don’t eat.”
“I eat.” She waved her hand toward the replicator. “I just replicate it.”
Alex’s frown deepened. “Replicated food is nasty, Miya.”
“You drank the tea,” she argued.
“That I could stomach. Food, I will not.” He pulled out his communicator again and punched in a number. “It’s bad enough I have to eat replicated food when I t
ravel on spaceships. I refuse to eat it here.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Ordering dinner. Then tomorrow, we’re buying you some real food.”
She started to say something, but stopped when the person on the other end picked up, and Alex began to order. Her eyes widened at the amount of food. Surely he wasn’t going to eat all that by himself. Then again…
Her gaze wandered down his muscular form, over his wide shoulders, his tapered waist and even lower over lean hips and strong thighs. She would’ve sighed but bit her lip instead. With all those muscles, Alex probably always ate a lot. It should be illegal for a man to be so gorgeous.
When her focus finally returned to his face, she let go of her lip at the raised eyebrow, and amusement filled his eyes. It was as though he knew exactly what she’d been thinking.
“What?” she said, defensively as heat slowly filled her cheeks.
Alex chuckled and slipped his communicator back in his pocket. Miya admired his firm, round behind as he strolled to her small red couch. How on earth was he going to sleep on that thing? His legs would hang over a good two feet, if not more.
“I was just thinking,” she began as she walked over to join him on the couch.
She sat down and curled one leg under her so she could sit facing him.
“Heaven help us,” he drawled, then chuckled when she slapped him on the shoulder.
“Be nice.”
“I’ll try,” he said with a grin. “What were you thinking?”
“You can’t sleep on this couch.”
“I’ll admit it’s not my first choice, but—”
“You can stay in my room.”
Alex frowned slightly. “I’m not sleeping in your bed with you, Miya.”
She shoved at his hard shoulder with her index finger. “That wasn’t going to be my suggestion. Get your mind out of the gutter.”
“Sorry. Please continue.”
Miya snorted, knowing full well he wasn’t sorry. “I can sleep out here on the couch.”
Alex shook his head. “The whole point of my sleeping on the couch is so I’m between you and the point of entry into this apartment. What good am I if I’m in there and you’re out here?”
“Well…you would hear me scream.”
He moved so fast Miya hardly had time to catch her breath before he had her bent backward over the arm of the couch, his hand clamped firmly over her mouth, his other holding her wrist at her shoulder. His body weight held her down, pinning her in such a way, she couldn’t move anything.
She stared up at him, startled but not with fear. Instead, the heat of desire began to pool in her stomach at the feel of his body covering hers and the fact he could do whatever he wanted to her.
He leaned down and whispered softly in her ear, making goose bumps rise along her flesh. “Can you scream, Miya?”
She shook her head no. He rubbed the tip of his nose against the sensitive spot just below her ear, and she shivered. His hot breath blew seductively and tickled her neck as he spoke.
“Then how would you get my attention?”
The words whispered so low by her ear made every inch of her body tingle. He rose slightly and stared into her eyes. Miya swallowed at the glow of lust she could see in the amethyst depths. God, he had beautiful eyes. And lips so full and soft. She bet they would feel incredible against her body, wherever they landed.
Is this what it would be like to be dominated by him? She knew Alex would never truly hurt her, and Sam had even confirmed that with his talk of how Alex was firm but gentle…never abusive like some of the Doms were prior to Alex taking over the club.
Neither moved for several seconds. Alex stared into her eyes. Miya was convinced he looked at her hard enough to read her mind. Truthfully, he didn’t really need to. She was sure the desire she felt for him was clear in her gaze.
His eyes widened slightly as though finally realizing what he was doing, but still he didn’t move or loosen his hold.
Miya felt every inch of his hard body against hers. She wanted to wiggle, to rub her breasts against his chest, to feel his hips move against hers. This little display of male strength had gotten her so hot she was sure she would start moaning any second.
A knock sounded at the door, and Miya almost groaned at the interruption. She had a feeling it would’ve only been a matter of time before he kissed her. Now the moment was gone, and she wanted to wail in protest.
“Saved…for the moment,” he murmured before getting up and walking stiffly to the door.
