“I’ve already said this to you numerous times, Jewell. I want you, and I won’t change my mind.”
The steel in his voice told her that he was speaking the truth, and the anxiety in her stomach told her the same thing. He wasn’t going to back down from this — not unless it was his idea.
“You aren’t really giving me a choice and you know it.”
“I’ve told you what I want and expect, Jewell. Anyway, you’re not for sale, because you’ve already been sold — to me. But because I’m such a stand-up guy, I’ll let you think about it.” With those words, he took a step toward her. She stepped back in fear, but then he turned away, leaving the way wide open for her to make a quick exit.
Was this a trap? She wouldn’t put it past him. She was afraid that if she went to the door, he’d strike like a python and swallow her whole.
Moving quickly, she yanked open the door and had taken a step toward freedom when she felt his fingers grip her arm. Yep. She’d been right to think he wouldn’t release her that quickly. She also knew she had no real power left to resist him.
“Something to remind you of what we have together,” he said before his lips descended and he was kissing her breath away again. When she swayed toward him, he released her. “We’re good together, Jewell. That was just a reminder. We both know that in the end you’ll bend to my will, but if you need to fight this to make yourself feel better, take the time to do it. There’s no doubt in my mind that you’re already mine.”
With that, he stepped back once again, indicating with a gesture that she could go or she could stay.
She fled.
Jewell didn’t know if she’d ever stop running, and she didn’t even know who she was running from more — Blake or herself.
Chapter Twelve
Jewell somehow made it back to her apartment building. After stumbling inside and finally getting into her own front hall, she took extra time to fasten all the locks on the door.
Not that the strongest of locks would keep Blake out, especially since the man had the keys to the apartment, but the symbolism of doing it made her feel immeasurably better. She headed to her bedroom and fell onto the bed, where she knew she’d lie for hours without the possibility of sleep claiming her.
Hadn’t she promised Justin that she’d get him back any way she could? Yes. So why in the world was she balking at marriage? It was selfish of her, and she knew it. Her brother was the only one who mattered. He was the reason she had gone to Relinquish Control in the first place. He was the reason she had met Blake.
No, she wasn’t blaming her brother. Not at all. She was an adult and she’d made her choices. She’d had a great life while growing up. It was time for her brother to have that same privilege.
She tossed and turned the entire night, and when she did find a few minutes of peace in slumber, nightmares of her brother being dragged away from her woke her up. At the crack of dawn, when her chances of more sleep had hit nil, Jewell knew she was out of options.
She could continue to fight Blake, but he would always win. He had power, and she had absolutely none. It was why he hadn’t been worried about what her answer would be. That the man had told her he’d give her time to think was almost amusing. It was like giving a starving animal a choice whether to eat or not. No matter how distrustful they were, they’d eventually take the food that was being handed to them.
Yes, she should call Blake and tell him he’d won. She should just get the damned thing over with. But she put it off. Maybe she was holding out hope that he’d change his mind, that he’d get tired of playing this game with her and he would release her from this hell.
But if that were to happen, where would she go? Sure, she had the money Ms. Beaumont had given her already, but it wasn’t enough to save Justin, and give them a new life. She had to face facts — she had nowhere, and no one else was about to help her but Blake.
Jewell climbed out of bed, wandered off to her kitchen and watched the coffee drip into the pot. The morning ritual gave her a measure of comfort.
When the coffee was ready and poured, she added a nice splash of flavored cream, then found herself sitting in the living room gazing at one of the soulless, impersonal art pieces hanging on the stark white walls. So expensive, and yet so utterly lacking in real value…
She was filled with something almost like relief when the doorbell rang. Then she remembered that the only person who knew she lived there — besides Ms. Beaumont, of course — was Blake, and she wasn’t ready to go another round with him. But why put off the inevitable? He was ringing the bell as a courtesy. He would get in whether she answered the bell or not.
When she opened the door, her face went from defeated to surprised as she looked up to find Tyler Knight, Blake’s younger brother, standing there. Before she was able to say a word, he flashed her a big smile and pulled her into his arms.
“Ha. I’ve missed ya, Jewell.” His affection for her was obvious.
She hadn’t realized they were fast friends, and his enthusiasm at seeing her really threw her off balance. Tyler was certainly as good-looking as his brother, with wide shoulders, dark, slightly messy hair, and a dimple in his cheek that gave him a boyish charm neither of his brothers could even try to possess. He also was the first to smile and show his emotions, whereas Blake and the other Knight brother, Byron, did their best to play everything close to the vest.
All three brothers were far more handsome than was good for them or the poor females who happened to stumble into their paths. And what made it even harder to resist them was the command, the raw strength that radiated from them in waves. There was something about a man who knew exactly who he was that made a woman want to give him anything and everything he could ever possibly desire.
“What are you doing here?” she finally asked when her stunned silence lasted a moment too long.
“I found out you were here,” he said. “My brother slipped up. I think he was planning on keeping you all to himself, but I’ve always been pretty damn good at getting information that people have no intention of giving out. And since I haven’t seen you in months, I decided to pop in for a little unannounced visit. That way you couldn’t possibly turn me away. Hey! Is that fresh coffee I smell?” Without waiting for an invitation or an answer, he walked inside and made his way to her kitchen.
Jewell followed and found him rummaging through her cupboards for a mug. Then he grabbed her empty mug from her and poured them each fresh coffee. Smiling, she added cream to hers and led Tyler over to the kitchen table.