Dimitri walks me over to the bed and pushes me down onto it, before cuffing my wrist to the headboard. I gasp and tug. “You cannot keep me cuffed to a headboard.”
“You’ll be there while I’m busy, and when I’m not, you’ll be let off, but you won’t be leaving this room.”
“You’re a pig.”
He raises his brows and then shrugs. “I have things to do, you’re just a piece of the plan. I have no purpose to be kind to you.”
“Didn’t your mother teach you to respect women?”
His eyes instantly harden and he leans down, getting right up in my face. He seems to enjoy doing that.
“You claim to have such decency,” I snap. “But you’re treating me no better than you were treated. You hate Hendrix so much for leaving you, yet you’re no better than him, are you?”
His fists tighten, and his voice comes out gravelly and rough. “You know nothing about my situation.”
“I know your entire situation. It’s you, Dimitri, who doesn’t know about my situation. You’re still living in some pathetic fantasy that I’m important enough to make Hendrix do as you want. Maybe you should do your research before taking a person. If you did, you would see my life is the complete opposite to what you think.”
He stares at me for a long moment, before lifting his phone from his pocket and punching in a number.
“John, yeah, it’s Dimitri. I need information on a girl. I’ll pay whatever it takes.”
My mouth drops open.
“Yeah, her name is Jessica Lovenox.”
“That’s not my name,” I snap, tugging my wrists.
He turns to me, his eyes narrowing. “What did you say?”
“I said that’s not my name!”
“Give me half an hour, John. I’ll call you back.”
He ends the call and shoves his phone into his pocket, before stepping back in front of me. “What is your name?”
I just stare at him.
“I’ll find it out,” he threatens.
“Go right ahead, find it out. If you can do that, why are you asking me?”
He growls and turns, storming over to his desk.
“And what makes you think I matter to him?”
“I can read people’s eyes, Jessica. He cares about you. I saw it.”
I shake my head and sigh. “Not in the way you think.”
“Caring is caring, it will push him to do what I need him to.”
“You’re wrong, he’s not going to risk his life, his crew’s life or—”
“Or what?” he snaps.
“Or his girl’s life.”
His eyes widen for a moment with shock, but he quickly covers it. “He cared. That’s all I need.”
“Would you risk your lover’s life for a girl you cared just a little bit about?”
“I care about no one, so yes, I would.”
I shake my head. “That’s exactly what’s wrong with your plan, Dimitri. You don’t care, so you can’t possibly understand it.”
“Believe me,” he says, turning back to his desk. “He’ll come for you, and when he does, I’ll be ready.”
“You’d take a man away from a woman who has given up her life for him. His lady, she adores him. Does that not bother you at all?”
“I adored my mother, it didn’t matter to him when he had her killed.”
“Did you ever wonder why he had her killed?”
His eyes flare with anger. “Why is of no importance to me—the fact that he did is enough.”
I shake my head and turn away.
“There are clothes here for you, I’ve had some brought in,” he begins, just completely passing our conversation off. “You’re going to be staying with me. I’m sure you’re not stupid enough to jump over the side of a ship, but if you are, then you’re signing your own death warrant. Until we’re out in the water a good distance, you’ll stay cuffed.”
I glare at him. “I’m not staying with you.”
“You don’t get a choice.”
I stare over at his bed and then around the room. “Where am I supposed to sleep? Your plan isn’t very well thought out. Maybe you should consider reorganizing it before you end up embarrassing yourself,” I mock.
He walks over, kneeling on the bed and getting right up in my face. “My plan is without flaw. My bed is big enough for two and I suggest you keep your mouth closed, before I give you a reason to open it.”
I gape, my mouth wide open. “I’m not sleeping next to you!”
He looks away, bored. “It’s a bed, it’s comfortable. Sleep on the floor if you wish.”
I tug on my cuffs. They merely rattle, causing the bed to shake just slightly. “Fine by me.”
He shakes his head, walking over to his desk. “We’ll see how long that lasts.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He gives me a hard stare. “It means the floor is hard as stone.”
I hate being cuffed to his bed, but at least one of my hands is free. I watch as he pulls out his guns and lays them on the desk. Then he throws a phone down and a few pens from his jeans pockets before taking hold of his shirt and lifting it over his head. My eyes widen, and I will myself to look away but I can’t. Goddamn that level of perfection. He runs a hand down his abs, then he lifts one up and scruffs his hair before heading to the bathroom.
I just watch.
Shit.
This isn’t going to end well.
Dimitri
The hot water runs down over my body.
It’s tense, I can feel it in every muscle on every limb. My shoulders are stiff, my head is pounding, and my back aches. I reach around, rubbing my shoulders, trying to ease some of the tension. It’s no use. Looks like I’ll need to go and find Livvie after all tonight. She has a way of easing my body.
I think about Jess, and my head seems to haze over.
If that’s not her name, then what is? If she’s not who she says she is, what has she done to feel the need to hide so much of herself? Curiosity burns, I can’t deny it. I’ve met a lot of women in my time, but never one so determined as she. She’s not willing to break, not willing to show a piece of herself that’s anything other than hard.
