A Dominant Fallen (A Dominant Series Book 2) (43 page)

I glimpse down at the rock on my hand and blush from embarrassment. I can’t believe I’ve been sitting here like a fool, trying to tell him something that was right in his face the whole time, gleaming proudly on that most significant finger.

“Ya’d have to be fuckin’ blind not to see that thin’. Plus, the fact dat it’s been absolutely everywhere I go.”

“So, you understand, then?”

“I understand,” he replies, nodding his head and taking the last sip from his glass. “How much time do I have to convince ye, yer makin’ a huge fuckin’ mistake?”

“It’s this Saturday, and I wouldn’t push it, Walk.”

“Ah, I don’t have much time, then.”

He reaches across the table for my hand, but I pull it away quickly, foiling his attempt to woo and seduce.

“It doesn’t matter how much time you have, you will never convince me that I’m making the wrong choice,” I state with concrete conviction.

“That’s a matter of opinion.” He leans back in his seat, tossing an arm along the back of the booth, and stares with a cocky, raised brow. And, it infuriates me.

“You are the cockiest bastard I have ever met!” I grab my purse and slide out of the booth. “I don’t have to take this from you. I’m out.”

“Gigi, wait, don’t go.” He tries to grab for my hand again as I walk past him, but I rip it away and turn on him.

“No! No, don’t tell me what to do. You have some nerve coming into my life to mess with things when I’m starting to find my way. I’m happy, but you’re more concerned with some dick measuring contest with Hunt.”

“Ellie, love, I…”

“No, Walker, it’s my turn to talk…You show up at my office building with your worn boots, cocky smile, and Irish accent, and think you can convince me to what, runaway with you? Get real, McQueen, we ain’t gonna happen!”

“Gabri…”

I turn, waving him off. “Goodbye, Walker.”

“How am I gonna get home?” he calls after me.

“Not my problem, Walk…FYI, he’s bigger,” I wickedly call back.

I break free out the door and take a deep breath, relieved that the whole awful ordeal is over with, but it’s short-lived. I glance up toward the street, and standing where my car was parked is Hunt with an angry scowl on his face.

“What are you doing here?” I inquire, wide-eyed.

“I’d like to know the exact same thing…Where is he?” he asks with a calm, cold manner.

“Where’s who, Damian?” I try to feign stupid, but I know who he’s referring to, and he knows I know.

“Don’t play games with me, Gabrielle.” I hear the irritation in his voice. “Banks followed you two here.”

“He’s still inside,” I nod toward the bar. “But, there’s no need to confront him.”

“Why was he driving your car, the car I bought for you?”

“I, um…”
Shit! Mayday, mayday
! “I let him drive.”

“Unacceptable,” he says with a forbidding tone and turns around to the Land Rover behind him, opening the door for me. I want to stomp my feet and tell him what’s what, but I know that would only upset him more. So, I walk over to the car and hop in, buckling up and waiting for him to enter the car, but he doesn’t. Instead, he walks toward the bar, and when I try to get out to argue with him, he shoots me a cool glare over his shoulder before entering. I clamber back into the car and shut the door, staring with terrified fascination.

I wait impatiently, twiddling my fingers and uncontrollably shaking my leg. My eyes bore into the door. Every time it opens, I became alert, stiffening and sitting up at attention. But, with each person to emerge, I find myself disappointed and sink back into my seat. I find it harder and harder to just sit here like some dog ordered to heel.

I clasp my hand onto the door handle, about to pull on it, when Damian comes out in a huff. I guess Walker got to him again, which I empathize with, as it’s impossible to keep your cool with him. He has a way of being able to push just the right buttons to set you over the edge.

Hunt walks about the front of the SUV and slides inside. He doesn’t say a word or even look at me.

W
e make it back to Artemis twenty minutes later, but it feels like forever. Hunt hasn’t spoken a word to me since he ordered me into the car. I don’t think he so much as glanced at me.

