“Get off of me!”
“Not until you calm the fuck down!”
“How do you expect me to when you’re forcing your hand on everything?!” I thrashed my body around, trying to get free, but it was pointless. He was much stronger than me.
With one hand he held my wrists above my head, hooking them, while the other began skimming the inside of my thigh and I froze, locking eyes with him.
I cleared my throat, trying to steady my voice. “You’re obviously ignoring what’s in front of your face.”
He looked me up and down. “Sweetheart, you’re the only one that’s in my face.” Slowly, he slid his fingers higher. “What do you want to do about that?”
I had nowhere to go.
I could barely move.
“Because I can think of plenty of things to do with that sweet little mouth of yours that loves to push all of my buttons.”
“I—”
“Did I say you could talk?”
My eyes widened, and mouth dropped. “Who the hell do you think you are? This is not how it’s going to go, Mr. Locke.”
“So, I’m Mr. Locke when my hand is near your pussy?” His eyes dilated, dark and daunting. “Or what, kid? What are you going to do? I’m not the one under you, now am I?”
I jerked my body around, trying to break out of his hold, but the second I felt his fingers get closer to my core I froze again.
“Miss Troy, you’re not going anywhere unless I want you to.”
“You can’t keep doing this to me.”
“And what’s that? Making you wet?”
“Julian—”
“Oh, now I’m Julian again?”
I changed the subject. “I’m over your cockiness. It doesn’t work on me.”
He arrogantly smiled, calling my bluff and my body’s response to him. Back and forth, he caressed the soft skin of my bare thighs. My breathing elevated, proving to him I was lying.
“I am doing what’s in the best interest of our daughter, Autumn. You can think I’m asshole for it, but I honestly don’t give a fuck. I’ve lost nine years of her life, and I plan to make up for it. With or without your consent.”
“You could still do that, and we don’t have to move in with you for the next month. What the hell are you doing with a ranch in Texas anyway? You don’t even live there anymore.”
“If I tell you, what do I get?”
“What do you want?”
“You.”
My thighs clenched, hearing his response. Seconds later, his fingers glided closer to my core, and I resisted the urge to moan.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart? Where’s your smartass mouth? My tough girls gone? I guess she’s not so tough when I’m lying on top of her.”
I sucked in air, alarmed by his reply. He continued his gentle torture, loving the feel of my skin against his calloused fingers. As if reading my mind, he tilted his head to the side, enticing me with whatever he wanted to do. I could see, feel his internal struggle. Julian was fighting something deeper than what I imagined.
“You can’t have me,” I found myself saying, though I was torn. I may hate him, but my body seemed to love him.
“Fine,” he stated. “I’ll take your pussy in the meantime.”
“You know what?” I challenged, my pussy challenging him for me. “I should just let you to make you back off.”
“Kid, if you think that than you’re surely mistaken.”
“I’m serious.”
“As am I.”
“No, not about that… I mean about the ranch. Why do you own one?”
“If you must know, I’ve owned it for a while.”
“Wait, what?”
“You heard me.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You don’t seem to these days. I’ll make it very simple, I bought it for you. It even comes with farm animals like you’ve always wanted.”
The memory of the day I told him my dream of owning a ranch and a farm played out in front of me like I was saying it to him right then and there.
“You gotta be kidding me?” You bought a ranch for me? Julian, we’re not even together, that makes no sense.”
“I have no intention of letting you leave.”
“I don’t care what your intensions are. I’m leaving when our contract is up.”
“We’ll see.” He grinned. “Not that I need a reason for purchasing your fairytale, but Capri needs a steady home and she’ll get that in Texas. We’re near you family and that’s important to me.”
“What about Miami?”
“What about it?”
“You live there.”
“I may live there, kid, but it’s never been my home. Texas is where my heart is.” The tips of his fingers lightly touched the edge of my panties. With a wicked expression, he taunted, “Should I keep going?”
“What does it matter what I say? You’re going to do what you want anyway.”
He grinned again, and instead of pushing my panties aside, he simply grazed my folds through the silk fabric. “I know you want me to touch you, and all you have to do is say the magic word.”