CHAPTER 4

"Yeah," she said, shuddering. "And you still screwed me. So, what does it matter?"

"It's important because, now, you're mine," he snarled, standing her against the door and his hand against the corner of her jaw. "You're fucking mine, and you don't get to run away and off from me. You don't get to go home and be around that kid who is always all over you when I'm around."

"Giles," she corrected.

"I don't care what his name is, Jess." He jammed his knee between her legs and thrust his dick along the side of her hip. "No other man gets to even look at you the way that I do. You knew what you were getting yourself into when you walked through my door to work."

"No, I?

"Yes, you fucking did. I told you not to come unless you were serious about all of that which came with this type of lifestyle, with me being the jealous and possessive asshole that I am."

Jess swallowed hard and stared up at him, wanting to give him a piece of her mind, but not having a clue what she was going to say. It was all true. He had warned her, and she had liked the fantasy of someone being that crazy about her that they would not allow another man to even look at her. She never had gotten that kind of attention in her life.

But they couldn't do this. Gideon would find out.

He leaned his head and breathed into her ear, "You have no idea how fucking long I've wanted you, how many women I've been with, thinking of them as you. You leave my club without me tonight, and I will find you."

I stuffed my cum-filled cock back into my pants, zipped them up, and grabbed my tie that lay on the bed. Jess was already dressed, and while it wasn't really my MO to leave a girl without giving her proper aftercare, I had to catch my breath for a damn minute.

Jess was the daughter of my business partner, and she was still a virgin before I slept with her.

"Stay where you are," I said again so she wouldn't leave.

Once I'd slipped out of the door, I headed straight for my Executive Suite. I shouldn't have done that. But I enjoyed placing brats in their place, and, God, did Jess love being a brat. She had always been one with her parents, and every damn time … I fought the urge to bend her over my knee and spank her right under her father's nose.

My dick became hard again in my pants as I thought about how much she'd like that.

If he found out that I had screwed her, all that I had labored for would be laid in ruins.

"The hell you coming in here like this?" Caspian Black, a grown-up-movie actor, asked.

"I'm thirsty," I whispered.

"Bar is the other direction," Caspian informed me, pointing another direction.

I took a deep breath and stopped, glancing over the railing and down into The Velvet Lounge, where people were dancing, drinking, and watching other members have sex in the room next to it. I smoothed my hair back and cursed under my breath.

"What're you doing up here?" I asked.

A small smile crossed his face. "Reserving a glass room."

"For?" I asked, arching a brow.

"If I make any more tapes at my apartment, Zara Lane is going to know what I do."

I settled back against the railing and shoved a hand into my pocket. "I thought you loved her?"

He tensed. "Who said that?"

"You're always talking about her."

"She's my best friend."

"Mmhmm."

"Anyway, she doesn't like me like that." He glanced over my shoulder and in the direction I had just left. "Anyway, I have to head home. We're having a movie night tonight, and if I'm late one more time, she'll question me."

As he headed down the hallway, I shook my head and continued on to the offices.

Alethea Rylan, my adopted sister, walked down the hall towards me, clicking black red-bottomed shoes on the floor. I let out another audible sigh because I knew I would be stopped once again. Alethea loved to ramble on to our brother Beckett's ear. And when he was not there, she bothered me.

"Who's the girl?"

Alethea hummed.

"What girl?"

"The girl who just slipped out of your room?"

"God damn it," I cursed, storming out of Alethea and into the room.

Jess was nowhere to be seen.

I growled deep within my chest and headed for the bar.

If she came and I had expressly told her not to … if she occurred and informed her dad that she had come here tonight to visit someone, he would quiz me. And I'd be lying to him. After all these god damn years we'd spent working together.

"Jess!" I bellowed above the music, scanning the room for any glimpse of her.

I scanned the crowd. Once. Twice. Then a third time.

Nothing.