Dangerous (The Complete Erotic Romance Novel) (50 page)

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In which Reid takes a chance...

Chapter Nineteen

Kendra was furious.

Ethan had cornered her in the copy room of Esperanza when she’d been working late, gagged her, bound her, stripped her and put her into a mail bag. She’d fought hard but he’d had the element of surprise on his side, besides being larger and stronger.

He’d put her in the back of a vehicle, and fastened what must have been a seatbelt around her waist. She assumed it was his Jeep—it both sounded like and rode like a truck.

He’d also instructed her to keep struggling and trying to scream as he drove.

He’d said he planned to get his fill of her over the weekend, and that he’d arranged for a place where he could keep her tied to the wall without anyone finding out. She wasn’t afraid of him so much as she was angry to be in such a situation.

Because Kendra couldn’t help thinking it had been Reid’s decision to put her there.

This was why he hadn’t torn up their contract earlier in the afternoon, when he’d cut her free of the chain he’d locked around her body to mark her as his slave. She knew he hadn’t been pleased when he’d discovered Ethan kissing her earlier in the day, but he hadn’t given her any opportunity to talk to him about it.

The fact was she wouldn’t have succumbed at all to Ethan’s kiss if Reid regularly kissed her. She’d agreed to be Reid’s sex slave and his possession. She’d surrendered to him and submitted to his every whim. She wanted to be owned by him and used by him—preferably as much as possible, wherever and whenever he wanted.

The only thing she’d asked of him were more kisses—because the man’s kisses were pure perfection, even though she’d only had two to judge by—and he emphatically denied her. Kendra was sure if she’d had a kiss from Reid even every other day, she would have managed to evade Ethan completely and this whole situation could have been avoided.

As it was, if Reid thought he could just give her away to anyone, he could think again. It was one thing for him to share her with Rex—she’d expressed that fantasy to him and he’d tried to fulfill it. It hadn’t been as exciting as she’d expected, though, and she’d realized what she really wanted was more one-on-one time with Reid.

Instead, he’d handed her off to a shipping clerk.

The irony was that if it had been Reid driving, if it had been Reid who had seized her in the copy room, tied her up and tossed her into his car, if it had been Reid who had vowed to tie her to a wall and use her for his pleasure all weekend, Kendra would have been ecstatic. She would have been wet with anticipation, and moaning out of pleasure, not frustration.

For such a perceptive man, Reid really had gotten it wrong.

Kendra couldn’t wait to tell him off.

The trick was she had to get free of Ethan first. He’d knotted the rope securely and it was designed to not slip. She’d managed to make no difference in her bonds at all, no matter how much she struggled.

Kendra stilled, thinking. How could she convince Ethan to untie her? Was it possible that this wasn’t really his fantasy or plan? How could she appeal to him when she was gagged and covered by a mail bag?

“Kendra?” Ethan said suddenly. She felt the car swerve and guessed he was looking into the back seat as he drove. His voice rose slightly. “Kendra? Are you okay?”

That was when Kendra had a plan. She’d remain completely still, as if she’d passed out. Ethan would untie her out of concern.

And then he’d get a surprise.

* * *

Holy shit.

Ethan didn’t like that Kendra had fallen completely silent in the back seat. She wasn’t struggling anymore and she wasn’t moaning. With her in that bag, he couldn’t even be sure she was breathing. With her in the back seat, he couldn’t reach her to feel her pulse.

What if she suffocated in his Jeep? How the hell would he explain that?

Never mind that he’d stripped her down to her corset and stockings and shoes, and she was trussed up and gagged.

How would he explain the black leather gag? It was a serious piece of equipment and couldn’t have been cheap. He hadn’t even known such gear was available. Kendra had carried it in her purse, much to his astonishment, along with the black rope and a bunch of other stuff. She wasn’t just ready to be tied up and fucked at a moment’s notice: she was prepared to help, or arrive with supplies.

Stirling had some kind of hold over her, that was for sure.

Ethan thought her shoes were a tease, at least until he’d seen her trussed up after hours in Stirling’s office. Once he’d known the kind of games the new boss and his assistant played, he couldn’t leave it alone. Checking out Kendra’s purse and her desk had been a natural step in indulging his curiosity.

So had offering his own services.

Kissing her to show her that he could compete.

Compelling her to play along, by kidnapping her tonight. He’d halfway thought she’d stayed late on purpose, making work for herself to invite him to do something like this. It had been kind of exciting, forbidden and dangerous.

If she was dead, though, that was a whole different thing.

He called to her repeatedly, but she didn’t make another sound. His thoughts raced as he tried to figure out where he could stop. It was dark but he was on the highway. If he stopped at any rest-stop, he could hardly reveal her in the back of his Jeep. He wasn’t sure how he’d open the door and check on her without revealing her, at least a little bit. There was a rest-stop ahead, and the lights in the parking lot seemed glaringly bright.

Ethan drummed his fingers as the rest-stop ramp came closer. It would take only another ten minutes to get to the exit to the cabin, then another fifteen minutes’ drive to the cabin. It was a long time, if Kendra was in trouble.

Maybe she had just passed out.

He turned off at the rest-stop, reminding himself the Jeep windows were tinted. He parked at the very farthest edge of the lot, as far from other cars as possible. His heart was pounding when he turned off the engine. Rather than open the doors, he unfastened his seat belt and pivoted in his seat, leaning over the back of it.

He could just barely reach the end of the mail bag. He tugged it down, his fear growing when he saw that Kendra’s eyes were closed.

She sure was pretty.

He hoped he hadn’t hurt her.

He reached under her nose and closed his eyes in relief when he felt her breath on his hand. She’d only passed out. Ethan felt weak in the knees but he leaned over the seat and unfastened the gag, removing it from her.

