Dominated: The Enforcers 2 (The Enforcers Series) (9 page)

Evangeline paced the living room of Drake’s apartment, restless and on edge. She was about to go stark raving mad from her self-imposed seclusion over the past several days. She wanted to get out, get some fresh air, take a walk,
anything
. But to do so would require a security team of Drake’s men. Men she was mortified to face.

She knew she had no reason to feel shame. She was not at fault, but she couldn’t stand the thought of facing their scrutiny and the knowledge of what had happened in their eyes. Whether she found judgment or sympathy, neither was a desirable option.

With a sigh, she flopped onto the couch and spread her arms out as she lay back. She had to find something, anything to do. No one could sit around and do nothing every single day. It disgusted her that she’d become one of those women who had no life except whatever surrounded her man. She wasn’t a helpless twit, but one couldn’t tell by looking at her. God knew she wasn’t acting like an independent, self-sufficient woman.

Was she insane for taking Drake back so easily? There were still so many unanswered questions swirling around in her mind—questions she wasn’t sure she wanted the answer to—but at the same time, a nagging worry assailed her. She couldn’t live in ignorance forever, could she?

She couldn’t live her life as a coward with her head stuck in the sand. Soon, she had to confront Drake and ask him the questions burning a hole in her brain. Even if it meant losing him.

Pain surged through her veins and grief overwhelmed her. She closed her eyes. No, she wouldn’t go there. Surely there was a perfectly reasonable explanation for the secrecy Drake was shrouded in, the extreme security measures he implemented and his overzealousness when it came to her safety.

As her mother often said, it did no good to borrow trouble.

The buzz of the intercom startled her from her troubled thoughts and she jumped, getting to her feet from the couch to hurry over to the com.

She pushed the button. “Yes?”

Her voice was shaky and she breathed in deeply to calm her frayed nerves.

“Miss Hawthorn—Evangeline,” Edward said in a friendly voice. “There is someone here to see you. Shall I send him up or should I tell him you aren’t receiving visitors?”

Her pulse ratcheted up. Who on earth would be here to see her? Surely Eddie wasn’t that stupid. No, it couldn’t possibly be him.

“Who is it?” she asked nervously.

“His name is Silas. He works with Mr. Donovan, as I’m sure you’re well aware.”

Evangeline’s heart sank and a knot formed in her stomach. Oh God, she wasn’t ready to face any of Drake’s men yet. Why was he here? It was on the tip of her tongue to tell Edward she was indisposed, but she refused to be a coward any longer.

Squaring her shoulders, she sucked in a deep breath. “Send him up, Edward, and thank you.”

“You’re very welcome, Evangeline,” he said warmly.

She paced in agitation as she waited for the elevator to arrive and
then realized that she was standing just outside the opening as if worried over his unexpected visit. She hurried into the living room and flipped on the television and settled on the couch as if she’d been enjoying a relaxing day in without a care in the world. The last thing she wanted was for Drake’s men to see her as a fragile weakling.

She tensed when the elevator doors opened, but she forced herself to relax and then she rose, a welcoming smile plastered on her face. Her features felt stiff and frozen and fake as hell. She only hoped Silas wouldn’t see right through her guise.

When she rounded the couch to greet him, she was surprised to see him weighted down by multiple takeout bags. Flustered, she hurried forward to rid him of the ones on top and sent him an inquiring look.

“What’s the occasion?” she asked in bewilderment.

He set the bags on the island in the kitchen and then took the sacks she was holding and began taking out the containers and lining them up buffet style.

“We had an agreement to have a once-a-week takeout date,” he said calmly. “Or did you forget?”

She flushed, heat scorching her cheeks, and she glanced away, unable to meet his gaze.

“No,” she said in a low voice. “I just thought . . .”

“You thought what?” he demanded bluntly.

She licked dry lips and fidgeted, twisting her fingers together in agitation.

“I wasn’t sure you would still want to come over and eat with me,” she whispered.

