His to Take (Wicked Lovers #9)(23)
Author: Shayla Black

“I don’t know whether to applaud or paddle you.”

“Paddle?” She shot him an incredulous stare. “Like I’m a bad little girl and you’re going to put me in my place?”

The whole time she spoke, he punched something into his phone. Into the silence afterward, he didn’t say a word. Finally, he lifted his head. “No, like you’re a stubborn woman who I wish would see reason, and if softening up your ass would do that . . .” He shrugged. “It would be my pleasure.”

Bailey blushed. The idea of him spanking her made her both furious and a bit shivery, which was strange. Then again, everything right now was.

“Not happening.”

He gave her a smug smile that said they’d see what happened, before he held his phone under her gaze again. “Here.”

She looked down at his screen. It was an app that located an iPhone. He’d used it to trace his own. The map showed them smack in the middle of Dallas.

“Do you believe me now?”

Bailey didn’t want to give him the satisfaction. He confronted her, confounded her. He’d taken her, threatened her. And yet . . . everything he said about the murders, their location—it all seemed to be true. It could be a hoax, yes. At this point, it would be a really elaborate one. Why would anyone bother?

But that didn’t mean he was right about everything. She wasn’t a dead Russian scientist’s daughter.

“If you didn’t come here to show me a picture of another body, why did you come?”

“To check on you. To bring you those clothes Thorpe promised.” He stalked across the room and retrieved the bag he’d brought when he first entered, then he thrust it into her hands. “To see if you needed any goddamn comfort.”

Bailey took the bag and peeked inside. Clothes, just like he’d claimed. The frustration in his tone made her feel a little guilty, which was probably stupid. But if he was right and someone else might mistake her for Tatiana Aslanov and kill her, then he’d risked his ass to help her. She bit her lip.

“Thanks,” she muttered.

“Go see if that fits. If not, I’ll find something else.”

Would he try to attack her while she was in the bathroom changing or was she just sounding paranoid? If he hadn’t violated her while she’d been tied up and passed out, why would he try to assault her now?

“Sure.”

With a last glance over her shoulder at him, she peered up into his craggy face. God, he really was so masculine. She’d never been one of those girls who got off on having a guy who was a lot bigger than her. She’d always wrinkled her nose at bodybuilder types. Sure, she didn’t mind tilting her head back a bit to kiss a guy, but . . . She shook her head. So she was thinking of kissing Joaquin now? After she’d just worried he might attack her? Where the hell was her head?

She sighed and eased into the bathroom, shutting the door even though it no longer locked. She tore into the sack. A new pair of panties with the tags on them. They were a little big, but not bad. Same with the jeans. The bra, however, was a joke. Thorpe’s girlfriend had clearly been more gifted in the boob department than she was. If she wore it, that bit of lace would only bunch under the T-shirt he’d included. She shoved the pretty white undergarment back in the sack and donned the blue cotton shirt. Like everything else, it was a little big, but hey, it would conceal the fact she wasn’t wearing a bra.

Shoving her nightshirt in the sack as well, she opened the door and found Joaquin waiting. His stare fell on her, intent, evaluating. Heat transformed his green eyes and sucked her in. Their gazes locked. Under the too-big shirt, she felt her nipples bead.

She swallowed. “Everything fits well enough.”

No way was she going to tell him about the bra.

Slowly, he nodded, scanning her body. “Your feet cold? You need socks?”

If he was a murderous freak, would he care? “Please.”

“I’ll hunt you up some.” He inched closer, as if he feared spooking her. Then he stretched out his hand. “Come sit with me. Can we talk about what’s going on again? I’ll bark less.”

Bailey really didn’t want to. But if this truly was happening to her, it looked serious. And the only way she would be able to leave Joaquin’s captivity was to listen and do her best to cooperate.

Sucking in a breath, she hesitated, then put her hand in his. Electricity pinged up her arm. She wouldn’t have thought it possible, but he focused even more intently on her. Her heart stuttered. The connection was surprisingly intense. Her head spun as he led her to the bed.

When he wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted her to the mattress, she stiffened.