Dark Perception: The Corde Noire Series Read online

  “You didn’t give a damn about any of those guys, Maddie. I knew that.”

  She opened the freezer and retrieved the ice tray. “But you know I care for Nathan, is that the problem?” She banged the ice tray on the bar countertop and a few cubes flew out of it. “Because I finally found a man who gives a damn about me, you try to come over here and ruin it.” She snatched up a towel by the sink.

  “That’s not it.” He shook his head. “Maybe it is … hell, I don’t know.” He bellied up to her breakfast bar. “When Ellie told me about the bruises and how bad you looked, I went ballistic. I just wanted to come over here and kill the son of a bitch.”

  Melinda dumped the ice into the towel. “You can’t keep doing this, Jack.”

  “Doing what? Protecting you?”

  She wrapped the ice up in the towel. “No, rescuing me.” She stepped around the bar to his side. “You don’t think I didn’t notice what you did with every guy I dated? Warning me how bad they were for me, talking me out of seeing them again, and telling all those jokes at my expense. I told you a million times I didn’t want us getting involved because we were better friends than we would ever be lovers. But here you stand, still not taking no for an answer.” She handed him the towel. “Put that on your neck.”

  “This isn’t about us,” he argued, resting the towel against his throat. “It’s about you. He’s dangerous, Maddie.”

  “Only to you, Jack.”

  “My feelings for you have nothing to do with this,” he vowed, his voice cracking with emotion.

  “Your feelings?” Melinda shook her head, her anger rising to the surface. “What exactly are those feelings, Jack? I know you wanted me, liked being around me, and were jealous as hell of every man I went out with, but never once did you ever tell me how you felt.”

  Jack tossed the towel on the bar. “What, do I have to spell it out for you?”

  Melinda folded her arms and glared at him. “No, it’s too late for that. You never did understand that I could never be with a man who wasn’t willing to tell me how he felt.”

  “Why do you always refuse to give us a try?” he pleaded. “Maybe you’re the one who needs to face your feelings, Melinda. I saw how you looked at me the night of the party. I know you found me attractive. We get along, we talk—”

  “We argue,” she countered.

  He moved closer until his face was inches from hers. “We’re good together.”

  “Good?” She rolled her eyes. “I hate to think what—” But Melinda never got to finish her sentence before his lips smashed against hers.

  The exhilaration of Jack’s kiss shocked her. There was a hint of sexiness to his kiss, blended with an alluring sense of familiarity. It sparked something in her. Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around his neck and eased against him. He parted his lips, and before Melinda could fathom what she was doing, she found herself kissing Jack back. His hands began to caress her hips, and when they reached the outline of her breasts, she pulled away.

  “You want me,” he whispered. “I could taste the desire in your kiss.”

  Melinda took a wary step back. “No, Jack. I belong to Nathan.”

  “You belong to me, Maddie.”

  “You? How could I belong to a man who has lied to me? Who has been deceiving me since the moment we met?”

  He caressed the curve of her jaw with his thumb. “Because I love you … I’ve always loved you.”

  “You love me?” She tossed her hands up. “Now, you love me. When I’ve given myself to another man, committed to him, then you decide you love me. Why didn’t you say anything before?”

  “I just figured it out. I guess when you are closest to losing the woman you love, that’s the moment you realize just how much you do love her.”

  Closing her eyes, she rolled her head back. “All those years we were together, and never once did it ever occur to you to tell me any of this?”

  “I was afraid if I told you anything you wouldn’t want to see me anymore, and I couldn’t … I couldn’t let that happen.”

  Melinda’s quivering hands pressed against her hot cheeks. His disclosure rocked her to her very core, not with dismay, but with relief. If was as if something she had been denying for years, fighting to keep locked away, had finally broken free. But love? Was she in love with Jack? Was that what she was feeling? A comforting warmth spread over her like a blanket in winter, protecting her against the cold. She did feel safe with him, but could she ever trust him again?