Silas let out an uncharacteristic torrent of savage curses that had her flinching. Then he reached and pried one of her hands loose from the other and cradled it in his.

“Look at me, Evangeline.”

It was no request. No one with half a brain could possibly interpret
his statement as anything more than a command. Reluctantly, she lifted her head to look into his eyes, and the black anger simmering there nearly had her running away as fast as she could. He looked . . . dangerous. And he was extremely pissed.

“Listen to me, Evangeline, and listen good because I’m only going to say this once and you’re going to heed my words or so help me, I’ll make good on my threat to spank your ass.”

She swallowed, her eyes going wide with panic.

“You did
nothing
wrong,” he said in a forceful tone. “You are not to blame for anything that happened that night. The fault lies solely with Drake, but he was in an impossible situation and he did the only thing he could to protect you. He had no idea you would be here. If he had, he would have never brought those men within a mile of you. He hates himself for what he did, and I can’t say I’m very happy with him myself, but at the same time, given the circumstances and the fact that he was completely unprepared, he did the only thing he could, and no one has punished him more than himself for hurting you.”

“He explained,” Evangeline whispered. “I don’t fully understand, but he said the same thing you did.”

“Now perhaps you want to explain to me why the hell you think that I or any of the others would possibly hold you responsible or think badly of you when you were the one hurt and humiliated?”

She bit into her lip, determined not to cry. Damn it, she’d cried enough. No more. It was time to stand up and be stronger. She was made of sterner stuff. How could she possibly prove worthy of a man like Drake when she was forever acting like a weak crybaby?

When she didn’t immediately answer, Silas sighed and squeezed her hand in a comforting gesture.

“I and all the others have Drake’s back. Unconditionally. Each of us would give our lives for him without hesitation, and he’d do the same for us. That loyalty and protection extends to you as well, and furthermore,
our protection of you is not contingent on your relationship with Drake. Not anymore. Should anything ever happen between you and Drake, our loyalty to you doesn’t go away. If you ever need anything at all, I expect you to contact us, and if you absolutely can’t bring yourself to do that, then you better damn well contact
me
. And I mean for anything at all. You get me?”

She stared at him in shocked disbelief. “But I’m nobody! You don’t even know me that well. Your loyalty is and should be to Drake.”

“Now you’re just pissing me off even more,” he growled. “If I allow an innocent woman to suffer for doing nothing more than be a beautiful person inside and out, that doesn’t make me much of a man. And if that costs me my relationship with Drake, then so be it. I’m quite used to being a lone wolf and not answering to anyone. Now, enough of this ridiculous conversation. The food is getting cold.”

Shaken by his emphatic statement, she went to the cabinet and pulled out several plates and gathered utensils from the drawer. When she returned to the bar, Silas was opening the various takeout containers.

“I wasn’t sure what you were in the mood for, so I got a variety. I have all your favorite Thai and Chinese dishes as well as finger foods and appetizers, including chicken wings, cheese sticks, spinach dip, queso and chips, two kinds of chicken strips and a few other things I threw in for you to try.”

Her mouth watered and her stomach grumbled appreciatively.

“It looks wonderful,” she said softly. Then she met his gaze and stared sincerely at him. “Thank you, Silas. This means the world to me.”

His expression softened. “Next week, I’ll get something different for us to try. This time I wanted to get food I knew you’d like.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” she said honestly. “I hate being cooped up in here. I’m going stir-crazy.”

He frowned. “Then perhaps it’s time you stop hiding in Drake’s apartment and get out more. You have no reason to be ashamed with me or any of Drake’s men. They know he was an asshole. I know he was an asshole.
And none of it was your fault. Tomorrow morning Maddox will be by to take you shopping along with a few of Drake’s other men.”

“For what?” she asked, even more flustered than before. “I don’t need anything.”

He chuckled and she stared at him in astonishment because Silas wasn’t a man prone to laughter. It transformed his entire face, making him look younger and extremely handsome.

“Who says shopping is all about need? Shopping is supposed to be fun, or so women tell me.”

Her brow furrowed as she became pensive.

