The cushions next to him moved as Miya sat down, but he didn’t change positions. Right now, he wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms. If he looked at her, he would. He wanted to protect her, coddle her… Damn it, he even wanted to fight with her.
He felt her get closer, and then her arm slipped over his stomach.
She laid her head against his shoulder and whispered, “I’m scared, Alex.”
Those three words were his undoing. Alex dropped the arm covering his eyes, wrapped it around her shoulders, and held her close. He lifted his other hand and cupped the back of her head. Burying his fingers in her soft hair, he gently massaged her scalp.
“I know, angel, but I won’t let anything happen to you,” he whispered.
He kissed the top of her head. He let his lips linger against her scalp and inhaled her sweet scent. She felt so good in his arms, curled up against him. Right now, she seemed fragile, so different from the imp who had teased him last night.
“It’s going to be okay,” he murmured, and her arm tightened around his stomach.
“Was that Dad?”
“Yes.”
She nodded and cuddled a little closer to his chest. “Is he coming home?”
“No. He trusts me to handle it.”
“I trust you too.”
He gripped a handful of hair at the base of her neck and tugged her head back so he could see her face. She stared up at him with big, trusting green eyes, and all he wanted to do was lose himself in them.
“Then stop fighting me,” he growled.
She smiled softly. “You’re so sexy when you do that.”
Alex snickered. “That’s nothin’.” He placed a quick kiss on her forehead. “Let me get a shower, and we’ll head to breakfast. Do not leave this house, Miya, or even your father won’t be able to save you from my wrath. Are we clear?”
She grinned wickedly. “Yes, sir,” she whispered.
Alex’s cock twitched in response to her softly spoken words. Damn, he liked the way she said that.
“Behave,” he snarled.
Miya sat back and allowed him to get up, despite the fact he really didn’t want to. He could sit there on the couch with her all day if he thought it wouldn’t eventually lead somewhere else.
* * * *
Miya strolled into the restaurant and tried to ignore the humming in her body every time Alex rested his hand at the small of her back. Just that light touch sent her senses into dramatic overload.
The sparks between them were strong enough to light a match, and it made her so frustrated she wanted to lash out at something. Alex seemed to be just as tense as she was, if not more so. She wasn’t sure how much more she could take.
She spotted Sam in a booth toward the far wall. The view from the restaurant was amazing. Perched high atop the Morgeen complex, it had an incredible view of the senate gallery and the two residential towers flanking each side. She waved to Sam and started over, Alex close on her heels.
“Good morning,” she said as Sam stood and kissed her on the cheek.
Sam cast a cautions glanced toward Alex before returning to his seat. Miya took the bench across from him and scooted over to make room for Alex.
“Miya,” Alex said as he put his hand on the back of the bench and bent down so he could speak quietly. “I’m going to the booth in the far corner.”
She frowned in disappointment. “You’re not joining us?”
“No. I have some calls I need to make. I’ll be able to see you the entire time.”
She nodded. Of course, he needed to work, and here she was keeping him from it. “Okay.”
“Alex,” Sam called.
Alex straightened. “Yes?”
“I have the information you wanted.” Sam held out a small electronic device and placed it in Alex’s hand.
“Thank you, Sam.”
Sam smiled slightly as though excited he’d done something to please him.
Alex turned back to Miya and pointed toward the secluded booth. “I’ll be back there if you need me.”
Miya watched him go and frowned. “Sam?” she said before turning back to her friend and assistant.
“I ordered us breakfast,” he said. “I just assumed you would want your usual.”
“Thanks, but…” She licked her lips nervously. “What do the submissives do at the club to get Alex’s attention?”
Sam’s jaw went slack, and his dark brown eyes widened. “I’m already in trouble with him.”
“I know, and I’m so sorry, but please.”
Sam studied her closely, and a look of worry made his eyes crinkle at the corners. “Miya, honey, don’t fall for him.”
