She lay on her back and heard the jingle of her handcuffs. She thought he'd fasten each arm to the headboard. Instead he handcuffed her as though she were a prisoner and then used the other pair to fasten her to the bed. Before he started on her feet, he tied the blindfold around her eyes. Liv listened for his movements, surprised how attuned her other senses became when she didn't have sight.

Something soft tickled her calf and then she felt the sash around her left ankle. He repeated the process, tying her right ankle. His fingers slid across her belly, circled the globes of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s before tweaking her nipples.

She groaned.

"Not a sound," he purred.

Her breath hitched and she bit down on her lip.

Movement. Fluttery touches. Sheets rustling. His heat surrounded her as he straddled her thighs. The heaviness of his erection settled against her belly, his b.a.l.l.s against her mound. Fingers squeezed one of her achy nipples and she strained against her restraints. He slid down her legs, keeping most of his weight off her, his c.o.c.k ma.s.saging her c.l.i.t before sliding down her seam. He poised at the entrance of her s.e.x, pushed the wide head inside.

Liv moaned again, attempting to impale herself on him. He growled and removed his c.o.c.k. A light slap on her s.e.x followed and she moaned again.

"No." Another light smack against her mons punctuated that word, repeated when he added the next word. "Talking. Not a sound." With each word he tapped her sensitive flesh.

Her womb was tight, her s.e.x wetter than it had ever been before. She was on the verge of coming. Fainting. Dying.

He leaned over and bit her nipple and she shook.

"Don't you dare come."

He slid his length against her bud and she trembled again, her legs shaking as if her body was deprived of heat. To the contrary, she was burning from the inside out. Dominic was killing her in slow degrees.

"We almost wrecked because of your games."

She wasn't going to last. She knew it. Either she was going to have an o.r.g.a.s.m or she would beg him to take her.

"You like sucking my d.i.c.k?"

Her breaths came in short pants. From somewhere deep inside her, she felt a swell of moisture, a great frenzy of excitement that sent her closer and closer to her o.r.g.a.s.m. "Y-yes."

He used his c.o.c.k to hit her c.l.i.t over and over, her center hot and pulsing, and she couldn't stop it, couldn't prevent the rush of wetness, her scream of exultation and satisfaction. He rose above her, his c.o.c.k against her lips. She tried to rise and take him in her mouth but she was weak and sated from her o.r.g.a.s.m. A moment later, she felt his seed dripping down her lips and chin.

"I told you not to come."

He unfastened her ankles and she moved her legs restlessly. Her body needed to be filled with his hard flesh. She tried to think of how many times he'd come, tried to remember the maximum amount of times a man could come. But he was unfastening the cuff from the headboard and turning her over onto her belly before restraining her to the bed again.

"I believe you asked for a spanking."

Her mind searched for the conversation, the antic.i.p.ation of what he would do next drying her mouth. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s pushed against his silk sheets, her nipples hurting and sensitive. He caressed her a.s.s then cracked his palm against it, a hard, rounded hit that made her eyes sting behind the mask.

He slapped her again and a ragged cry tore from her lips, caught between pain and pleasure. He hit her a final time before ceasing.

A cold liquid slid between her a.s.s cheeks. Sensation raced through her as hard rubber vibrated against her c.l.i.t. He pulled her a.s.s in the air. Her arms ached, stretched above her head. Her head and b.r.e.a.s.t.s were pushed against the bed. He swirled the flavored lubricant around her tight little hole, replacing his fingers with his mouth while the vibrator pulsed against her nub. His tongue circled her backdoor, the lubricant mingling with his saliva and heating.

She sucked in air, her head spinning, her senses careening together, overloaded, overwhelmed. Her cries alternated between screams and pleas and she barely recognized them as her own. Her s.e.x was clenching and unclenching around the d.i.l.d.o, the in and out motion, the sharp pulses almost painful now.

She didn't know what to do or say to make him end this torture. Every time she reached the breaking point, he gentled his tongue and the toy. He wasn't letting her come and he wasn't stopping. Frantic, she moaned like an animal in pain, a sob breaking through.