ALEX COULDN’T BELIEVE the spark of lust that had ignited within Miya’s gaze when he’d pinned her to the couch. That was a look he didn’t expect. Anger, certainly, but not lust. It had turned him on so much he’d struggled to keep himself in check.
Alex prided himself on staying in control, but that sweet little spitfire had him almost losing it twice tonight. He hadn’t had a woman get him this hot in…he had no idea how long.
Sighing, he opened the door and took the boxes the young man handed him. Alex tossed the delivery man a currency chip, then shut the door with his foot.
He walked back into the kitchen and set the boxes on the island. “Dinner’s ready,” he said but tried not to look at Miya as he separated the boxes of food. “Come get something to eat.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Miya slowly walk over. She quietly took two plates from the cabinet and set them on the counter. Alex took one and filled it with food before handing it back to her.
“I can’t possibly eat all that,” she said with a frown.
Alex stared at her. “Eat what you want. We’ll put what’s left in the refrigerator.”
Miya scrunched her nose as she took the plate and set it on the island in front of her. Alex grinned just as she looked up at him.
“What?” she asked, warily.
“It’s cute when you do that,” he said softly.
You shouldn’t be doing this, Alex.
“Do what?”
“Scrunch your nose.”
“Oh,” she breathed and looked back down at the plate, as though trying to decide what to say.
“Don’t like vilogin, do you?” he asked.
“No, not really,” she said with a wince. “Sorry.”
Alex nodded and held out his hand. “I should’ve asked first. Hand me that.”
She handed him the plate back, and he set it aside.
“What about ribs?” he asked.
“Those, I like.”
“Good because we should have some of those somewhere…” He opened one of the boxes and smiled. “Bingo.”
He passed the box to her, and she put some ribs on her plate, along with a few vegetables. Alex raised his eyebrow at the small amount of food she’d taken but didn’t say anything.
“Wine okay?” she asked as she pulled two glasses down from the cabinet.
“Wine’s fine,” he replied, thankful for something that would take his mind off how good she’d felt beneath him when he’d pinned her to the couch.
When she pulled a bottle from the cabinet, he teased her, “You mean you actually have wine and didn’t have to replicate it?”
“Well, we could drink replicated wine, but I can’t guarantee the replicator won’t screw up the alcohol and have us both drunk off our asses by the time we finish one glass.”
Nope, definitely didn’t want to be shitfaced around Miya. He was having a hard enough time keeping his hands to himself as it was. Alex grabbed his plate and followed Miya back to the couch.
Once at the couch, Miya picked up a remote control lying on the end table. She hit one of the buttons, and soft music filled the room.
“Classical?” he asked, surprised.
She nodded as she chewed her bite of ribs.
“I pegged you as more of a grunge girl.”
Miya snickered around her food. “Shows what you know.” She swallowed before continuing. “I have a very eclectic taste in music. I like most everyth
ing.”
“You just like music.”
“Bet you never would’ve guessed that, huh?” she teased, making Alex smile.
“So where do you get that voice of yours?” he asked, then took a bite of his food while he waited for her to answer.
“My mom,” she replied. At his raised eyebrow, she smiled. “You didn’t know mom could sing?”
“Can’t say as I did.”
“She never did it professionally.”
“Why not?”
“Never wanted to.”
“How did you get started?” he asked.
“I sang all through school. In programs and plays. I just loved doing it. When I got to high school and found out what my range was, my drama teacher suggested I be classically trained.” She shrugged. “It just kind of snowballed from there.”
“Interesting,” he murmured.
“What about you?” she asked.
He shook his head. “I was never classically trained.”
“Cute,” she drawled but smiled. “How did you get to be a Dom, or are you just naturally bossy?”
He chuckled. “I was born to it.”
She clucked her tongue. “You gotta give me more than that, Chancellor.”
“I don’t know,” he said as he tried to think of the best way to answer the question. How had he become a Dom? “I fell into it in college.”
“Fell into it?” she asked.
Alex sighed. “We really shouldn’t be talking about this.”
“Why? Does it embarrass you?”
He watched the devilish grin play around her mouth as she placed the fork between her lips, licking the sauce off the silver. Alex swallowed at the image. He didn’t think she’d done it to be sexy, but even done innocently, the image was hard to ignore.
“Why are you so curious about it?” he asked, turning the tables onto her.
Entwined Fates: Dominating Miya Page 3