We’re standing in the elevator, silently riding it up, but there’s a tension in the air, making it impossible to breathe. I’m becoming antsy. I can’t stand this torturous waiting. I know he will punish me, but when, how? I actually feel myself becoming angry that he’s putting me through this.

I mean, what did I do wrong? I let Walker drive my car. Not the worst thing ever. I had a drink with him, a drink I didn’t even finish. That’s not the smartest thing I’ve done lately, but I was in no real danger with him. It’s Walker. Sure, he can be flirtatious but he’s no real threat.

Finally, the doors open, and I’m able to make my escape for my bedroom. I practically bolt for the stairs. But, just as I’m about to put my foot on the first step, he says, “Gabrielle, just where is it you think you’re going?”

“To my room,” I reply with a slight tone.

“No, you are not,” he states, with a few shakes of the head and his hands placed behind his back. His stance is wide and stiff. It’s Hunt. But, I’m in no mood to do this now.

“Yes, I am.”

I rush up the stairs as quickly as my feet will carry me. I’m about to make it to my door when Hunt’s large hand scoops about my stomach and pulls me into him. I fight and struggle with him, but he simply holds onto me.

“Get off me, Hunt, now!” I push at his chest, but it’s useless.

“Do you promise to be a good girl and behave yourself? Are you going to try to run away again?” he asks in an almost condescending voice.

“Fine, yes, whatever,” I spout out.

“Fine, yes, whatever?” he inquires with a disapproving look in his intense, green eyes.

“Yes, sir,” I practically spit out at him. He releases me and, does something I’m not expecting, he smirks down at me.

“There’s my feisty little Elle. It’s been a while since I’ve seen her.”

“Well, I didn’t really do anything wrong and don’t feel I should be punished. I barely had a drink and I had everything under control.”

“Gabrielle, I’m disappointed in your actions with Mr. McQueen, but this is not why I’m upset with you.”

“Well, then, what are you…” I remember my promise to him, my promise to come straight home after work.

Shit!

“There it is,” he says as clarity washes over my face.

“I know I promised, but…”

“But? There should be no ‘but’ in that sentence. You promised me that you would come back home after work,
but
, instead, you go traipsing about town with Mr. McQueen, and to a bar of all places. You broke three rules in one swoop, which are not following directions, making an unwise decision when I’m not present, and not admitting your misbehaviors.

“Then, on top of all of your indiscretions, you put yourself in harm’s way. What would I do if anything happened to you? Really, Gabrielle, tsk, tsk,” he reprimands with a few shakes of his head. His eerily calm voice and manner chill me to the bone.

“What are you going to do to me?” I ask with a noticeable tremble in my voice.

I know that I’ve done wrong, and Damian doesn’t punish unless he feels I’ve truly overstepped a line, but this doesn’t give me much solace.

“You will go into your room, shut the door, and undress. Once you’ve stripped down, you will kneel in front of the bed and wait for my arrival, with your head down, arms behind your back, and legs spread open for me. Is this understood, Miss Hyde?”

I want to dispute him and stomp away, but I know that I must obey or my punishment will only worsen.

“Yes, Mr. Hunt,” I answer weakly.

“Good. Now, go.” He nods his head toward my door, dismissing me.

I turn to open the door and step inside my bedroom in double time, quickly shutting the door behind me. I kick off my shoes and strip down on my way to the bed, carelessly tossing my clothes in every which direction, allowing them to land where they may. Once I’m bare, I drop to the floor and kneel as he instructed. My legs are wide open, revealing myself to him as soon as he walks through the door.

I wait patiently with my hands clasped together near my rear and my head hanging. The room is quiet. My breathing and the thunderous roar of my pounding heart are the only things filling the anxious silence. It’s only been a few minutes, but it feels like forever.

