Page 91 of Watching Her

“What trouble?”

“Don’t play coy. It doesn’t look good on you. You wanted to impress me, which you have, but why?”

He thought about my question as we continued walking. There was also something very sexy about seeing him with a stuffed animal in his arms. “Because I don’t want you with any other man.”

I wasn’t certain what I’d expected to hear, but that wasn’t on the radar. “As in ever?”

“Ever, Penelope. If any man touches you again, I don’t know what I’ll do.”

The prickles dancing down my arms should be pure ice. Instead they were created from extreme heat, which caused my pussy to clench and release.

How exactly could I comment on such a possessive statement? So I didn’t, enjoying the sights and sounds instead. The man hummed with electricity, the intense vibrations easily felt from even a few inches away. He left me breathless, aching inside and while a small part of me sensed his hunger for power had altered his personality, I craved the sense of control he had over everything.

Including people.

Including me.

Never had I once wished for a dominating man, but he was entirely different, so self-assured all while being tortured. “How many people did you hire to be here?”

Christian took a deep breath. “Enough.”

“Money is of no consequence to you.”

“Money is of significant consequence to me. It provides the necessary tools for full conquest.”

We’d reached the entrance to the Ferris wheel, the man who’d been waiting for our arrival moving forward to prepare a seat.

“Is that all that’s important to you, defeating your competition?”

“That and my enemies.” He took the smaller bear from my hand, gently placing both on one of the benches near the ride. Even positioning the two together as if hoping the stuffed bears kept each other company.

It was times like this I sensed his awkwardness, the only uncertainty he had or would ever show. He was used to taking everything he wanted, not giving in return. Maybe I was more attracted to his vulnerability than anything else.

“Do you have many of those? Enemies, I mean?”

He nodded toward the gondola-like seat, the light of the ride highlighting a rather evil expression. “You’d be surprised.”

“How do you deal with that?”

“With finality.”

Now I shivered even more. Was it possible he was capable of killing another human being? I wasn’t certain I wanted a direct answer.

Once we were settled and he’d pulled the bar on the ride down over us, he did something unexpected in placing his arm around my shoulders.

Suddenly, this felt very much like a date.

“So you’ve never been on a Ferris wheel either?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“Not a rollercoaster. Not a tilt-a-whirl. Not bumper cars. Nothing.”

“Your family had no interest?”

As the ride jerked to a start, I was surprised every muscle tensed in his body. “My father was too busy keeping the peace.”

“And your mom?”

He kept his face straight ahead as the ride began to rise, moving slowly at first, but his other hand was firmly wrapped around the bar. “She died when I was very young.”