Page 37 of Shadow

Olivia winced. “No. And don’t tell him. I’m hoping our paths won’t cross and I won’t have to worry about it.”

Niki snorted. “Good luck with that.”

“Hey, whose side are you on, anyway?”

She laughed. “Always yours. Travel is all set. We’ll leave on Thursday night and stay through Tuesday.”

Olivia gathered her stuff and stood.

“Thanks, Niki. I’ll catch up with you later.”

She found Ripley standing guard outside the door. He looked so damn good in his sunglasses and button-down shirt. The sight made her want to shove him against the wall and make a meal of him.

“Stop eye-fucking me unless you want me to take you right here in this parking lot.”

She shrugged as she drew closer to him. “I mean, I wouldn’t be against it.”

He shook his head. “God, you’re filthy.”

“You say that like you don’t love it.” She reached for his hand. “Let’s go before we get arrested for public indecency. Did I tell you there’s an outdoor play area at Exposure?”

Ripley lowered his sunglasses and raised an eyebrow before settling them back on his nose. “You did not. And Gage also failed to mention that. Just imagine all the fun I’m going to have with you out there. It’s so deserted nobody except club members will be able to hear you scream. Though, knowing you, you would get off harder if strangers could hear you scream. Fear still gets you off, doesn’t it, Liv?”

She bit her lip and nodded as he stared her down. Even though she couldn’t see his eyes beneath those sunglasses, she could feel that expression she knew was there, and it felt like her entire body was reacting to it. Her heartbeat intensified, her pussy throbbed, and she could feel her nipples tighten against the fabric of her bra.

In a surprise move, he pulled her bag off her shoulder and slipped it onto his own before taking her hand. Instead of pulling her toward the truck, he headed for the backside of the building.

“What are you doing?” she asked as she walked faster to keep up with his long strides.

He glanced around as they approached her back door. “Checking security back here. The back door is how they got into the other place, you know?”

Olivia watched as he dropped her bag on the concrete step that led to the back door.

As he bent down to inspect the lock, he tucked a hand in his pocket. She licked her lips as she stared at his backside, enjoying the way the tight denim stretched across it.

God damn, I’m lucky.

Something about the atmosphere changed, and suddenly Ripley was standing, his hand withdrawing from his pocket as he did. Then he backed her against the wall and the shiny glint of sun on metal hit her eye. He’d pulled out a knife. Her heart rate sped up, and it felt like it was going to beat straight out of her chest.

His hand went to her throat, and he applied just a little pressure before she could say anything.

“What’s my name, Olivia?” he growled in her ear as his hand tightened around her neck.

“Ripley,” she wheezed out.

“Sure, in front of your employees, maybe. But that’s not what you called me. What’s. My. Name?” He raised the knife so she could see it again. “Do I need to carve it into your skin? Tell me what my name is.”

“Daddy,” she whimpered. He would never actually cut her. Maybe scratch her. But the wicked threat still sent a flood of moisture to her panties, and she squeezed her legs together.

“Better. You ever call me Cannon in public again, and I’m going to make you write my name a thousand times every day for a week. Now, who am I?”

“Daddy,” she whispered as he pulled his hand away from her throat.

And then he thrust it into the front of her jeans and cupped her pussy.

“Just like I thought. Fucking soaked. You like when Daddy scares you?”

She swallowed and pressed herself against his hand. “Yes, Daddy.”

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