He decided to show her a little mercy and halted. She wanted to come but she was afraid he'd start his sensual a.s.sault again and still deny her o.r.g.a.s.m. Suddenly her wrists were free and she brought them to her sides, limp, exhausted, throbbing. Next, he untied her feet and removed her blindfold. She rolled onto her back.

His image blurred in front of her until she readjusted to the soft lighting. They stared at one another for long moments and his nostrils flared. He kissed his way down her body before stretching her legs wide. He sniffed her entire seam, opened her p.u.s.s.y lips and smelled her again.

"So f.u.c.king good." In a slow, tortuous lick, he dragged his tongue across her c.l.i.t.

Liv gripped his hair and pushed against his mouth, holding him there.

"Faster!" she screamed. "Harder!"

Just in case he didn't understand, she gyrated against his mouth, spreading her legs wider.

"Eat all of me!" she cried. "Lick my p.u.s.s.y."

Her words unleashed something inside him. His mouth covered her s.e.x and sucked her bud. His licks became fast, barely there, before turning brutal and unrelenting. She refused to let go of his head, afraid he would stop, afraid he would deny her again.

If he did, she would die. He shoved two fingers into her and electricity flashed through her nerve endings. She felt the sensation of his fingering from the tips of her nipples and deep down into her core. Her grip relaxed on his head and she spiraled into mindless screams and ecstasy, twisting against his mouth, her hips rising high in the air. This time though, he didn't release her. He antic.i.p.ated her moves and twisted and rose with her, using his mouth as a lethal weapon. His fingers tugged and hooked inside her, finding a spot he'd never touched before and her juices gushed from her.

His mouth slowed against her and he pulled his fingers out of her. He rose above her, resting his weight on his knees and elbows, staring into her eyes.

Something had happened to her tonight. No, today. She wanted to stay with him, discover more about him. She was afraid she'd grown attached to him, afraid he'd leave an awful void when he returned her to Blaine. She wanted to ask him to let her stay. But no. If he felt they had a chance at a relationship, she wouldn't have to ask.

Her lower lip trembled. His look softened and she thought he might say something. Instead he sank into her and rested his chin atop the crown of her head. This time, though, instead of their wild s.e.x, he made love to her. Their rough s.e.x had been an outlet for their attraction and expelled frustration. Tonight, though, Dominic's tenderness made her believe he thought more of her than just as a bargaining chip with Blaine. She couldn't have been more grateful that he'd treated her as if she were important.

Chapter Seven.

The first time Olivia met her half brother, she'd been five and he'd been twenty. He'd awed her because he'd been all height and brawn with black hair and green eyes that matched hers. She'd only seen men who looked like Blaine on television and in magazines. Their father had been handsome too, but there'd been a presence about Blaine. She hadn't yet realized the aura surrounding him had bits of insanity and a whole lot of ruthlessness included. He'd still been nice. Or as nice as Blaine had ever been to her. He'd called her Miss Hopkins because their father hadn't yet acknowledged her as a Bradford. Every now and then, he'd slipped in "squirt" and "brat". But the way he'd said it hadn't hurt Olivia's feelings. To the contrary, his teasing tone had made her giggle.

By the age of ten, she'd become a Bradford. Their father's wife-Blaine's lauded mother-had died so their father recognized Olivia as his offspring. That was the turning point in her and Blaine's relationship. He'd changed, become a complete sonofab.i.t.c.h to her. By the time she was fifteen their father had died. Though he'd recognized her in life, in death he'd forgotten about her, not even leaving her a wallet-sized photo of himself. Her mother had been crushed and Blaine had been smug.

An att.i.tude that infused him now as he eyed her standing next to Dominic in the middle of Blaine's s.p.a.cious office. Albert and Howie flanked her and Dominic, their 9mms as visible as the ones her brother's security guys had. The undercurrent of dislike threatened to erupt into violence at any moment.