She’s just like me, in a sense.
That never makes for a good combination.
CHAPTER NINE
Jess
I stare at his gun. I really want to be able to get to it. Like, I really, really want to. I hate the sick feeling swirling in my belly right now, because it means that I’m actually considering the worst. The worst is killing Dimitri, so that he won’t hurt the people I love. I can’t let him hurt Indi and Hendrix. Those two have become the only family I know. And I will fight against everything I am to protect that family.
Steam fills the room as Dimitri steps out.
He’s got a black towel around his waist. He’s got little beads of water trickling down his abs, disappearing into the thin line of dark hair that goes to a place I’m trying very hard not to think about. His hair is still so damp that it’s stuck to his forehead and his eyes are almost hazy. He looks relaxed. He’s got a bruise forming on his cheek and his lip is a little puffy.
“Why are you staring at me?”
I quickly jerk my gaze up, not looking at him. I know if I do, he’ll see the warm flush in my cheeks. I chew on my lower lip and turn my gaze over to him, unable to keep it away. He’s watching me, his eyes intense. He looks like a big, brooding piece of man meat that’s so damned edible I’m really struggling to remember why I hate him. But I do . . . hate him, that is.
I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him.
I swallow and turn away, shifting my body so I’m lying down, then I mumble, “Can you please cuff me lower, I don’t like having my hands above my head while I sleep.”
I hear the floor squeak as he moves, then I feel the heat of his skin as he so openly leans over me, shoving his chest into my face. A drop of water falls and lands on my nose. I really have to
hold back the urge to snake my tongue out and lick it off as it rolls down my skin. He uncuffs my arm and moves it down, where he cuffs it again. He seems to linger a moment, before he moves back and straightens.
“Happy, now?”
“Not entirely.”
He snorts. “Is there a moment you’re not running your mouth off?”
I shrug. “I’m actually usually very quiet, I keep to myself where I can.”
He shakes his head. “I doubt that.”
I shrug again. “It’s true.”
“Funny,” he mumbles, stepping out of my vision and dropping his towel. I hear it land on the ground. Sit, heart. Sit. “I could have sworn you’ve not kept to yourself—at all.”
“I have no reason to keep to myself. You are trying to take away my family. Even the weakest of us have our time to fight. This is my time.”
He doesn’t answer me, so I turn my face to see him standing, wearing nothing but a pair of black jeans that he hasn’t yet buttoned. His arms are crossed over his chest, and he’s got a look on his face that I’m assuming means he’s deep in thought. I’m expecting him to argue with me again, but instead he leans down, picking up a shirt from the floor and walking past me.
“Hey!” I yell as he gets to the door. “What if I need to pee?”
He stands a moment, before turning and looking at me with a somewhat amused expression. “Then you yell.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“Deadly,” he says, before stepping out of the door.
Great.
Just great.
I hear a giggle, and I lift my head from the hard, lumpy pillow to see Dimitri stumble into the room followed by Livvie. Her top has been popped open and her cleavage is on display for the world to see. And it’s a perfect cleavage. Perfect. She throws her head back, causing her luscious locks to tumble down her back as she laughs. Dimitri has his arm around her waist. His shirt, too, is unbuttoned.
The minute the bedroom door closes, I lose my light. I hear them shuffle about, and then I hear the sound of kissing.
Oh no.
No way.
I do the only thing I can think of, in that moment. I yell.
“I need to pee!”
Silence fills the room.
“What is she doing in your room?” Livvie whispers.
“Don’t trust her in the cells,” Dimitri adds.
“Excuse me,” I snap. “Pee . . . you said to yell. I’m yelling. I need to pee.”
“Fuck sake,” Dimitri growls. “Wait here, Livvie.”
“You can’t be serious? Let’s go to my room. Leave her here.”
“I can’t leave her here,” he whispers angrily. “She’ll piss on my bed.”
“Jesus,” I yell, shaking my head. “I’m not a dog.”
“Livvie, wait, I’ll be back.”
I hear shuffling, and then Dimitri is by my side. He uncuffs me and hauls me up. I land in his arms and I can’t stop my hands flying out in front of me automatically. They land flat on his chest, my fingers splayed. He smells like whiskey and what I’m guessing is Livvie. He turns me quickly, and shoves me into the bathroom. When the door is closed, I quickly relieve myself.
I hope to God he’s not actually going to stay in the room.
That wouldn’t be okay.
By the time I get back out, the lights are on and Livvie is gone. I stare around the room, just to make sure I haven’t missed her, but she’s definitely not there. Dimitri is on the bed, leaning against it.
“Cheers for that,” he grumbles, staring at the ceiling.
“For what?”
“For cock-blocking me.”
I snort. “Go to her room, I’m sure you can manage.”
He doesn’t say anything, he just rolls and stands, walking toward me with a set of cuffs. I put my hands behind my back.
“Why can’t I have a decent sleep uncuffed?”
He’s already shaking his head, even before I’ve finished speaking.
“You’ve run with pirates, which means you know things about the ocean I don’t. I don’t trust that you wouldn’t have a way to escape me.”
