Page 3 of The Fixer

“You’re deranged,” I whispered through quivering lips, ignoring the unfamiliar sensation building in my abdomen. Had he just producedbutterfliesin my belly? Of course, my freaking body would react at the worst imaginable moment to some sociopath who’d actually abducted me. “As if I’d let you watch me get off,” I fumed out in a sharp, clipped note. It hadn’t been what I’d meant to convey, either.

I’d never been at a loss for words in my entire life. I was always calm, gathered, and in control of everything. It was what I did, and I did it easily. This man had overwhelmed my thoughts, baffled my mind, and rendered me nothing more than a faltering, stumbling idiot. I didn’t like it. I didn’t like it at all.

“You will release me at the next airport, sir.”

“Hmm, I like that honorific on your tongue,” he murmured before he fingered the long, curled tresses pooling over my shoulder. Rubbing them between his fingers, he assessed the silkiness before lowering his nose to the glimmering strands.

Inhaling deeply to quiet my increasing hysteria, my lashes drifted against my cheeks. The bewitching essence of bergamot, combined with sage, was fed my increasing need to smell the egotistical prick back like a bitch in heat. My thighs clamped tightly together, and his dark, devilish chuckle had me staring up into eyes that vowed to fulfill my filthiest fantasy.

“Pomegranates and lemons?” he inquired with a wolfish smile tipping up the corners of his generous mouth. “You smell good enough to devour, little lamb.” A flash of crimson crowded his eyes, but the moment I squinted, it vanished. I sought to step back but realized a moment too late that he’d been inching me toward the bedroom. My knees struck the end of the bed and I fell backward onto the mattress. Raithe descended over me, pinning me beneath his broad, powerful frame.

“A couple of things, darling,” he rumbled, dropping his nose to rub it over the curve of my jawline. “First and foremost, you’ll help me win the presidency. I am not fucking asking you. I’m telling you. Second, you’ll either work for me or remain chained in a dark cell until I’ve gained the majority of votes from the state primaries and caucuses. Once they’ve confirmed my nomination and they’ve announced it at the national convention, you are free to withdraw if I decide you’re no longer needed to win the popular vote. Third, you’re the best of the best in the business, and Iexpectyourbestduring the time you’re employed by me. You eat, sleep, and dream of nothing but me. You linger beside me while we crush anyone standing between me and the presidency.” As I ran my tongue over my lips, his focus fell to my mouth, which caused a pulse to throb between my thighs.

Cutting his mouth to the heartbeat hammering at the base of my throat, he grinned before proceeding. “Fourth, you’re playing my game now. You’ll be whatever I need you to be, and you’ll do so with that pretty smile of yours planted firmly on those pouty, fuckable lips. Fifth, if you step out of line or attempt to tarnish or ruin my chance in this race, I vow to you, there’ll be disastrous repercussions. During this time, you’ll keep my council, confidence, and secrets. Solely mine. If I discover you’re entertaining or betraying me in any manner or fashion, I’ll end you without prejudice or hesitancy. However, I won’t let you know the nothingness of death until I’ve executed everybody you cherish or have ever loved in front of you, Miss Reed. Sixth and final rule, you are not to fuck anybody else. If you’ve got an ache that needs satisfied, you can appeal to me to ease it or handle it yourself. Once you’re free of my employment, you can return to your life.”

“You honestly think people will not realize you’re forcing me to work for you?” I responded. “You’re exactly the type of client I’ve refused to help during my career, Mr. Dravyn. People will be suspicious, and those who know me will question it no matter what you or I claim. As for chaining me in your basement? Do you really believe no one will question my absence?”