  Afraid of her emotions getting the better of her, Melinda pointed to the front door. “You need to go.”

  “What about what I just said? Does that mean nothing to you?”

  Her shoulders sagged with exasperation. “What do you want from me, Jack?”

  “Tell me you love me, Maddie. Is that so hard?”

  She ran her hands along her arms, fighting off a chill. “It’s not that easy. I have Nathan to consider, and my feelings—”

  He grasped her shoulders, shaking her. “You’re not in love with him, Maddie. Admit it.”

  She pushed him away. “I can’t walk away from him.”

  “Yes, you can! You don’t need him. I can give you everything you want. You know that. You don’t need Nathan Cole to spoil you. Let me do it.”

  Melinda took a step back, staring at him in horror. “Is that what you think? I’ll leave him for you because of the money? Do you know what that makes me sound like?”

  His hazel eyes burning with outrage, he fixed his sights on her emerald and diamond necklace. “That’s why you’re with him, right? Because he can give you all the things you thought I couldn’t give you? But I can give you all of those things. The fancy clothes, the expensive restaurants, jewelry, anything you want. Just leave him, Maddie. Come with me, right now.”

  “What am I, some prize to be bought by the highest bidder? I may be many things, Jack, but I have more respect for myself than that.” She opened the front door. “You need to leave.”

  “Respect?” He yanked back the sleeve of her blouse, exposing the ugly bruises on her wrist. “You’re going to stay with a man who does this to you? He’s dangerous. He will hurt you and—”

  “Get out, Jack!”

  He flinched when she shouted at him. “You don’t mean that, Maddie.”

  “Yes, I do. I’ve had enough of this. You need to go.”

  Dropping his head, Jack moved toward the door. “This isn’t over. You know where I’ll be if you should change your mind.” He barreled through the door and Melinda slammed it closed behind him.

  Her eyes swimming with tears, she resisted the urge to run after him, and instead crumbled to the ground. Heaving sobs of grief, her mind was inundated with images of Jack. He loved her and she had sent him away. For years, Melinda had thought she wanted nothing more than friendship, but that had been a lie. It would have never mattered to her if Jack was penniless or worth millions. All she had ever wanted was his love, and now that she had it, she felt cheap and ugly.

  A knock on her door snapped her out of her daze. Wiping away her tears, she stood and stretched for the doorknob.

  “Are you all right?” Nathan bounded in the door.

  “No,” she sniffled as he held her against him.

  “I’m sorry you had to suffer through that. But at least you finally see him for what he really is.” He ran his hand over her hair. “He doesn’t love you, Melinda. If he did, he would never have just walked away.”

  Melinda leaned back and explored his deep brown eyes. “How did you know that he…?” She stopped and looked to the intercom by the door. The yellow button had been pressed down. “Were you listening?”

  “Damn right I was. I hit the intercom before I left you alone with him. I had to listen in and make sure he didn’t hurt you.”

  She backed out of his arms. “Nathan, that was a private conversation between Jack and me. You had no right to listen in.”

  “I had every right, Melinda.” His tone turned col
d. “He came into my building and attacked me. I should have had Phil toss his skinny ass out on the street! But I knew you needed to see what he truly was: a spiteful, selfish, spoiled child.”

  His words stung, but Melinda thought it best not to stand up for Jack. She had learned enough about Nathan to know she should never challenge him. She didn’t want to make him angry.

  “He was wrong to attack you like that,” she began, keeping her voice steady. “He was just upset. I told you how protective he was of me, but you’re right. I needed to see him for what he is. It’s over.”

  A flicker of suspicion shone in his eyes. “Is it over … truly?”

  She raised her head, trying to appear confident. “Yes, I’m over Jack.”

  Nathan uttered a relieved sigh. “He was just trying to put a wedge between us. He’s jealous, that’s all. Jealous of what we have.”

  Curiously, she studied his face. “What exactly do we have, Nathan?”