“I supposed I could get started on my Christmas shopping,” she said awkwardly, thinking of her limited cash and wondering how far she could make it stretch now that she had considerably more people to buy for.

Silas was staring at her, as if he could read her like a book. When his eyes narrowed and he suddenly got up and walked over to the drawer where she’d stashed the credit cards and cash he’d given her, she realized he’d done exactly that. Read her thoughts as if they’d been broadcasted in neon lights.

“Did you forget about the money and credit cards?” Silas asked.

She shook her head miserably.

“Then you know to use them,” he said pointedly.

She sighed unhappily. “This isn’t easy for me, Silas. I hate the idea of being a kept woman and doing . . . nothing.”

His expression softened and he closed the drawer before returning to his seat at the island. “I understand pride when I see it, Evangeline. And I respect it. Drake has more money than he’ll ever use in ten lifetimes. He won’t even miss what little you spend of it. But if he knows that you refuse to use his money or credit cards, he will not be happy. He already feels guilty enough over what happened to you that night and his part in the whole sordid mess. Will you continue to punish him by refusing the things he wants to give you?”

She stared at Silas with an open mouth, acknowledging the points he’d scored with his statement. She had no desire to punish Drake any more. They’d both suffered enough, and all she truly wanted was to be able to move on and forget that night ever happened.

“It’s that important to him?” she asked softly.

“Wouldn’t it be to you?” Silas asked. “If someone you cared about refused to accept any of the things you gave them, wouldn’t it bother you?”

She bit her lip but slowly nodded.

“I have it on good authority that Drake will be taking you out one night soon. Perhaps you can use tomorrow’s shopping trip to buy an appropriate dress and shoes and all the other accessories. Drake is a very important figure in the circles he travels in, and though he would cut off his tongue before ever telling you how to look or dress, I’ve learned enough about you to know how much pride you have and that you would want to make Drake proud of you.”

Her mind began racing a mile a minute. “Taking me out? Where are we going?”

“I’m not certain which invitation he’s decided to accept,” Silas replied. “But he will be making a statement. One you won’t possibly be able to misinterpret. He wants the world to know you are his and that he values what is his. So knock him—and everyone else—dead. Buy a kick-ass dress that will make Drake the envy of every man in attendance, one that will ensure he won’t be able to keep his hands off you the entire night.”

Evangeline burst into laughter. “You have that much confidence in me?”

Light entered Silas’s dark gaze and his eyes twinkled with responding laughter. “Bet your sweet ass I do.”

“Well then. I certainly don’t want to be an embarrassment to Drake. Can I rely on Maddox and the others accompanying us shopping tomorrow to give me an honest opinion on a dress and shoes?”

“Leave them to me,” Silas said. “But, Evangeline, I better not hear of
you giving them any problems with whatever they feel you should buy or buying you what they think you need. You get me?”

She sighed. “Yeah, I get you. Now, can we eat before everything gets cold?”

Silas sent her a look that said he well knew she was ducking the issue, and there was warning in his eyes. She wasn’t stupid. Yes, Silas had been very sweet and kind to her, but she had no doubt that were she to disobey him or piss him off in some way, she’d find herself across his knee with his hand on her ass in a split second.

An hour after Silas left from their takeout date, Evangeline stood in the master bathroom, trying to decide between greeting Drake in a sexy negligee or forgoing clothing altogether and waiting for him in the living room naked.

In the few nights since her return to his apartment, the daily ritual of her waiting for Drake to arrive home for the day had fallen by the wayside, and Drake had said nothing to her about it. He had, in fact, been exceedingly careful about everything when it came to her. Almost as if he feared that saying or doing the least wrong thing would result in him losing her.

Well, enough of that. The only way to fully put that horrible night behind them was for things to return to normal as soon as possible and remain that way. If she could give him the knowledge that she wasn’t going anywhere and that the only way he would lose her was if he chose to end their relationship, she would do anything in her power to give him that assurance.

Starting tonight.