“Why?” she asked.
“He’s never with a sub more than once. He doesn’t want a permanent one. Besides, you would make a lousy sub.”
She frowned as the waitress set their cups on the table and filled them with chocolate-mint cocoa. She knew the drink was loaded with calories, but it was a treat she often indulged in when she ate here.
She waited for the waitress to leave before asking, “Why do you say that?”
“Because you don’t like being told what to do.”
“That depends,” she said and reached for her cup. “Would it be a lifestyle thing? Would he tell me where to go or what to wear?”
“Depends on how far he takes his role as Dom. I don’t think he’s a lifestyle Dom, but…” Sam shrugged his shoulders. “As for what the subs do to get his attention, well, the subs don’t do anything. A sub is never supposed to approach a Dom. I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but the ones I have seen him with look like you.”
Miya remembered what he’d said last night about liking subs with dark hair and green eyes. Did he really do that? Play with women who looked like her?
She tilted her head and looked at Alex. He sat toward the back, talking softly on his communicator. His hair was pulled back, sharpening the angular lines of his face. She liked him so much better with it down. If he picked subs who looked like her, did that mean something? And if she made the first move would it turn him off?
“Hey,” Sam said as he snapped his fingers in front of Miya’s face. “Deep space to Miya.”
Miya jerked back and frowned. “What?”
Sam nodded to the waitress as she set their plates on the table in front of them. “You were leaning over so she couldn’t set the plate down,” Sam said with amusement. “Stop staring at him. You’re being too obvious.”
Miya sighed and picked up her fork. “I can’t help it.”
She watched Alex place his order. Once he was done, his eyes met hers, and she’d swear it felt as though he’d touched her. Every inch of her flesh tingled with the heat she could see in his gaze even from here. Sam turned to look at Alex, breaking the spell. Alex returned his attention back to his work.
Sam looked at her and grinned. “Forget what I said about not falling for him. If I had a guy look at me like that, I’d be all over his ass.”
Miya laughed softly and reached for her cup. “Unfortunately, Alex isn’t letting me anywhere near his ass. I’m forbidden.”
Sam scoffed. “Why?”
Miya pursed her lips in disgust. “I don’t know. He works with my dad sometimes on security for senate functions. Chris is his best friend. He and Chris work very closely together on projects in the senate. I’m guessing he doesn’t want his screwing me to screw up that.”
“Yeah, but if he loves you…”
Miya shrugged. “Who knows what Alex feels. He certainly isn’t telling me. All I know is he sees anything sexual with me as inappropriate.”
Sam harumphed as he dug into his eggs. “If you two keep spending all this time together, inappropriate may not matter. But changing the subject, you’re not going to rehearsal today, are you?”
Miya scowled briefly at Sam. “Not you too.”
“The opera company understands if you want to take some time away in light of what happened last night.”
>
“I’m going to tell you the same thing I told Alex. I don’t want this guy to take my life away from me. I have rehearsal today, and I plan on being there. Then Alex and I plan to head out to SinFire later and see my friends perform. I think Alex is hoping if my stalker sees us together, he’ll make a move.”
“Aren’t you scared?” Sam asked.
Miya snorted. “Scared witless. But I trust Alex.”
Chapter Eight
Alex sat in the first-level box that overlooked the right side of the stage. Miya was below with several other performers from the play. He’d indulged her coming here, but after thinking about it, realized it was probably the right thing to do. The stalker wouldn’t make another move if he kept her locked up in her apartment. He needed her out in the open where her stalker could see her.
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Hell, who was he kidding? He needed her in his bed, in his life. It was bad enough he saw Miya at Marcone get-togethers whenever Alex had been invited or at the opera or Christian’s apartment. Truthfully, he never really liked the opera much. The only reason he went was because of Miya.
Now they were practically glued at the hip.