  “You know what we have, Melinda.” He touched the black collar around her neck. “You’re everything to me.”

  Rubbing her hands together, Melinda posed the question Jack’s visit had roused in her. “Do you love me, Nathan?”

  He stared at her for a moment, seemingly confounded by her question. “Is that what you need to hear? That I love you?”

  She slowly nodded her head, hoping she wasn’t overstepping her bounds, but Melinda needed to know. She needed to feel justified for staying with him.

  “Sometimes a woman needs to hear the words to know it’s true,” she reasoned.

  He stepped up and grasped her arm. “I could ask the same thing of you, Melinda. In all the time we’ve been together, never once have you told me how you feel. You told Jack you couldn’t walk away from me, but you never said anything about loving me.” His wintry stare burned into her. “Do you love me, Melinda?” His grip tightened on her arm.

  Wanting to appease him, Melinda was about to tell him what he needed to hear, but then she hesitated. She had to sound convincing, not frightened.

  “I love you, Nathan,” she firmly declared.

  He let go of her arm. “Do you? Somehow, I find your words rather hollow.”

  She stepped closer, entreating him with her eyes. “You have given me everything I’ve ever dreamt of. How could I not love you?”

  “Those are things, Melinda. They don’t prove you love me.”

  Taken aback, she dropped her eyes. “What do you want me to do, Nathan?”

  “Give yourself to me. All of you.” Her eyes shot to his. “Be mine in every way and promise never to leave me.”

  His lurid grin turned her stomach. “What are you asking?”

  His mouth hovered in front of her face. “Prove to me you love me. Marry me.”

  Melinda recoiled as if she had been kicked in the gut. Was it supposed to feel like this when a man proposed? Would she have reacted this way if Jack had asked her to marry him?

  “Do you want me to beg like Jack?” His grin slipped away. “Most women who are in love don’t hesitate to reply to such a proposal.”

  “I … I’m not hesitating. I guess I’m just a little surprised, that’s all. I wasn’t expecting for you to—”

  “I love you, Melinda.” His voice was soft and reassuring.

  She gazed into his deep brown orbs, but she didn’t see love. There was something sinister shining back … and it horrified her.

  “Are you sure, Nathan? Are you sure you want me?”

  He threw his arms around her. “Marry me. Say yes and I will never question your loyalty again.”

  Could she marry a man who raised more doubt in her than certainty? Perhaps the disappointments inflicted by others had hardened her against the joys of life, making such moments seem less fulfilling. She assured herself this was right. Here was a man who could grant her every wish. What more was there?

  “Yes, Nathan. I’ll marry you.”

  He suffocated her with a long, unrelenting kiss. When he finally let her go, Melinda felt a little dizzy.

  “I’ll buy you the biggest diamond I can find, and we’ll plan any kind of wedding you want. Spare no expense.” He touched his forehead to hers. “How does a honeymoon in Rome sound to you?”

  Her mouth fell open. “Rome?”

  “It’s the most romantic city I know. Perhaps we can go on to Paris and then London. I want to show you the world, Melinda.” He paused and his brow furrowed. “After I put this deal to bed, we can go anywhere you want. Once the Market Street papers are signed, we can start planning our wedding.”

  “If that’s what you want, Nathan.” She was about to slink away when he pulled her back into his arms.

  “We need to celebrate,” he said, and kissed her neck.

  “What did you have in mind? I don’t have any champagne.”

  “Let’s do something new.”

  Her body stiffened. “New? What do you mean?”

  Nathan began unbuttoning her blouse. “Just something different. You want me to please you, don’t you?” He slid the silk blouse over her shoulders and let it fall to the floor.

  “Of course, Nathan.” She reached for his shirt, but he held her hands.

  “No.” He kissed her fingers. “I’m going to take care of you.” He undid her bra and tossed it to the floor. He gently ran his fingers over her erect nipples. “I’m going to make sure you’re always safe.” His hands went to the zipper on her slacks. After pushing her trousers down to her ankles, he reached into her underwear. “Spread your legs for me,” he whispered.