Her mouth was soft and slack, but she was breathing normally.

She’d just passed out. Ethan threw the gag on the floor beside his backpack, then watched her until his heart slowed its crazy pace.

Kendra was okay. He was lucky this crazy idea of his hadn’t gone bad, but he’d be more careful from this point on.

All the same, he wasn’t quite ready to let her go.

She had to be the prettiest woman he’d ever known. He liked how she walked, how she swung her hips and how her calf muscles flexed in those shoes. Just the fact she wore those shoes showed a confidence in herself and her body that he admired. He liked that she was smart and she was trying to save Esperanza.

And he got hard remembering that kiss. Even though it had been stolen, it had been hot. He reached over and tugged down the mail bag, revealing her breasts, her bare nipples, the top of her corset and the rope binding her arms to her waist.

She was his.

He could do whatever he wanted to her.

Ethan nearly came in his jeans at the thought.

They had to get to the cabin immediately. He pulled the bag up to her chin, then spun around in his seat. He shoved his hands through his hair, incredulous at his own luck, before he started the Jeep again.

Ethan forced himself to slow down when he was on the ramp back to the highway, knowing he’d never talk himself out of being pulled over by a cop. Instead, he reviewed his preparations at the cabin, planning he’d thought was more about crazy optimism than any fantasy coming true. There was plenty of water and food and firewood. The cabin was isolated and it was well insulated.

And he’d installed a big metal ring in the wall so he could keep Kendra from escaping. His cock was straining at his jeans, hard and pumping. She was the one who liked being captive.

Ethan had a feeling he was going to like having her as his personal prize.

He sped up just a little, because he couldn’t stop himself.

* * *

Kendra resolutely kept her eyes closed as if she were asleep. She forced herself to breathe steadily and slowly, even though she doubted Ethan could hear her breathing over the sound of the Jeep engine.

She’d been sure he’d guess the truth when he pulled over and parked, but evidently he hadn’t. He was whistling a little under his breath, his satisfaction with her situation making her want to deck him.

Reid would pay for this.

She wasn’t sure how much time had passed before the Jeep turned and slowed. It stopped, then turned again before accelerating. She dared to peek through her lashes but could only see stars outside the windows.

Kendra wished she knew where she was. If she’d even known what highway he’d taken, maybe she could have guessed, but she’d been too angry at first to pay much attention. Now, they could be anywhere.

He turned again and the road became bumpier. She doubted it was paved. Another turn and the road was more uneven. Maybe it was a two-track. Maybe there was no road. He’d certainly slowed down. But he drove on for quite a while, the Jeep lurching and turning before he backed up and parked. Kendra saw darkness overhead, as if they’d entered a garage or similar building.

Then Ethan turned off the engine and Kendra closed her eyes.

He opened the door behind her head immediately, his fingertips beneath her nostrils again. Kendra breathed slowly and steadily, and it took only a couple of breaths to reassure him. She heard him leave but didn’t dare open her eyes. Even when she heard a key turn in a lock, a door squeak, she thought it better to be still. There was silence for a few moments, a silence that tempted her to peek, but Kendra feared she’d find him watching her.

Her heart was pounding so hard maybe he’d heard it.

Maybe he knew she was awake.

A moment later, a crunch of boots on gravel revealed Ethan had returned. He leaned over her to unfasten the seat belt and Kendra smelled ash and smoke, as if he’d lit a fire. He pulled the mail bag over her head and secured it again, then lifted her in his arms. Kendra tried to stay limp.

She had to maintain her apparently-unconscious state until he untied her.

As he carried her into the building, Kendra began to fear he might not. Hadn’t he talked about tying her to a wall for the weekend? There was nothing saying he intended to loosen her bonds at all.

Kendra decided to try to convince him. She moaned and stirred, as if awakening.

“Kendra!” he said, with obvious relief. He put her down and springs squeaked.

Kendra made a gagging sound, as if she were going to hurl.

Ethan rolled her to her belly so quickly she thought she might puke. “Easy, Kendra!” he said. “Don’t barf in here. I’ve made it so special.”

Kendra gasped and coughed, then continued to make noises as if she would barf.

Ethan started to swear. He was untying the knots behind her back quickly, but she could feel his hands shaking. Her wrists were freed from her waist.

Kendra heaved and gave a heartfelt moan, hoping to hurry him up.

“Hang on, Kendra!”

Her bound wrists were freed from her ankles so she wasn’t compelled to keep a kneeling posture. He stretched out her legs and Kendra hoped he’d untie her wrists next.

He went for the tape on her ankles.

Kendra heaved again, undulating as if she couldn’t help herself. Ethan swore. To her relief, he had a knife and sliced quickly through the tape holding her ankles together. Kendra knelt, her hair falling over her shoulder, and continued the charade. All the while, she surveyed the room from behind the curtain of her hair. It was a cabin with wood stove, a fire lit in the stove, and simple furnishings. The windows were covered over, and she was kneeling on a fur rug in front of the fire.

It might have been a romantic location for a liaison.

If she’d picked her own partner.

If Reid hadn’t decided to choose one for her.

Meanwhile, Ethan untied the rope knotting her wrists together. He chucked it aside, then bent forward, leaning around her with concern as she kept her head down. “Kendra! Are you okay?” He reached for her chin, probably intending to turn her face toward him.

Kendra took advantage of her moment. She heaved again, then instead of answering Ethan, she hit him.

He fell backward at her blow, sprawling over the camp bed before the fire. “Hey!”

He rolled to his feet and reached for her, but Kendra had already seized a log from the pile of wood stacked beside the fire. She brandished it like a weapon and Ethan backed up, his hands in the air.