Chapter 15

He laughed cruelly and shook her with his grip on her jaw, bumping her head against the floor. "Pay attention, little girl, because I won't say this again. I have wanted you from the moment I laid eyes on you. And I have been very patient compared to my usual expectations. Cilia Bancroft is out there counting cards in my casino, we both know this. You managed to keep her secret well hidden, my gorgeous girl. No one on this town knows what she's capable of, but I have found her out."

The breath whooshed out of her lungs and she froze beneath him. He leaned in and whispered in her ear. "Now what should I do about this information? Do you want to know what I would normally do to someone counting cards in my casino? Even with someone as beautiful and intelligent as Cilia."

A tear trickled from the corner of Riley's eye, running across her nose and then down her plush lips. He ran his thumb over her lip, capturing the sign of her surrender. For the first time since his youth, Soloman felt something close to remorse. Had he gone too far in threatening the woman's mother? His Riley was fierce, but also vulnerable and possibly breakable. He was a monster with a black soul. He hadn't had to be tender with anyone. Ever. He didn't know if he was even capable of such an action.

He turned her so she was laying on her back underneath him. She looked up at him with such hatred that he knew she was ready to give him what he wanted. He felt both satisfaction and concern. First, he would continue to play their game, then he would figure out a way to force her forgiveness.

"What do you want from me?" she whispered.

That was more like it. She was starting to ask the right questions. "I want you to wear my gift."

She nodded her head. "And... and if I wear your gift, you won't hurt my mom?" she asked, anxiety lacing her voice.

Fuck. He had played this hand a little too well. He'd wanted to make her more biddable, he hadn't wanted her to worry that he was about to murder her mother at any moment. But it was too late for him to reassure her. He pulled her to her feet, careful to watch for signs that she might attack him again. She merely stood stiffly, watching him warily.

He strode toward the window and dropped the black, velvet curtain back into place. She didn't need the distraction. The next little while would be about them. "If you do as I say, then Mrs. Bancroft will be fine."

Panic flashed across her beautiful face and her hands clenched into fists at her side. "Fuck, Soloman. I'm just not so good at listening. What if... what if I accidentally piss you off? Will you... oh god?" Tears filled her eyes and she stared at him helplessly.

He chuckled darkly. "I'm well aware of your ability to piss me off. How about you do your best to listen to me and we'll go from there. Sound good?"

She nodded, her eyes still wide and wet with worry. She chewed on her full lower lip. He had the urge to shove his thumb into her mouth while ravaging her pussy with his cock. His body responded quickly to the thought and he nearly groaned out loud. Running a hand down his face, he said, "Why don't we start with the choker? Bring it here."

She picked up the expensive piece of jewelry and approached him, trepidation in each step she took. She clearly wanted nothing to do with him now that she'd seen exactly what kind of ruthless machinations he was capable of. Not that she wanted anything to do with him before, but there had been some flirting. Now he saw only fear in her beautiful velvet eyes. He was going to have to distract her. Refocus her terror and train her body so it responded to him, despite what her brain screamed at her.

He took the choker from her cold fingers and, placing a hand on her delicate shoulder, turned her so she faced away from him. Reaching around her, he slipped the necklace around the base of her long, beautiful neck and latched it at the back. He turned her around and looked down at it, possession blazing sharply in his dark, almost black eyes.

He took her hand and pulled her to the mirror next to his bar. He stood her in front of it and forced her to look at herself wearing his property. It was a black and silver entwined choker with a black diamond encrusted 'S' in the front surrounded by silver vines. It was very beautiful and very pagan. The flowing lines gave it a fluidity, but the letter with his initial made it feel barbaric.

Bending, he whispered in her ear, "I believe I told you to wear something appropriate with it."

"What?" she said, her confused gaze clashing with his in the mirror.

His hands went to the waistband of her sweatpants and bit into the flesh of her hips. "Since you chose not to dress appropriately for the occasion, then you can wear the next best thing with your new necklace."

Riley's breath caught in her throat and she stared at him. His fingers slid further into her waistband, caressing her hipbones and pressing further into her flesh as if testing the resiliency. His thumbs pressed into the generous flesh of her ass as his hands spanned her from front to back.

"Wh-what do you want me to wear?" she asked, finally managing to find her voice.

"Nothing."