Page 11 of Bought By Santa

My hand snaps out, fast as a whip, encircling her delicate throat. She gasps and drops her clutch as my grip tightens just enough to show her I’m in control, that her air depends on my whim. Her pulse beats wildly under my fingers, a trapped bird frantic to escape. She flails against me, all nails and spitfire.

A kick lands on my shin, surprisingly strong. It draws a chuckle from deep within me. Impressive. Most crumble in fear; she fights like a hellcat, and damn if it doesn’t turn me on. No, it’s more than that. Her survival instinct is strong, and I’m in fucking awe.

“Feisty, aren’t you?” I muse, enjoying the flare of defiance in her eyes.

“Let me go!”

Her nails scrape against my skin, and I look down to see blood pebble where she’s digging her claws into me. A sinister smile tugs at my lips. Her spirit, though futile, impresses me—it’s been a long time since anyone dared to defy me. Still with my hand around her throat, I push her backwards until her back hits the wall.

I ease my grip on her as her struggle slows, causing confusion to flicker across her features. She’s trying to work out the angle, why I haven’t snuffed her out like her alleyway companion. Good. Let her mind race. Fear mixed with curiosity—it’s a potent cocktail.

“Who are you?” she asks again.

Her eyes widen as I lean so close my breath fans across her face, flexing my hand around her throat. “Your worst nightmare or your sweetest dream,” I reply. “Depends on how you play your cards.”

At my words, she begins to fight again, trying to break free. But nothing she does has any effect on me. “Stop fighting,” I rasp, squeezing harder, her life hanging by a thread, my thread. Her eyes plead, a silent prayer for mercy that only makes me want to tighten my grasp further.

“Kill her and let’s move on,” Jack urges, but I’m not done with her yet.

“Quiet,” I snap, my decision made in the blink of an eye. She’s more than just a witness now. My heart races with possibilities as her consciousness fades, her body going limp in my arms.

“Please,” she rasps, tears brimming, ready to fall. “I—I have a sister…”

I almost laugh. A sister. An anchor to this world. Leverage. “You really shouldn’t have told me that,” I grin. My thumb presses harder against her windpipe, not to end her life, but to make her unconscious.

Her chest heaves for air that won’t come, and her eyes are losing their fire, flickering with the realization that her life rests in my hands. I can see the moment she understands—she’s mine now. Her body slumps, giving in to the darkness clawing at the edges of her vision.

“Fuck, Nick, what are you doing?” Jack’s voice is a distant echo.

“Trust me,” is all I offer as I watch the last bit of consciousness slip from her face. I’m not usually one for gambling. But this woman, she’s a bet I’m willing to make.

“Better have a damn good reason for this,” Jack grumbles behind me.

“Let’s move,” I command, grabbing the purse she dropped before I scoop her up. Her head lolls against my arm. She’s soft where I am hard, light where I am darkness.

This is no ordinary woman. She’s a fighter, a survivor; the very answer to a prayer I never even made. We stride back to the car, the night air cold against my skin. Her warmth seeps into me. I place her gently on the backseat, tugging her purse under her arm.

“Got the cleanup crew on the line,” Jack mutters, phone to his ear.

“Good.” My response is terse, my focus on the unconscious woman behind me. Her blonde hair fans out across the seat, a halo of innocence in a world that’s anything but. “Make sure they get everything.”

Jack climbs into the car, and as soon as the door is shut and we’re moving, he turns to me. “Who is she, Nick?” Jack asks, eyeing the woman with a mix of curiosity and caution.

“The future,” I reply, my mind already racing through plans and possibilities.

The drive to Jack’s place is tense, his confusion clear as day. He wants answers, but I’m not ready to share my thoughts. Notuntil I know exactly how this intriguing stranger fits into my world—the world where I reign supreme, where everyone bends to my will. Except for her. Not yet.

“Care to explain now?” Jack probes once more as he exits the car at his house.

“Later,” I reply curtly, my mind already racing ahead.

Driving back to my home, I spend more time checking on her in the rearview mirror than looking at the damn road ahead of me. Luckily, she remains unconscious, not even stirring when I carry her through the front door. Without hesitating, I bring her to my bedroom, laying her down on my bed.

I stand over her, this woman who has potential to be both a pawn and a prize in my twisted game. My eyes trace the soft rise and fall of her chest as she sleeps, oblivious to the storm about to break over her head. The vulnerability in her relaxed features belies the spitfire I’ve glimpsed—a flame I’m eager to stoke.

Minutes tick by as I stand there watching her. Watching the rise and fall of her tits with each breath, her shapely legs where the dress has ridden up. She’s lost one of her shoes somewhere, and one of the straps on her dress is torn.

I lick my lips, my breathing turning ragged as I sit down next to her. I place my hand on her chest, feeling the steady beat of her heart. My dick stirs as I trace my fingers across her breast, finding her nipple easily enough.

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