  Melinda kicked away her shoes and spread her feet. While his fingers went to work, probing her delicate folds, she groaned.

  Tugging her underwear from her hips, Nathan spun her around and then shoved her against the door. Forcing her legs further apart, he drove three fingers deep into her.

  “You like this, baby?”

  She slapped her hands against the door. “Faster, Nathan.”

  As he relentlessly moved his fingers in and out, the orgasm rose from the depths of her groin.

  “I can feel you coming,” he murmured in her ear.

  But right before her climax hit, Nathan withdrew his fingers.

  She opened her eyes. “Don’t stop.”

  He kissed the back of her neck. “Patience, baby. We’ve got all night.”

  “Please, Nathan.” She reached down and shoved his hand deeper into her.

  “You want me to go on, don’t you?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Nathan spun her away from the door. He brought her hands together, and when Melinda glanced down, she saw him securing her wrists with a slender, silver chain.

  She tugged at the chain. “What are you doing?”

  “Teaching you a lesson, my darling.”

  Her heart rose in her throat. “What?”

  He pulled on the chain, leading her to the sofa. “Did you enjoy kissing Jack?”

  She stumbled behind him. “Nathan, it wasn’t like—”

  He pointed to the floor in front of the sofa. “Get on your knees.”

  “You can’t believe that I would—”

  He tugged at the chain, cutting her off. “Do as I say!”

  Terrified of what would come, Melinda kneeled before the sofa.

  “Face the sofa,” he ordered as he moved the coffee table aside and stood behind her. “I’m the only one who can satisfy you.” He lifted her bound hands and placed them on the sofa cushion. “I’m the one who will decide when you will feel pleasure … or pain.” He ran his hands down her back until they came to rest on her round bottom.

  “What are you going to do?” she breathlessly begged as he spread her legs apart.

  “I’m going to show you how much I love you, Melinda.” He slapped her butt right across the seat, hard.

  Melinda cried out.

  He put his fingers to her lips. “Not a sound, baby. Not a single sound.”

  He rammed his fingers into her, making Melinda grunt. Nathan pressed into her
back and moved his fingers slowly in and out.

  Arching as the tingle of her orgasm grew steadily stronger, Melinda was rocking her hips against his hand, urging him to move faster. She groaned as the pleasure undulated through her. Then right before her release, he removed his fingers and spanked her ass.

  She curled into the sofa. “You bastard.”

  He smacked her again. “Careful. You don’t want to make me angry.”

  Nathan forced his fingers into her once more.

  Melinda lurched forward. She clung to the seat cushion of the sofa as the orgasm migrated up her spine. Just when she felt herself coming close once more, he stopped. The pain of the slap on her butt was so intense, tears filled her eyes, but she didn’t make a sound.

  Nathan flipped her around to face him. While kissing her chest, he slipped her bound wrists over his head, forcing Melinda to lean on him.

  “I like this game.” He drove his teeth into the side of her neck.

  Melinda whimpered and reciprocated by biting his chest. Nathan laughed, grasped her thick red hair, and yanked her head back.

  “Is that any way to treat your future husband?” He thrust his fingers back into her. “I think you need a reminder of who is in charge here, darling.”

  Once again, he brought her to the tipping point, and then abruptly stopped. While her breath slowed, he kissed her neck and brushed his thumbs over her nipples. When she finally relaxed against him, he shoved his fingers painfully inside her.

  Nathan repeatedly finessed her to the edge of orgasm, but never allowed her to come. Every time he jerked his fingers away, the ache between her legs became more excruciating. Soon, Melinda was soaked with sweat and her muscles were cramping. When he finally removed her hands from behind his neck, she collapsed on the sofa.

  He arched over her. “Beg me to finish this, Melinda, and I will.”

  “Please, Sir, make it stop.”

  “Am I the only man for you?”