Page 47 of His Captive

“Nothing like a Rhino boss.” He winks cleverly, and Lysetta’s eyes move between us either confused or offended.

“I googled it,” he informs me proudly.

“The shoes,” I remind him, changing the subject.

“Oh yeah, shoes,” he remembers, running back into my office and reappearing with a box, which he passes over to me.

“That will be all Bud, go tell Tristan we will be out in a sec.”

“Shoes,” I tell her when Buddy has left. Taking the lid off the box and revealing a white pair of open toe heels. She looks down into the box and her smile widens with excitement.

“I love them, thank you.” moving closer she takes one out of the box, then resting her other hand on my shoulder to balance herself she bends down to put it on. After she’s done the same with the other, she stands in front of me and straightens her dress.

“Will I do?” she asks me sweetly.

“You’ll do,” I nod, turning away from her and heading toward the cool evening air that the open door is letting in. I hear her heels click against the marble as she rushes to catch up with me. Her arm coiling around mine when she reaches me. I don’t take my hand from my pocket in case she tries to fit her fingers between mine, but mainly for fear that I’d so willingly let her.

Tristan waits beside the door of the limo. Yes, I’ve pulled out all the stops tonight. I need to draw as much attention to us as possible. It’s easy, I just make sure to go against every single one of my natural instincts.

I can feel the excitement radiating off Lysetta, and I feel a little deceptive for not telling her what tonight is really about.

I’m flaunting her for Sorrento's benefit, showing him that his little game isn’t working.

That the girl isn’t broken, and neither am I.

Perhaps, after all she has been through, the girl deserves a good night, but that doesn’t mean that the rules will be changing.

Tristan drives into town and Lysetta looks out the window for most of the journey, occasionally glancing over at me and smiling happily. Unbeknownst to her, making me feel like the world’s biggest asshole.

When the car pulls to a stop outside the bistro, and Tristan gets out of the driver's seat, she turns toward me.

“Are you gonna fuck me again tonight?” she asks in a voice so innocent it contradicts her words completely.

“Jesus, Lysa you can't ask me questions like that. Not when we’re about to walk into a restaurant full of people.”

“I was just wondering,” she shrugs her shoulder, suddenly looking regretful.

Tristan opens the door.

“Na-ah, no frowns tonight, you look much prettier when you smile,” I tell her, and as simply as that it makes her face light up again.

“You think I’m pretty?” Her eyes shine bright with hope. Hope that just for tonight I will pretend isn’t a wasted emotion.

The girl is killing me, slowly and very fucking painfully. I get out of the car, and as soon as I step on to the sidewalk, I know tonight is gonna be a success. Julia Beckford from the Cannonville Gazette is seated at a table in the window of the restaurant, her neck stretching to get a better view of our arrival. She taps the shoulder of the guy she’s dining with, and his phone points directly toward us. So, I give them the show they’ve come for. Holding out my hand I help Lysa out of the limo.

“Yes, Lysetta, I think you are very pretty,” I tell her as I pull her flush with my body. Her eyes drop to the floor shyly, making me wonder why she looks unconvinced.

“And to answer the other question…” I press my mouth over her ear.

“Yes. I am going to fuck you tonight… Extremely. Fucking. Hard.” I push the small of her back, so she presses against me, letting her feel exactly how hard I mean.

She smiles widely, a playful giggle escaping her lips, and dancing down my spine. I ignore that I like how it feels to feel it again and allow her to thread her arm through mine before I walk us inside the restaurant.

The waitress welcomes us as soon as I open the door. Sure, this isn’t as high-end as some of the places I own in the larger cities, but it is the best in this town.

“Sir, Mr. Allan is delighted you have joined us this evening. He has been hoping you’d visit to try something from his new menu.”

“Please, follow me.” She smiles as she weaves us through the tables to one set out in the opposite window to Julia’s.

---