Blaine strolled around to his desk, a gilt and marble monstrosity he'd inherited from their father. He slid a suitcase to the edge. Dominic sauntered forward and snapped open the locks. Olivia strained her neck to see the contents. Her eyes bulged at the stacks of one hundred dollar bills inside. Dominic lifted the top row and then the second and then the third.

She'd awakened before Dominic this morning, knowing their time together was coming to a close. She'd known all along they would go their separate ways. Since she couldn't remember ever being a.s.sociated with anyone for a very long time, with the exception of her mother and brother, she didn't know why she felt so lost at the prospect of never seeing Dominic again.

If there was ever anyone she wanted to keep in her life, it was Dominic. She wanted to know everything about him. He made her laugh. He made her angry and jealous. And he was teaching her about pleasure.

Her duplicity damaged any future they might've had. He might never know she'd a.s.sisted Blaine. Then again, he could discover how she'd hacked into his company next week. She could've even told him this morning, when he'd been in a strange mood and had flattened his large hand against her belly.

"You could be pregnant," he'd said.

No, she couldn't be since she was on The Pill, but the subject of birth control had never come up between them.

He had slipped his fingers through her hair. "You have your entire life ahead of you. A child would tie you down."

She'd stared at the white ceiling, trying not to be affected by Dominic's touch, the way he traced her lips, her nose, her jaw. "Never. It would give me something to love. I never tied my momma down."

"Will you let me know if you've conceived?" he'd asked her.

He had begun to withdraw from her, the tone of his voice and the way he watched her changing from pa.s.sionate to kind.

She'd frowned. "Would you want to know?"

"Of course. That would be my child."

"There's no chance of that," she'd admitted. "I'm on The Pill."

He'd stared at her in silence for long moments then he'd gotten out of bed, his erection bobbing as he walked toward the bathroom. The sight of his hard length, so needy and ready, had sent hot longing through Liv. Despite their conversation about pregnancy, she'd hoped he'd come to her and make love to her a final time. Instead he had closed himself in the bathroom to shower and shave. Before leaving for the day, he had given her gift bags containing every item she'd left behind at all the stores.

Those things remained in Charleston; she'd left them there. In good conscience, Liv couldn't take the clothes, lingerie and shoes, not when she was so overcome with guilt.

"It's all here."

Dominic's announcement snapped Liv back to the present. He reclosed and secured the suitcase with efficiency.

"As promised," Blaine said in bored tones. He studied his manicured hands. "Now if you don't mind, please return my sister to me."

Dominic nodded to Albert, ignoring her as he brushed past her. She willed him to acknowledge her, to tell her goodbye. Anything. Instead he spoke to Howie in low tones as Albert escorted her to Blaine. Her brother shoved her toward his meanest bodyguard, the one she hated with everything in her. She called him Ape, refusing to remember his name. She'd spit in his face but she'd never call him by name.

"Take her," Blaine ordered in a loud whisper and he winked at the big, blond Neanderthal.

Liv flinched. She and Blaine's men heard, but Dominic, Albert and Howie hadn't. She didn't like the connotations in her brother's words. She liked even less the wicked grin Ape gave her. She didn't trust Dominic to help her. He'd gotten what he wanted, so f.u.c.k all of them. She'd run in the opposite direction as soon as she got outside the building.

"We both have what we wanted, Luca," Blaine called. "I'll thank you to leave my office."

Ape began to march Liv toward the door. He'd never had much sense, blindly following Blaine's orders. Grunted a few words. Grunted down his meals. Just grunted.

If he thought she would go with him and allow him to do whatever he intended to do to her, he was more of an idiot than she'd thought. d.a.m.n all of them. She didn't need Dominic and she didn't need Blaine.

Dominic stopped talking, obviously arrested by Ape's progression with her. He moved away from Albert and Howie, creating the opening Liv needed to scoot through. Ape yanked her and Liv swung, catching him in the nose before she turned and kneed him in the groin for good measure.

"Livvie!"

"Olivia!"

