And that was because she had felt the callousness pouring off him and Nick in waves. So had Leah – a girl who was never one to stay away from a boy stayed well clear of those two and the rest of the little gang. “You know, when I was twelve and I was in a pet shop with Leah, I pointed to a big white rabbit at the back and said ‘I want that’. I never got it. Do you see me chasing after the sodding thing eight years later?”
“Always the comedian,” he grumbled as he urged her quickly up a flight of stairs. “I can promise you that you won’t be laughing or making jokes in a minute when I’ve got you underneath me. You know, I’m not sure what will turn me on more: you screaming in pleasure, or in pain. Probably pain.”
“You haven’t got the equipment to make me scream in pleasure,” she scoffed. Yes, she was pushing his buttons. What was the point in behaving herself? The result would be the same no matter how she behaved.
He tugged painfully on her hair. “What was that?”
“I got a glimpse of your jimmy that day in the alley. You’re about as well hung as a gerbil.”
“You cheeky bitch!” On finally reaching the second floor where he kept the mattress for when he brought his girls, he threw her away from him toward it. Unfortunately she didn’t stumble and fall like he’d expected. Always so bloody awkward.
“That’s why you have to use a knife to get a girl to go with you. You’ve got nothing to offer her that’ll make her come to you.”
He snickered. “Trying to make me snap Jaxxon so I’ll slit your throat in a fury and then this will all be over?”
She frowned. “That’s actually not a bad plan. Why is it that I hadn’t thought of that but you did with your two brain cells?”
“You make out like I’m stupid and yet I’ve managed to follow you around and mess in your life without being spotted. Did you know that I’m not the only one who follows you about? I saw quite a few ‘watchers’ while I was tailing you. They weren’t so discrete. Even that Ant kid’s obsessed with you. I used to always see him peeking into the windows of the annexe of a night, trying to catch you getting undressed. I could have saved him the bother and told him how you always close the curtains. Why do you think I kept robbing them when you were living in the flat?”
“That was you?”
“Oh yeah. But then you had to go and get yourself famous and I had to hunt you down when I wanted to see you. I had to hunt down what’s mine. Can you believe that?”
“I’m yours because you claimed me with your eyes when you were twelve?” she asked incredulously but he ignored her.
“You were off in a different world then; me forgotten. You had your money and your new car and your designer gear and your celebrity friends. Me? I had nothing. Not even Celia and that kid of mine to keep me entertained.”
“Best news I’ve heard all week.”
“Then you had the cheek to actually leave the country. You went on your big posh holiday and even had McKenzie join you.” He growled. “McKenzie…Now that is a man I hate. You always ran to him, always gave him that big smile. Never once did you look at me like that.”
He honestly found that confusing?
“But him, you looked at him like the sun shone out of his arse.”
Shit – he was starting to advance on her with baby steps now. She didn’t want to back away from him; that would take her closer to that blood stained mattress. But to go to the side would take her dangerously close to the gaping hole in the floorboards.
“Yeah, you shagged him over and over like the little slut you are. I watched you that time in the woods, you know.” He smirked at her gasp. “I even kept that thong you left behind.”
Somehow that seemed like one of the worst things he’d done. “You perverted bastard.”
“I wanted to kill him that day. Both of you, actually. It shocked me that; wanting to kill you. I’d never wanted to hurt you before.”
Her mouth fell open. “You tried to rape me.” He shrugged and waved a hand, as if that was somehow different. Now it was her who was feeling homicidal. “I’m pretty sure even the Devil himself would be disgusted by you.”
“I’d have thought you’d have been calling me the Antichrist.”
“I wouldn’t give you that much credit. You’re not all big and powerful Sean, which you already know otherwise you wouldn’t have that knife in your hand.”
“You don’t like my knife?” He held it up and admired it lovingly. “I enjoy caressing my girls from head to toe with it. I think you might like it. You did in my fantasies anyway.”
“If you really had this big plan to have your wicked way with me, why try to poison me with those chocolates?”
“I just wanted you ill so that you couldn’t go on that tour. Then I find out that not only did you not eat them, but you were sneaking off early. Did you honestly think I’d let that happen? That I’d let you get away from me again?”
He seemed to genuinely want an answer. “Going by the fact that you kidnapped me and brought me here, I’m going to say ‘no’.”
“I had planned to have this place set up all nice but you went and forced my hand. I had to act quickly before you were halfway across the world. I wasn’t ready yet.”
“Sorry, I know the feeling of people messing about with your schedule.” She took slow, subtle steps toward the hole.
“This bravado won’t wash with me, Jaxxon. I know you’re scared.”
“Sean, I’d like you to consider this for a minute: you’ve been following me without showing your face, you’ve been leaving notes like some juvenile, you broke into my apartment but then scuttled off into your little hole, you’ve been acting like some sort of peeping Tom, and then not only did use a kid to try to get me to do what you wanted, but you’ve tied my wrists so I can’t defend myself. The picture I’m getting from that is of one bloody big coward. Forgive me for not feeling the need to quiver.”
“You should be quivering. Not only do I intend to force my way inside you and plow into you while you fight me and scream, but I’m then going to do it over and over. Until you bleed.” A malicious grin dominated his face. “Ever taken it up the arse, Jaxxon? You will tonight. I can guarantee you’ll bleed then. Maybe I’ll invite Nick round when I’ve had my fill of you.”