The music started, and Miya began to sing. Alex smiled at how her voice carried through the theater. She hit an odd note, her voice cracking, then cringed. Shaking her head, she waved her hands for the music to stop.
“Need some tea, hon?” he heard Sam call from somewhere off stage.
“Yes, please,” she called. “Sorry, guys. Move onto the next one. I need a break,” she said, then walked off stage.
Alex left the box to join her and Sam in her dressing room. When he arrived, Miya was leaning against her dressing table, her fingers curled around the edge, her brow creased into a tight frown as she stared at her feet.
“You okay, angel?” he murmured.
Her eyes lifted to his, half startled, half full of sadness. She apparently hadn’t heard him approach. She nodded. Sam skirted around him to get through the door so he could hand Miya her tea.
“Thanks, Sam,” she said softly.
“See,” Sam said with a flourish of his hands that made Alex’s lips twitch. Sam always was a little on the flamboyant side. “You’re too stressed, hon. You need a few days. Tell her, Alex.”
Miya rolled her eyes. “God, would both of you stop? My voice is probably cracking because of all the yelling I did this morning.” She glanced pointedly at Alex as he leaned his shoulder against the door frame and crossed his arms. “I’ll be fine.”
“Just goes to show you shouldn’t argue with me,” Alex said.
“Just goes to show you should stop being a pansy and fuck me already,” she mumbled.
She said it so low Alex wasn’t even sure he heard her correctly, at least until Sam’s eyes went wide and he exclaimed, “Girl, you did not just go there.”
She sighed and stared into her cup. “You’re right. I didn’t. Forget I said it. I’m just really stressed, and I’m being a bitch.”
Sam rubbed his hand down her arm, comforting her. “That’s why you need to go home. Go take a nap or something. You’ll be fresher for tonight.”
She shook her head. “I can’t sleep. Every time I try, I…”
“Give us a minute, Sam,” Alex said as he moved farther into the room.
Sam left, and Alex closed the door behind him. He walked over to Miya, took the cup of tea from her hands, and set it on the table. He grasped Miya’s hand in his and led her to the couch at the other end of her dressing room. Sitting down, her tugged her down with him. She curled her legs under her and leaned her head on his chest, her arm around his stomach, just like she’d done this morning.
“Talk to me, Miya,” he said as he gently stroked her hair. “What do you see when you close your eyes?”
“You want the bad or the dirty?”
Alex chuckled. “I want what scares you.”
“That’s it,” she whispered. “All my life I’ve never been afraid. Most of the guys growing up were too terrified of the name Marcone to even try to get close to me. The ones who did were only after what connections the name Marcone could get them, but even then they were too afraid of my dad to ever risk hurting me. Physically anyway. But this guy isn’t. This guy hurt me and…” She took a deep breath, and Alex waited for her to finish. “For the first time in my life, I’m afraid my dad and his name can’t save me.”
She tilted her head back, and Alex found himself mesmerized by her gaze. He cupped her cheek and brushed his thumb over her skin. She was so beautiful and right now so scared, but she put on such a brave face. At least now, he understood the surliness that would pop up from time to time.
He would never let anything happen to her. He hoped she knew that. He slid his hand to the side of her neck and used the pad of his thumb to tilt her chin up just a bit more. It would be so easy to kiss her. He wanted to kiss her. If he read the desire in her eyes right, she wanted him to kiss her, and that realization made him happier than it probably should. She was off-limits, or at least ought to be. Would Marcone see a relationship between the two of them as a bad thing? But what if it didn’t work out? What if she couldn’t handle him, or God help him, he hurt her?
As he stared at her, none of that mattered.
He lifted his thumb off her chin, but she didn’t move her head. Her lips were full and slightly parted, her eyes glowing.
He slid his hand slowly around the back of her neck and dipped his head. His mind kept screaming he shouldn’t be doing this. He would scare her, and it would crush him if she looked at him with terror in her eyes, but he wanted her with a passion he couldn’t remember ever feeling for anyone.