“I’ve dispatched letters to your parents, informing them of a high-profile case you’ve taken on at the last minute. They think you’ve gone into seclusion to prepare for the daunting task ahead. The rehab center in which you hid your brother has been paid, and I made a lofty donation in his name to ensure he’s taken care of and watched after in your absence. Your sister’s monthly allocated allowance for her education, books, food, and other fundamental essentials was transferred to the offshore account you arranged for her future. Her offspring, who she gave up for adoption, was likewise taken care of before your hasty departure. I’ve also paid the retirement home you stashed your grandparents in for the next year. I have your entire team standing by for your orders, and once you issue them, I’ll give the word for my men to retrieve them for you. I know where each person you cherish is at this very moment, Chevelle Kinsley Reed. Don’t make me your enemy. I actually love being the villain, but you won’t like me if you determine that role for me.”

“You bastard,” I whispered as tears pricked my eyes.

“I assure you I am many things, but I know my parents were wed when I was born. Those who aren’t on my side are usually against me. I won’t chance my competition hiring you. Nor will I chance your pride forcing you to theirs in order to take me down. As I said, I’ve studied you enough to know how your brilliant mind works. If I released you, you’d find out which candidate was running and ensure they had all the filthy,” he whispered as he bent his head down, licking the thunderous pulse at the soft column of my throat, “Sordid things I’ve done as ammunition to wield against me.” Teeth scraped over the vulnerable vein feeding blood supply to my brain as fiery breath fanned my chilled flesh. “You’re the finest at what you do. If you weren’t, I’d be having this discussion with someone else. My dick wouldn’t be painfully hard, and I sure as fuck wouldn’t be fantasizing about all the filthy shit I crave to do to those red, heavenly lips of yours.” Lifting from the bed, he smirked at me. “It would’ve been exceptionally easier if you’d been born with the balls you combat against your competitors with, darling.” Reaching into his slacks, he adjusted his cock. My eyes bulged at the outline of the lengthy, thick member. Redirecting my gaze, I recited his comments in my mind.

This bastard had the forethought to take care of my family. That meant his wandering into The Wing’s elite Washington D.C. women’s club was an accident. It was a well-constructed plan he’d implemented without a single mishap arising. It informed me of several things about the prick. Rising to settle before him, I slapped the pompous expression from his lips before he could guess my intentions. Calmly, he rolled his head back with a frightening intensity churning in his darkening stare.

“That was foolish.” Without warning, his hand was cradling my throat before I was jerked forward. His head tipped forward until his nose touched mine. He shoved my body against the wall and pressed tight against me. Crying out as my skull bounced off the hard, unforgiving surface, I closed my eyes against the agony starting in my temples. His fist threaded through my strands, wrenching my head until my scalp burned and tingled with pain. The burning forced my eyes open, meeting his penetrating stare. “Ask me for mercy,” he instructed, searching my face as I gasped.

“You’re not the type of guy who has any mercy to extend, Dravyn.” My eyes watered with the severity of which he gripped my hair, and my insides twisted with need. Was I turned on by this? I surmise I was because the throbbing between my legs was growing undeniable. The arousal flooding my pussy was hard to ignore, even though everything rational left inside me was telling me to. Refusing to look away as my racing mind told me to do, I studied how his eyes darkened and grew hooded as I remained submissive beneath his unwavering control of my hair.

“No, I am not.” His long, powerful nose dropped before his nostrils flared. He didn’t hide that he was inhaling my scent deeply into his lungs. The side of his mouth quirked up, revealing one of two dimples he’d been gifted. Cruel bastards were the gods who gave an asshole like Dravyn such masculine beauty. His jaw clenched as his mouth lowered, wandering over the racing pulse above my collarbone. “Pomegranates and lemons mix lovely with the perfume of your essence, Elle.”

“My name is Chevelle,” I grated out through clenched teeth.