She didn't stop to acknowledge her brother's and Dominic's calls. She shot through the opening Dominic had created and ran toward the emergency stairwell. She had twenty flights until she reached the ground and by then they would've taken the elevator to get her.

Like h.e.l.l.

The recent fire inspection of the building ran through her mind. The elevators would descend to the lobby and remain open until the alarm was cleared. She paused for a brief second then yanked down the handle on the fire alarm. The loud whirring drowned out the h.e.l.l breaking loose in Blaine's office. Water rained down, drenching the reception area.

Not her problem, even though she was soaked too. The elevators would be disabled, the most important thing. She ran down the first flight of stairs, almost tumbling head over heels at the sound of footsteps behind her.

"Olivia!"

"Livvie, stop right now, d.a.m.n you."

That was clearly Blaine. He was as idiotic as Ape if he believed she was going to stop.

Eighteen more flights. A cramp seized her side and she cursed. But she refused to halt. She'd have to be disabled before she gave in.

"Olivia!"

Dominic. Now she heard him. But she wasn't even going to stop for him. He'd just deserted her and decided to send her back to Blaine after their wonderful time together. Early on, he'd said a relationship with her was out of the question and he'd meant it.

"I already know you f.u.c.ked him, Livvie."

And? How was that supposed to matter in the great scheme of things? a.s.shole for a brother. Overgrown Ape intent upon a.s.sault with a.s.shole brother's blessings. Lost virginity as payment for a.s.shole brother's crimes.

"Would you shut the f.u.c.k up, you a.s.shole?"

Dominic again. She would've laughed if she hadn't been in such a hurry and if she could catch her breath.

What floor was she on? G.o.d. Only sixteen. She realized the whir of the alarm had stopped and wondered what would happen next. Water dripped from Liv, made her clothes cling to her.

"You have a very thorough a.s.sistant, Luca," Blaine yelled.

He didn't have to shout so loud. Liv knew he did so because he wanted her to hear. But they were in a closed stairwell, late at night, with only the sound of her harsh breathing and their pounding footsteps. She couldn't help but hear.

"She told me you decided to send Livvie home after Felicia pointed out she was ready to spit out your kid. Ready to become Mrs. Dominic Luca."

Liv stumbled at that, nearly losing her balance. The cramp in her side traveled to her thigh and she halted on the landing of the thirteenth floor. Dominic stood three steps above her, her brother four steps above him. She realized other men were coming to a halt too. The bodyguards must've followed their bosses.

"Felicia told me you f.u.c.ked Olivia as retribution. You've gotten your revenge, Dominic," Blaine continued. "As well as your money."

It was bad enough she knew the reason he'd had s.e.x with her. To tell his girlfriend... Liv couldn't bear the thought. The sob that escaped her bounced off the walls and she couldn't seem to stop the tears of anger and anguish. Dominic and Felicia must've shared a good laugh over her.

Blaine stepped around Dominic and closed the distance between them. He clamped his hand on her shoulder, his grip tight and brutal. "I don't need you to turn into a female on me now."

What the f.u.c.k?

Blaine indicated her tears. "Crying, Livvie. You don't cry. You don't coo. You don't giggle. You drive fast. You laugh loud. And you fight like a pro." He shook her. "So man the f.u.c.k up now, suck up your tears and face the G.o.dd.a.m.n music."

He shoved her toward the steps. She grabbed the railing in the nick of time. Fight, Liv. That's what Blaine expected of her. But she was so tired, physically exhausted and emotionally battered. Dominic charged behind Blaine, swung the door open to the level they were on and shoved him through it. The sound of flesh meeting flesh gratified her. Howie, Ape and the rest of her brother's bodyguards rushed forward. It was their job to get killed on behalf of their bosses. They couldn't allow those bosses to murder each other.

Liv turned, her legs shaky, determination to reach the bottom floor filling her with resolve.

"Stop, Luca! Stop!" Blaine pleaded, slowing Liv's steps.

She paused, jumping at her brother's agony-filled scream.