Was it because he felt she was taboo? Was the lure the secrecy? That they would have to keep things hidden from her father and brothers? That if her father found out he’d castrate him? He couldn’t afford to piss off Marcone or Christian, for that matter.
Then why the hell couldn’t he stop himself?
His lips were just inches from hers. He could feel her breath as it feathered over his mouth. She was so wrong for him. She wasn’t a sub. She was willful, stubborn, disobedient…and so damn beautiful. He could forgive her all her insolence when she smiled at him in that adorably devilish way that sent his heart racing.
He was half in love with her already. He was such an idiot.
Her dressing room door opened, and Sam stepped in.
“Oh, crap.”
Alex sighed and lifted his head, letting his hand fall back to his lap. Part of him was glad for the interruption. Another part was pissed.
Miya dropped her head back to his chest and buried her face in his shirt. Sam stepped back, then changed his mind and stepped forward again.
“I’m sor—”
“What is it, Sam?” Alex asked in frustration.
“Nothing,” he replied, before fleeing.
“Right now, I hate Sam,” Miya murmured, her face still buried in his shirt.
Alex smiled slightly and rubbed his hand up and down her back. He knew the feeling, but it was probably a good thing Sam interrupted them. If he hadn’t, he might’ve done more than kiss Miya.
“What time do you have to be at this club you want to go to?”
“Nine,” she said as she turned her face and rested her cheek against his chest.
“Are you going back to rehearsal?” he asked.
She sighed. “No.”
“Well, that gives us about seven hours to kill. So, how about you go with me to my office? I can get a little work done and pick up some things; then we’ll get some dinner. And in the meantime…” He kissed the back of her head and spoke softly into her hair. “You can be a good girl and remain quiet so you can rest your voice.”
She sighed again. “Fine.”
Alex fought a grin. She was such a damn imp.
* * * *
His nerves were stretched to the breaking point. His balls so damn sore he doubted he would be able to sleep later. Spendi
ng the entire day with Miya, even a quiet Miya, without kissing her had been hard. She’d hardly said three words all day. He knew she was resting her voice, but there was sadness in her eyes she tried so hard to hide, and it gripped his chest like a vise.
He knew his distance was hurting her. It was hurting him too.
He’d convinced himself it wouldn’t work between them. He’d convinced himself she wasn’t a sub, that she wouldn’t be able to take his sexual appetites, that she would never allow him full control and sexually submit to him.
Why would she? She’d spent her entire life fighting against the control her brothers had over her, proving she was old enough and smart enough to make her own decisions and take care of herself. And she was. Alex didn’t want control over her life. He wanted control over her heart and her body.
Miya stepped out of her bedroom, and Alex froze in his pacing. The woman was a knockout.
Leather pants that looked as though she’d been melted and poured into them, thigh-high stiletto boots that made his cock go rigid just looking at her in them, and a red-and-black bustier that cinched in her already small waist, pressing her breasts up and out. Alex’s hands tightened into fists as he fought the urge to run the back of his knuckles over her impressive cleavage.
She wore a little more makeup tonight than usual, and the eyeliner really made her eyes pop. Her hair was curled and the front pulled back, secured at the back of her head with a black clip. Around her neck was a black pearl choker with a red stone dangling from the center. It immediately put images in Alex’s head of her at his club, a silver collar around her neck showing everyone who she belonged to.
Alex had never collared a sub, but he wanted to collar her. Fiercely.
When she got close to the kitchen, she looked up at him and frowned. “What? Why are you frowning at me like that?”
He opened his mouth to say he wasn’t frowning since he hadn’t realized he was, but she cut him off.
“I swear, Alex, if the words ‘does your father know you wear that’ come out of your mouth, I’ll cut out your tongue.”
He snickered as he leaned his hips against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. “Big words for such a small package.”
Entwined Fates: Dominating Miya Page 5