“I never considered the two essences an aphrodisiac, but when infused with your particular bouquet of womanly scents, I’ve determined it is incredibly inviting and enthralling.” His mouth lingered over the pulse before trailing to my displayed collarbone. Searing pain erupted as he bit into the delicate flesh, cutting through the skin. Shock sank in as I felt something warm and wet dripping down my throat. The fucker had bitten me? A hiss of air deflated my lungs before his tongue slid over my flesh, inciting arousal to pool at my pinnacle. “There is a change of clothes for you in the duffle bag I brought aboard for you. Change and then meet me in the cabin. If you’re not out in five minutes, I’ll consider it a summons to join you here. I won’t go easy on your tender, lithe body, either.” He surrendered his grip on my hair as he whirled away from me, snickering darkly as I drifted down the wall before holding my palm to the slight cut, he’d made in my skin. “Your five minutes start now. Don’t keep me waiting, darling.”

Raithe strode from the room, leaving me staring at the door he’d vanished through. This entire nightmare was the definition of madness. Slowly moving off the floor, I snatched the bag and pulled out a pair of obsidian-colored suede, thigh-high booted heels, a pair of pleather leggings, and a strappy lace rucked camisole top. Digging out the other items, I discovered a sleeveless, lace-up top for added coverage, which I was thankful for since the thin camisole wouldn’t have hidden the way my nipples seemed to always get hard when I was around him.

Undressing quickly, I pulled out the delicate black panties and slid them on hurriedly. It took me two minutes to redress and then lace the booted heels. My hair was beyond fixing with my fingers, even though I tried. My heart-shaped face was flushed with a red blush, and my button nose looked pathetic between my wide, powder blue eyes. In short, my appearance was akin to someone preparing for a walk of shame after a tryst. Only, I didn’t have the tantalizing ache, and I sure as shit hadn’t gotten my rocks off before looking this disheveled.

He’d known my size as well, which was just one more tally in the column of proof that my abduction had been premeditated. Half the shoes in my wardrobe were a size larger than I actually wore, but since I wore a size seven, along with most of the female populace in the States, I ordered a size larger instead of waiting for them to come in. A lady needed the perfect shoes if she expected to slay monsters, and I never took chances with my attire. Glowering, I reached for the door, turning the knob as I silenced the warring emotions and mentally prepared for the shitshow about to unravel.

In the cabin, men worked on their minicomputers or cell phones without bothering to glance my way as I passed them. I moved toward Raithe, slowly, counting each man I passed as I tried to discern his position. The noise of my heels clicking over the floor of the jet rang through the space before I wavered before him, offering him a blank stare. Crossing my arms over my bosom, I ignored the low whistled of the men around me as Dravyn took in his choice of clothing.

“I told you she’d pull off the outfit,” Raithe hummed to the woman seated beside him. Hazel eyes crowded with golden flecks peered up, and then preceded gradually down my frame.

“She’s exquisite. However, I fail to recognize what her beauty has to do with her proficiencies or how she can pull off this wildly ludicrous plan of yours, Rai.” Returning her focus to her phone, she dismissed me outright.

“Elle Reed is going to hand us the keys to the kingdom,” Raithe purred, his mouth tipping into a devilish smile. “The White House, and then the world will follow behind it.”

“We’re ready to open the doors when you are, Mr. Dravyn,” a stewardess reported, and I glanced at her with wide eyes. I’d to have misheard her, right? We were in the air, which was apparent from the slight turbulence I felt. Opening the doors in midflight wasn’t something you did unless you were intending to . . . jump.

“She’s about to become hysterical, Rai,” the female declared, still not pulling her focus from the screen. “I presume you have a way to deal with it?”

“Indeed, I do.” Raithe laughed, his jeweled stare flickering with conspiracy. “Sit, Miss Reed.”

Plunking down stiffly in the armchair across from his, I planted my trembling hands in my lap, hiding them as panic flowed through my mind. Raithe tilted his head toward the stewardess, who promptly strode forward and poured a glass of brandy. Then she withdrew a small glass vial from her pocket and added golden droplets of the tonic into the glass, uncaring that I was watching her drug my drink. Once she’d finished, I didn’t move to pick up. Everything inside me screamed hysterically at the idea of being drugged unconscious before being tossed from a plane.

“You’re going to want to drink that. Trust me. You’re not psychologically geared for what happens next.”

---