Page 113 of Pervade London
“You make it sound cold. He’s not a machine.”
“Work forus, Emily. Not the Russians, not the Chinese, not some billionaire with money to burn. Us.”
“He would never betray England.”
“I would hope not.”
“You’re keeping him prisoner.”
“He’s free to come and go. Relationships, however, are…”
“Because he’s the only one who can do what he does.”
With an elegant hand, James removed his necktie and laid it before him on the table. “Can you continue to love a man so potentially dangerous?”
“You?”
“I’m talking about Xavier.”
How dare you.
Pushing to my feet, I closed the gap between us. With a shove, I moved his dinner plate aside and squeezed myself between him and the table, lifting myself up to sit on the end with my legs dangling. It was an interesting vantage point that had me looking down at him.
Bringing my high heels up, I rested them on his thighs, then grazed his groin with one pointed tip, letting him know I could use it like a weapon—like that sword on the wall.
He grabbed my ankle and moved it away from his cock. The thrum of his firm touch sent a tingle into my calf.
“Tell me more, Sir Ballad.” I reached forward and lifted his tie, running it through my fingers to tease him.
James stared up at me. “I’m his guardian. I help ensure that his brilliance soars.”
“He’s priceless to you.”
“You can only imagine my concern when I thought you’d impaled him on a jousting pole.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t leave such dangerous weapons hanging around.”
“Put your hands behind your back.”
“I’m in control here, James.”
He pushed to his feet. I caught the tip of my tongue between my teeth in response.
James was now looking down at me. “You want to feel connected. I can give you that. You want to be cherished, nurtured, spoiled or fucked within an inch of your life. These things I can give you.”
“But not him?” I fluttered my eyelashes and threw in sarcasm. “Perhaps I can just have you?”
He leaned in and his lips brushed mine. “It’s within my power to crush you. Wipe out any evidence of your existence. Scorch the earth bare where you step. One wrong move and your name might as well have been written in water.”
“You don’t scare me.”
His jaw clenched. “It seems to me the only way to handle you is to have you.”
“You don’t want me. You just want to make Xavier happy.”
There had to be a way to figure out if James felt something for me. If I relented and let him take me again, I might be able to discover his true feelings.
“Place your wrists behind your back.”
