“Come with me. Say yes. Be mine, Felicity and I‘ll give you more pleasure than you’ve ever dreamed of. Together we’ll feel something that neither one of us has ever felt. Pleasure that only you and I can feel together. You know it’s here, between us.”

Deep inside she knew everything he said rang true. What they had between them was special, different. Yet, something stood between them and that something had the name Julianna Greenwich. “What about your mating ceremony?”

His hands stilled on her then abruptly his heat vanished. Slowly she turned around. His flushed cheeks could have been from anger, but she knew it wasn’t. Their sweet scents clouded the room.

“One day I’ll stop asking so nicely.”

She laughed at that. “And you’ll what? Attack me?”

He leaned in close, his eyes blazing with anger. “No, I won’t back off every time I touch you. I’ve been doing you a kindness. I could have had you many times before and we both know it. Every time we touch you grow so wet I can smell it. You ache for me as I do for you. Give me the answer I want or I’m done playing your game. We’ll play it my way, and I guarantee you I will win.”

Felicity swallowed hard.

Standing up straight with his bruised face and determined eyes, he crossed his arms to wait for her answer. Felicity wanted to please him. She wanted to give him the answer they both wanted, the one that would give them the pleasure that could explode between them. But she had values and just a little bit of pride.

“It’s either me or her.” She narrowed her own determined eyes on him and crossed her arms for good measure, mimicking him.

A devastating smile curled over his lips transforming his scowling face into something captivating. “Now we play my way.”

Before Felicity could ask what that meant a knock sounded at the door behind her. She jumped, letting out a little yelp before she opened it.

One of the guards stationed to protect her stood there. His face seemed to look perpetually grim as if he got paid extra to look fierce. His name was Graham, and he didn’t talk much.

“We just got news, Mr. Blackmoore.”

Dom flicked a glance to her then said, “You can say whatever it is in front of her.”

“Julianna Greenwich has disappeared. We believe she has run away. None of her family or friends has had any contact with her. According to the cameras at the estate, she was seen climbing the gate before jumping over it and running away empty handed at dusk.”

Felicity’s eyebrows rose to her hairline. The prim and proper Lady Greenwich hurdled the massive black iron gate? God she’d love to see that.

“She’s disappeared?”

“Aye, sir, so it appears. At your word, I’ll gather a team to find her.”

Felicity watched Dom, gauging his reaction. He looked stoic as ever. The man truly didn’t feel anything for Julianna. Then why not mate with me! she wanted to scream.

“Get Vas on it.”

Graham blinked. “I thought Grayson might be better for the job.”

“Just get Vas. Gray’s got a lot going on right now, and he’s working a case for me. Vas can take care of it.”

“Aye,” Graham said in his heavily accented voice. He sounded Scottish or maybe Irish when he spoke more than one word that is. “What’ll you like done with her?”

Felicity jerked her gaze to the giant redheaded man and stiffened. He meant her not Julianna.

“I’m taking her to my home up north.”

She could feel the waves of frustration roll off Graham. “That place is not nearly as protected. I don’t recommend it with the recent assassination attempt.”

Dom stepped forward and before she knew it, he had his arm wrapped around her shoulder and her body pulled alongside his. He did it almost casually...naturally. Why did it have to feel so good?

“It’s closer to the capitol so I’ll stay there. Just get extra guards for both of us and work with Vas to get a team to find Julianna. I want her back.”

Felicity stiffened and then jammed her elbow back into Dom’s side. He grunted at the jab. God, she couldn’t believe him. Shoving away from him, she ran.

“Felicity!” he yelled after her.

His man Graham wasn’t quick enough moving out of the way so he was thrown back into the wall as Dom stormed after her. Her wall caved in and debris exploded into the air to the ground.

Turning, Felicity glared at him. “You’ll pay for that! I’ll lose my security deposit over that.”

Dom tossed his head back to see what she was talking about and growled, his eyes starting to glow amber. A lick of fear raced down her spine. “I’ll fucking pay for it. I’ll buy you a new fucking house, and a new car. I’ll buy you anything you want. Just say yes to me.”

She was tempted, really, who wouldn’t be? Anything she could want. Admittedly, a lot filled that list.

But again her pride wouldn’t let her.

She shook her head.

“It’s me or her, Dom. You’ll hurt me otherwise.”

He froze and Graham’s gaze grew shuttered as he quickly backed away from this conversation, which surely even if he left he’d hear with his vampiric hearing. The front door closed behind him.

“I would never hurt you.”

She cocked a brow. He’d already hurt her in little jabs here and there. “When I’m with someone I’m with them one hundred percent. Only me and him. I don’t casually sleep around. When I want someone I want just them and I want the same in return. I do not want a man who has another woman who’s actually his bruid!”

Dom strode forward his hips having an extra kick to them. She clamped her hand on the bedroom door ready to slam it in his face.

“You want me,” he said in a low, slow voice.

Why did she feel like suddenly she was in a trap?

“Yes.”

His eyes stayed locked on hers. “I like the sound of that.” He cupped the back of her head then lifted her up to her toes so his mouth could slide across hers in a barely-there kiss.

“Then don’t go after Julianna. You don’t need her,” Felicity said.

A grim smile crossed his lips. “We both know I have to.”

Felicity found herself blinking fast. Mortification painted her cheeks red. She pushed against him trying to move away but he wrapped his arms around her waist. “What’s wrong, Felicity?”

“Let me go!” she hissed, her eyes blinking too fast as the hot moisture came.

“Sweets, please stop fighting me. What’s wrong?”

She hit him hard across the face.

He dropped her at once.

Dark, angry eyes met hers and she took a step back. He watched her and gave her a disgusted look.

“You need to explain yourself, sweets.”

“I’m sorry.” Tears wobbled in her eyes. She shook her head, unable to find the right words to explain the chaos inside her.

“I don’t know what your problem is, but get over it. I can’t mate with you. I’m mating with Julianna.”

He didn’t slap her in the face, but that was how it felt hearing those words.

He spun around and left her. The front door slammed closed after him. Felicity stared after him for moment, then slammed the bedroom door closed on him.

That’s it. She was done with Dominic Blackmoore.

Five days later and two weeks closer to the mating ceremony, Felicity sat in the back of an SUV next to Dom. Two guards sat up front. Two SUVs flagged them in front and back filled with more bodyguards assigned by Dom’s brother.

Felicity sat stiffly, staring out her window than at him. He’d forced her to come with him like some kind of ape, macho gorilla man. She struggled to recall a time she’d been this angry at someone.

Dom had stormed into her house after she’d refused to see him or answer his calls for days. In fact, she happily went along planning his bonding ceremony by bouncing ideas off his mother via discrete phone calls. His mother was great, albeit impassionate. Thanks to her Felicity had the location booked, designs chosen, and supplies ordered.