I keep waiting, and waiting, and waiting. I wait so long, the late afternoon light fades, becoming the dark of night. I can’t tell you how long I’ve been sitting here, but my knees ache and my shins burn. My arms and hands have stiffened, making it nearly impossible to hold on. My neck is sore, and my head hangs weakly from a lack of strength. I don’t know how much longer I can last like this, but I will wait as I’ve been instructed.

Suddenly, my prayers are answered when the door opens and the sound of his heavy footsteps come toward me and slowly circle my slouching body. He halts and crouches beside me to scoop my weak, huddled form into his arms and carries me out of the bedroom. He walks us down the hall, through our room, and into the bathroom where a warm, soothing bath awaits me.

He pampers and cleans me, massaging the soreness out of every tightened muscle until I’m limp. When he finishes caring for me, he dries me off, dresses me in one of his oversized shirts, and grasps onto my hand, guiding me back out of our room. He heads down the hall toward the stairs, and I blurt out, “Where are we going?”

He doesn’t stop or look back at me when he replies, “I’m going to get you fed. You must be starved.”

I am hungry.

H
e prepares me a nice, light chicken Caesar salad and a glass of ice tea, which I eat in the dining room while he cleans up the kitchen. Once I’m done, we head back upstairs, but instead of going into our room, he clasps onto my hand and tows me back toward mine.

“Where are you taking me?” I ask stupidly, as it’s apparent.

“Your punishment is far from over, Miss Hyde.”

“But, I thought…” I trail off as disappointment rushes over me.

“Whatever you thought, you were wrong.” He walks us inside my bedroom and stands me in the center, staring me down with a staid yet conflicted look in his dark emerald eyes, his arms crossed over his chest.

“As a part of your punishment, you will sleep in here tonight. I will let you know when you’ve fulfilled your penance. In the meantime, you are to think about what you’ve done and why I am punishing you. Is that clear, Miss Hyde?”

I want to beg him to let me back into our bed, to allow me to lie near him, but I know he needs space from me. I know I hurt and terrified him today. He requires control, structure, and discipline in his life; it’s what drives him, yet when it comes to me, chaos.

“Yes, Mr. Hunt, perfectly clear.”

“Good girl. Now, I believe it’s time for you to go to bed.”

He turns around without a kiss or the words I want desperately for him to say…‘I love you’. As he shuts the door behind him, he says in the driest of tones, “Goodnight.”

I
couldn’t sleep a wink, not for a fucking second. I tossed and turned thinking about my broken promise and well-deserved punishment. I know it isn’t fair of me to go back on my word, especially when Hunt is only trying to protect me from Dante.

I don’t know why I insist on fighting him. Perhaps, I’m taking my past out on Hunt. Every moment and aspect of my life with Nicholas was controlled. I had no will to make my own choices or live my life the way I wanted. I was a prisoner of fear and abuse. I can’t keep letting my past define my present and future.

I know what I need to do.

I flip the comforter off me, leap out of bed, and quickly make my way to our bedroom. I don’t want to upset him, but I have to apologize, I have to tell him I’m ready to change. If I’m going to spend the rest of my life with him, I have to open up and trust that he only wants what’s best for me, for us.

I open our bedroom door with a pleased grin smeared across my face, as I’ve come to the realization that I’m ready to move on…with him, but it disappears in the blink of an eye when I find that he isn’t there.

I
looked everywhere, the gym, his study, the kitchen, his studio, but he isn’t here, he isn’t anywhere. So, I head back to my room feeling defeated, and when I glimpse up, I notice a note hanging on my door. I pluck it off and read.

I’ll see you this evening.

I crumble the note and fist it, holding my balled up hand to my lips. I realize I may have truly messed up this time.

I
shower, put my hair in a high bun, and get dressed in a black blazer, matching pencil skirt, and electric blue peep toe pumps. I grab my purse and a travel mug of coffee then head out to the elevator, finding Liam waiting for me.

“Good morning,” he greets me with a smile, but I can see an uneasy gleam in his eyes. “Mr. Hunt has asked me to escort you to and from work today.”