She modeled the lacy scrap of silk that called itself nightwear and then decided not to bother. She wanted Drake’s eyes on her as soon as he walked off the elevator. Not on what she was wearing.

She wanted to please him, but most of all she wanted her Drake back. Strong, arrogant, completely dominating. And forceful.

She shivered just thinking about his touch, the strike of leather against her skin. His mouth on hers. On her breasts, between her legs.

Eyes closing as she further immersed herself in her fantasy, she let the negligee fall to the floor at her feet and stepped away, toeing the material to the side and out of the walkway. Then she brushed her hair until it sparkled and flowed down her back.

Knowing she only had a few more minutes until Drake arrived, she hurried out to the living room and knelt on the fur rug so that she faced the elevator and would be the very first thing he saw when he stepped off.

Anticipation licked over her skin and flames ignited in her veins. Her pulse accelerated and her breaths puffed erratically over her lips. Then her breath caught in her chest when the elevator doors began sliding open. Her gaze lifted hungrily, seeking him out. She searched his expression for any hint of disapproval or sign that she had made a mistake by choosing to greet him this way.

When she saw the savage fire ignite in his eyes the moment his gaze came to rest on her, the breath that had been trapped in her chest finally escaped. She sagged in relief even as exhilaration hurtled over her.

•   •   •

Drake had waited impatiently for the elevator to arrive on the top floor. Though he had left work far earlier than was usual for him, it still felt like an eternity since he’d left Evangeline in bed that morning.

It was becoming increasingly more difficult to leave the soft warmth of her body each day. He awoke each morning with her wrapped possessively around him, her head nestled in the curve of his arm and her hair spread out all over his chest.

When the elevator doors opened, all the breath left his body in one forceful exhalation that left him off balance.

Evangeline.

She was waiting for him. Naked, the soft glow of the living room lights making her shine like an angel. She was kneeling on the carpet in a position of subservience, her head slightly bowed, but her gaze met his boldly, desire clearly illuminated in her beautiful eyes.

When he saw the faintest flicker of uncertainty shadow her gaze, it instantly propelled him into motion. Over his dead body would she feel fear or uncertainty over offering him such a precious gift.

He strode to where she knelt and then slid to his knees in front of her, both of his hands reaching out to cup her face. He drew her forward and crushed her lips to his.

“Now this is every man’s dream to come home to,” he murmured, still devouring her lips.

She looked shyly up at him when he released her mouth. “I hoped you didn’t mind. I just . . . I just wanted . . .” She broke off and looked downward with obvious discomfort.

He nudged her chin upward with his fingers until their gazes met once more.

“What did you want, Angel?” he asked gently.

“I want you,” she said earnestly. “I want for things to be the way they were before . . .”

She flushed and once more averted her gaze.

“You have to know I’d give you anything in the world you want, Angel.”

“I just want you,” she whispered. “Like before. Your dominance.”

Her words shattered the tenuous hold on his control. Control he hadn’t even realized he’d been exerting since her return. But now he acknowledged it had been there. Fear of pushing her too hard, too far, too fast. Of losing her. And yet here she was, on her knees, sweetly pleading for the one thing he wanted most to give her.

With an agonized groan, he swept her into his arms, leaving his briefcase on the floor. He carried her into the bedroom and carefully laid her on the bed. For several long seconds, he merely stood over her, staring down at her beautiful body. At the warm welcome in her eyes.

He was home.

The thought humbled him in a way he’d never been humbled before. None of the places he’d lived had ever felt like home. Until now. Because of his angel. It didn’t matter where they lived. As long as she was there each day when he got home, it would always feel like a real home.

“What are you thinking?” she asked softly.

“How lucky I am,” he said honestly. “How beautiful you are. How much I want to make love to you right now.”

Slowly, she rose to her knees on the mattress in front of him.

“Then take me, Drake. Make me yours. Tonight I want to be everything you want and need. Only for you. All for you.”

His chest tightened with an unidentified emotion. For a moment, he was bereft of words as he stared at what belonged to him.

“What is it you most want tonight, Drake?” she whispered close to his ear.

