Page 159 of Captive Ruin

“A tiger, then.”

“Let’s go with that,” I agree. “Tigers are strict loners. I’ll wander off by myself.”

His lips curl slowly. “Even now, you provoke me?”

“Amid a crowd?” I ask innocently. “With all your work colleagues, when there’s nothing you can do about it? Best time, if you ask me.”

He slides an arm around my waist and pulls me sharply against him. I catch myself with a hand on his tux, feeling the hardness of his chest beneath. “I have a long memory, and I’m making a list,” he growls into my ear. “I might not be able to do anything now, but sometime soon, you’ll be at my mercy. So keep going, Little Stray, and see what happens.”

Okay… shit. And wow. And… oh my God.

It’s not just his words, it’s his tone, heavy with promise. My thighs are slick, my nipples tight, brushing against the bodice and sending tingles through me. My heart is racing. I feel alive, so damn alive.

And I love it.

I want to push him more. I want him on the edge of his control. No, I want him losing it for me. Here and now, in front of everyone. Fuck, I want him slamming me up against the wall, pinning me there with my dress lifted and my legs around his waist, while he drives into me, taking me while they all avert their eyes in case he kills them when we’re done.

I know they’re watching. They’ve been watching since we walked in.

In front of them all, I reach up and pat his cheek. “Such a nice idea, Lukas, but I wouldn’t want you to put your back out. Did you restock your Viagra?”

Last time I called him impotent, he cut my clothes off and bent me over a table. This time, he only smiles, teeth bared. It’s almost disappointing.

“You will pay for that later, wife. Push as much as you think you can handle, but for now, I do have to treat this as work.” He takes my hand and folds it over his arm, turning to face the room.

But he’s not finished. “If you can still walk when I’m done with you,” he murmurs, “I’m going to flip you over and start again.” He glances at me. “And you can keep that dress on for it. I’m going to ruin it, the same way I’m going to ruin you.”

He starts walking before I can draw enough breath or composure to come up with a response. It’s several paces before I can still my heart, lift my chin, and put on a show. I am his wife, after all, and they’re all watching.

It’s crowded, but they part for us. For him. It’s like everyone knows where he is all the time, not making it obvious that they’re looking, though they all are.

“What did you say you do here?” I ask quietly.

“Security.”

The same answer as last time. “Then shouldn’t you be on the door?”

“The only person I’m guarding tonight is you.”

It’s obvious they all know him, but no one comes up to offer greetings. It’s like they’re afraid of him. He’s a shark swimming through a shoal, and no one wants their blood in the water.

Van Wyk is carving a path with purpose, and against the far wall are a set of tables with Bastien in a group. That explains a lot. But it also raises questions.

“Why is Bastien here?” I mutter, keeping my voice pitched to his ears. As usual, he’s told me nothing. Or I haven’t asked before now. “When they talk about the Company, do they mean Cadrion?”

He glances at me in surprise. “Have you been nosy, Little Stray?”

“Did you expect me to accept a seven-figure art delivery without doing my checks?”

He chuckles. “I suppose not. And no, Cadrion is not the Company, but the Company is Cadrion. I’ll explain later.”

Enigmatic, until I think about it. Then it becomes clear. “The inner circle,” I reply. “And you and Bastien are at the top of it.”

“My wife is sharp. I knew I chose well.”

We’ve reached Bastien, and I don’t have time to respond to his words. But it’s not difficult to find a smile; I like Bastien. He’s charismatic, easy on the eye, and what little I’ve seen of him makes it clear he’s fond of Van Wyk. And I can’t fault him there; I’m fond of Van Wyk too.

How the hell did that happen?