“My hands hurt,” I protest, keeping them behind my back. “Just let me sleep for one night.”
He studies me a moment, and then he steps forward. I take a step back. He jingles the cuffs in his hands and then he’s lunging for me. His arms wrap around me and my back slams against a nearby wall. I feel his fingers slide down my arms until he takes hold of my wrists. He leans in close, his face inches from mine.
“I’ll let you sleep with your hands down.”
He spins me around, using my wrists, and he tugs me toward the bed. I’m still catching my breath after his close proximity. He throws me onto the bed and climbs on beside me. He throws the covers back, slides us in and then snaps the cuffs on my wrist. Just as I think he’s about to cuff me back to the bed, he reaches his hand over and cuffs the other one on his wrist.
“Seriously?” I gape.
“Your hand isn’t above your head, but I’m pleased.”
I can feel the heat of his hand against mine and I’m not sure I can make it through an entire night basically holding his hand.
“I said I’d sleep on the floor.”
He nods his head toward the ground. “Off you go, then. I won’t be uncuffing you, though, so your hand will be in the air. You decide which you want most—a comfy bed or your pride.”
The bed is comfortable, but the pillows aren’t. If I sleep on the hard floor, with hard pillows, the chances of me sleeping are slim. I grind my jaw and settle in beside him.
“If you touch me, I’ll hurt you.”
He snorts. “Don’t flatter yourself. I have myself a fine woman in the other room.”
I feel insignificant now.
“It wouldn’t be so bad if you let me brush my hair.”
He turns his head and stares at me. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“I’m not up to standards, because my hair is awful. If I brushed it, I wouldn’t look so . . . insignificant.”
He narrows his eyes.
“Need more than a brush.”
Ouch.
I hate him. Truly.
“You’re below the scum of the earth, Dimitri.”
“And you’re sleeping with me. Those who lie with dogs are sure to get fleas.”
“Asshole.”
He reaches across and flicks the lights off.
This is going to be a long night.
CHAPTER TEN
Jess
I can feel his hands on my body, the way they slide down. I can’t escape him, it doesn’t matter what I do. He’s always there, always taking away what I don’t want to give. I cry out, trying to struggle, trying to just make it stop. His breath is on my cheek, horrible and so dirty. A hand slides up my thigh, dipping under my skirt.
No.
Please, for the love of God no.
I wake up with a scream, my body thrashing from side to side. Big hands are grabbing at me, trying to keep me still. Panic rises and I kick out, wanting to make it hurt. You can’t get to me now, Roger. I’m bigger, stronger, better. I’ll kill you.
“Jess!”
I shake my head. The voice, husky from sleep, is not Roger’s.
“D-Dimitri?” I breathe.
“Shit, are you okay?”
Okay?
I blink a few times, realizing what’s happened. My body is drenched with sweat, my hands are shaking, and my emotions are shot. I had a nightmare. It happens a lot. I sit up slowly, realizing my arm is uncuffed. When did that happen? I tremble as I focus on Dimitri, sitting beside me. The light is illuminating his concerned face.
“Shit, you’re shaking.”
I can’t answer, I’m in some sort of shock. He reaches out, putting his hands on my shoulders, causing me to jerk away with a cry.
“Shit, sorry,” he says, pulling back.
I blink some more. “I . . . it was just a dream.”
/> “Some fuckin’ dream.”
I nod, looking away. He gets out of the bed and walks into the bathroom, returning a moment later with a glass and washcloth. He hands the glass to me and I take it gratefully, sipping the cool water inside. He shoves the washcloth in my direction. “You’re sweating real bad.”
“Oh,” I say, taking it. “I’m sorry.”
He shakes his head. “Don’t be, it ain’t your fault you dream.”
I wipe my face, closing my eyes as the calming cool fills my body. That’s better. So much better.
“I can sleep on the floor, I know it probably bothers you,” I say, daring to look up at him.
“We all dream. I know what it’s like.”
A strong silence falls between us and our eyes remain locked. I turn away quickly, swallowing. “It sucks.”
He snorts. “Yeah, it does.”
“It’ll probably happen again, Dimitri. I dream a lot.”
“Join the club,” he says, taking the washcloth from my hands. Our fingers graze and I shiver, feeling so vulnerable in this moment.
“Milk,” he says, his voice low. “It helps. You want some?”
I nod and he gets out of the bed, disappearing from the room. That was strange. I sit, tucked up in a little ball, until he returns with a mug of milk. He hands it to me, his eyes watching mine as I take it and sip it. The warm milk eases my throat and stops the aching in my body.
“Thanks.”
He nods, turning away. “Try and sleep, yeah?”
“Yeah.”
I watch him go to his desk, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say Dimitri just showed me kindness.
An entire week passes, and with each day that goes by, I feel myself slipping. My witty cover-up is becoming weaker and weaker. I’m scared. I can’t stop thinking about Hendrix and Indi. If something happens to them, I’ll never forgive myself. It’s on me to make sure it doesn’t, but Dimitri isn’t budging. He makes me walk with him all day every day, not uncuffing me except to let me shower and eat. It doesn’t matter that we’ve had small moments between us.