Her lips brushed against his neck, just below his ear, and then she nuzzled down his jawline until she reached his lips.

He dove his fingers into her thick mass of hair and anchored her against him so that every breath he breathed in was her.

“Make love to me,” he murmured. “Tonight I am yours to do with as you wish. As you command.”

“Then undress for me,” she said in a soft voice.

Captivated by the seductive enchantress before him, he readily complied, pulling off his suit coat and then yanking his shirt from his pants. In a matter of seconds, his shoes and socks went sailing across the floor followed by the remainder of his clothing and underwear.

Her gaze was fastened on his straining erection and he damn near came on the spot when she licked her lips in anticipation.

“I’m all yours, Angel. Tell me. Now that you’ve got me, what are you going to do with your man?”

“Speaking isn’t exactly high on my agenda,” she said huskily. “I had more in mind to
show
you.”

He groaned in tortured satisfaction when her tongue flicked out to swipe at the moisture already beading the head of his penis. She licked teasingly around the head, pausing at the sensitive underside to stroke with her tongue until he was straining forward, trying to push farther into her mouth.

She sucked him deep, eagerly complying with his silent demand for more. Her cheeks puffed and then hollowed as she exerted more pressure and took him to the back of her throat. He let out a guttural-sounding protest when she allowed him to slide free of her mouth, but then she reached for him, pulling him to the bed.

He reclined and she followed him down, throwing her leg over him to straddle his hips. His cock was positioned at the V of her legs and lay against the soft skin of her belly. He rested his hands on either side of her hips, his fingers digging into her flesh as he urged her to ride him.

Like a goddess, she rose, hovering over him while she tucked the head of his erection to her opening. They both gasped when her pulsing wetness contracted around the tip and began sucking him in even deeper.

She closed her eyes and clutched at his shoulders for support and then she eased down, pulling him deeply inside her welcoming warmth.

Her body blanketed him, coming down on top of him so that he felt every inch of her silken skin. Her hair teased his skin and he delved his fingers into the fine strands, pulling her head down to meet his kiss.

Their tongues met and dueled, clashing and rolling, licking, sucking until they were breathing the same air. All he could taste, could feel was her. Never had he experienced anything sweeter than an angel’s touch.

She broke away and then threw her head back as she began to undulate wildly over him. His eyes feasted on her, the bob of her breasts just in front of him, her hair flowing wildly around her shoulders, and he felt how tight she was around him as she rode up and down.

“Look at me, Angel,” he said sharply.

Her eyes flew open and she met his gaze.

“Look at me when you come. See me. Only me.”

Even as he said the words, he took over, gripping her hips and arching up and into her, thrusting even deeper. She planted her hands on his chest, fingers splayed out as she braced herself on him for support.

“Let go,” he growled. “Let me have it all. Give it to me.”

She contracted violently around him as her entire body shuddered atop his. She let out a cry and then as she no longer had the strength to hold herself up, she collapsed on top of him as he emptied himself into her body.

She snuggled as close to him as she could, melting into his arms. He curled his arms around her, gathering her against his chest as he buried his face in her hair.

“I don’t know what I ever did to deserve you, Evangeline, but I’m never letting you go,” he murmured.

She rested there a long moment, their bodies still intimately joined before she stirred and lifted her head so their gazes met.

“I made dinner for you,” she said shyly. “Would you like it in bed or do you want to eat in the kitchen?”

His heart did a funny little flutter in his chest and for a moment he couldn’t form a response.

“It’s early yet. Let’s get dressed and eat in the kitchen. Afterward, we can watch a movie on the couch.”

“That sounds nice,” she said with a smile.

He patted her affectionately on the ass and then rolled, holding her with him until they were on their sides facing one another.

“Take a shower with me and then I’ll help you put supper on the table.”

“Hmm, that’s such a hard decision,” she teased. “You spoil me so much, Drake.”

His expression went serious and he stroked the hair from her cheek with his fingers. “Not nearly enough, Angel. Not nearly enough.”