Page 32 of Sweet Surrender
“Which is?” I whispered, drawn into him like a moth to a flame.
“I’ll let Liam live to see another day,” he paused as he moved hismouth away from my ear to hover mere millimeters away from my lips. If I shifted my feet slightly, our lips would have met. His intoxicating scent fogged my head, so much that I barely heard his next words. “But in exchange, you will give yourself to me. I’ll own you, I’ll possess you. You will belong to me.”
As he spoke, his lips brushed delicately over mine before hesuddenly took a step back leaving me bereft. But without his nearness, his wordsbegan to sink in, and horror seeped into my bones. Before I had a chance to comprehend what he had said, Nash spoke again.
“Make your choice, sweetheart. Your life or his.”
Chapter 10
Nash
“You’re joking, right?” Savannah shrieked, a look of totalbewilderment contorting her face.
I couldn’t stop my gaze from drifting to her mouth. I’d only slightlybrushed my lips against hers, but it was enough for me to know they would be the sweetest lips I’d ever tasted.
I couldn’t fucking wait until I could feast on her.
Oneverypart of her.
“Do I look like I’m joking?” I replied, keeping my features neutral whenall I wanted to do was beg her to tell me she’d be mine. After all, that was the only option open to her, there was no way in a million years Savannah would choose to end the life of her childhood sweetheart, no matter how badly he’d fucked her over.
She glared at me for a few seconds like I’d sprouted a second head,before she took a breath and pulled herself up to her full height, doing, what I assumed, to try to stand her ground.
“I don’t like either of those options. I think I’ll take option three.”
I held back the smile trying to break free at the look of smugness shewore.
“Oh yeah? And that is?” I mused, entertaining her. What Savannahdidn’t realize was, there were no other options. I’d thought of everything.
“I walk my ass right out of this fancy hotel and straight to the nearestpolice station, and I tell them everything. How you’re holding Liam against his will. How you tried to blackmail me. I don’t think that would look so good for you and your company, would it, Nash?”
She propped her hand on her hip, and a triumphant smile tugged onher lips. I gave her a few seconds to wallow in her glee before I burst her bubble.
“You think I haven’t already thought of that, sweetheart?” I said,closing the gap between us once again. “By all means, walk out of here and report me to the cops. But what will happen to you? What will happen to Liam? Do you even knowwherehe is?”
The smile fell from her face as her eyes darted to the screen showingLiam locked up as if it held all the answers.
It wouldn’t.
“I’ll tell you what will happen,” I continued, pulling her attention backto me. “You’ll walk out of the station branded a liar, especially when I get my legal team to rip apart your claim. Do you think the cops will really believe you, someone who is up to their eyes in debt, over someone like me, a wealthy businessman with a perfect reputation?”
Her face twisted in horror and she took a step back, her eyesnow flashing in the direction of the elevator that would take her back to safety.
I wasn’t concerned if she bolted, she wouldn’t get far. This was myhotel, and every member of staff would know to stop her from leaving within seconds if I told them to.
Besides, she’d need a code to use the elevator, a code I had nointention of giving her. This wasn’t something my sweet Savannah could run away from.
“As for Liam,” I continued. “He’ll still pay with his life, only his deathwill be slow. Every cent he stole from me will be paid back with every drop of his blood.” She took another step back as the color drained from her face. I took another step forward, maintaining the tiniest gap between us. “Liam’s debt to me will be paid, but you’ll still owe the banks, and Liam won’t be around to own up and get you out of the shit. And what will you do when you find yourself in even more debt after I sue you for defamation?”
Her back hit the wall, and I placed my hands on either side of her head,caging her in. Tears welled in her eyes as she came to terms with just how fucked she was.
“You’re a monster,” she whispered, trying to hold back a sob.
“I’ve been called worse,” I replied stoically, holding her watery green orbs.“What’s it to be, Savannah?”
She was quiet for a moment, whether she was trying to make adecision, or whether she was trying to figure out where it all went so wrong to lead to this moment, I didn’t know.
Growing annoyed with her lack of an answer, I leaned forward,burying my head in the crook of her neck and inhaling her vanilla and coconut scent. Her breath hitched in her throat, and I had to resist the urge to run my tongue against her skin.
