Her gaze flickered for the briefest of moments, and he knew he had her. He should probably feel guilty, but she had been robbing him. Those exotic green eyes narrowed to dangerous slits and she hissed at him again.
He ignored her ire and settled himself more comfortably against her, digging his talons a bit deeper into her wrists as he stretched her arms higher to press her body tighter to his. The feel of her was almost enough to cloud his mind with lust. If he relaxed his attention for even a moment, she was the kind of woman to take advantage. He respected that. He would do the same.
Then again, she was supposed to fit him perfectly.
And that was a thought he didn’t want. He wasn’t interested in becoming dependent on anyone. He knew how it could gut a person to lose those that mattered most. Despite his parents’ loving relationship, mates were for breeding, nothing more. That’s all she would be used for, and she would be comfortably kept for her efforts.
“Tell me your name.” His gaze bored into hers. “One way or another, I’ll find it out.”
Tugging at her hands, she shot him a fulminating glare when she couldn’t break his grip. “Delilah.”
His lips twitched against his will, amusement winding through him as he gave her short blond locks a pointed look. “I thought Delilah cut off Samson’s hair, not her own.”
“Hilarious.” A derisive snort underscored her disgust.
“You’ve heard that before?”
Her eyes widened theatrically. “No, not once. You’re so original and clever. Really prime.”
“Thank you.” He pretended not to notice her sarcasm. “And your surname?”
He could hear her teeth grind together before she spat, “Chase.”
“Delilah Chase. Lovely to meet you. I’m Hunter Avery.” He knew her name, and that was one objective down. Now to force her to stay.
“I know who you are, Hunter.” The sound of his name on her lips sent a peculiar warmth winding through his chest. No one called him Hunter anymore. He was “Mr. Avery” or simply “Avery” to anyone who addressed him. Once he’d taken his father’s place in the company, he’d ended up with his title as well, for all that he was only sixteen at the time. He pushed away the thought, struggling to stay focused for the first time in his life.
Delilah squirmed again, twisting at her captured wrists. He could all but hear the gears spinning in her head as she calculated how to get out of her current predicament. Her body softened beneath him, her legs lifting to clasp his hips. So that was the way she wanted to play it? He fought a grin. She couldn’t make this easier for him if she tried.
“I’m certain, if we really want to, we can come to a…mutually beneficial arrangement to resolve this issue.” When she tilted her hips up to rub her sex against his, he had no idea how it was possible, but his cock grew even harder as he settled into the crux of her slender thighs. Fire fisted in his belly, spreading until he thought his body would explode out of his skin. He wanted her. Every part of him craved her. A knowing little smile curved the corners of her full lips, and something close to triumph flashed in her green eyes when he couldn’t stop himself from thrusting against her softness.
“An arrangement?” He slid his tongue over his teeth. “You might be right about that.”
“What did you have in mind?” she purred. Her grin widened. He allowed her that small moment of victory before he smiled back. With teeth.
“You, in my bed.” He stroked the pad of his thumb over the inside of her wrist. The skin there was soft, warm. He wanted to explore the rest of her and see if all of her felt as good. “In exchange, I won’t alert the authorities to your little breach of my security system. Then the ruby stays with me, and you’re free to go.”
“I think I can handle some time in your bed.” She glanced over his shoulder to the wide mattress. Her shoulder lifted in a delicate shrug, her grin never wavering. “It looks comfortable enough.”
He waited a beat. “The deal is for a full week of your time.”
“A week?” Wariness slid over her expression again, the smile winking out as though it had never been.
“It’s a very valuable ruby.” He lifted his eyebrows. “Maybe it’s worth a bit long—”
“A week is fine.” Her lips lifted in a snarl; she was obviously not pleased by this new turn of events. Her fangs slid out of her gums. “How do you know I won’t kill you in your sleep?”
Easing his grip on her arms, he moved away from her to sit back on his heels. “They’d catch that on vid, too, wouldn’t they?”
“You’d still be dead.” Raising herself up to her elbows, she didn’t try to escape.
He rolled his shoulder in a shrug, rising to his feet. “Some things are worth the risk, kitten.”
Sliding his gaze down her body, he let it heat with appreciation. Her mouth formed a moue as she sat up and rubbed her wrists. His talons had left red marks on her creamy skin, and he felt an unprecedented pinch of remorse. It must be the mating thing. He rarely regretted anything he did—he planned too well for that to be a problem.
She leveled him a frank look. “I don’t know what your kink is, but if you think for a nanosecond that you get to hurt and humiliate me, you’re going to find yourself gutted like a fish.” She slid out her razor-sharp claws to emphasize her point. “That isn’t part of our deal.”
“I don’t hurt women.” His gaze was drawn to the redness around her wrists and he fought a wince. “Usually.”
“Just coerce them into having sex with you?” She shot him an incredulous look as she pushed to her feet.
He let a little grin kick up the side of his mouth. “When the situation warrants it.”
“How do I know you won’t go back on your word and turn me in after you have what you want?” Her blond brows rose, and she propped a hand on her hip.
He chuckled. “Believe it or not, I keep my word. You’ll just have to decide if it’s worth the risk.”
“Fine.” Her hands relaxed at her sides, and she made no move to leave.
“Good. You can start now.” He stepped back to settle into a comfortable chair. He steepled his fingers together and pressed them to his lips, watching to see what she would do. It was easier if she stayed by choice, but he wasn’t above keeping her by force. He did have her on vid, as he’d said. He was sure he could have her found if he needed to. It would be an inconvenience he didn’t want or need. Having a mate at all was an inconvenience he didn’t want or need. A humorless smile formed on his lips. “Strip.”
Shrugging, she slid her nail in the seal of her armored vest, and it parted down the middle. Dipping a narrow shoulder, she let it fall to the floor. Then she pulled a tight, long-sleeved shirt over her head. Her breasts were high and firm. The nipples were a soft pink, and he wanted to suck them into his mouth until they darkened to raspberry. The thought alone was enough to make his cock jump. Her gaze locked on that portion of his anatomy as she unsealed her pants and
