13 Chapter 13

Finally, her headache was completely gone. Riley lay back in the tub enjoying the scent of vanilla and lavender candles permeating the steam coming off the hot water from her bath. Lorde's Pure Heroine album played from her phone through a Bluetooth speaker, filling the small washroom with music. Her hair was piled high on her head so it wouldn't get wet. Her shoulders and breasts were covered in vanilla scented bubbles. She was in heaven, which was saying something considering the day she'd had.

She'd been pretty worried that Soloman would make good on his threat and show up at the shop to drag her away. Plus, the cops had come sniffing around about a stolen Mercedes SUV. Wendell had done his usual dog and pony show of giving them the correct paperwork for all of the vehicles in the shop. He was really quite remarkable at shaking his head in commiseration and looking innocent. The SUV had been in the part of the garage they didn't take the tourists to. Underneath the lifts there were false concrete pads. Her dad had done such a good job of building the shop, law enforcement had never been able to find the extra space.

With a lazy sigh, she lifted one leg at a time and dragged a loofa across the silken skin, debating whether or not to shave. Though she had dark chestnut hair, she'd thankfully inherited light coloured hair on her arms and legs from her blond mother. She didn't have to shave her legs more than once per week to stay nice and smooth. And despite her somewhat racy reputation, she hadn't actually been to bed with a guy in almost two years, so her shaving regime had fallen a little to the wayside. She was choosy about men and she had a business to run. Though she liked to have fun, she rarely found anyone actually worth taking home.

When her music cut out and House of the Rising Sun began playing she scrunched her eyes shut and groaned. With a sigh, she reached for her phone, knowing she wasn't going to enjoy this conversation one little bit.

"Soloman," she growled.

"Roman is outside waiting for you. I want you to meet me at one of my clubs," he said, his voice sounding chill to her ears, as though he knew she would deny him again and was preparing to play hardball with her. She sat up in the tub, splashing the water a little. "Do not... wait, are you taking a bath?" His voice took on a surprised tone.

She smiled despite herself. She got the feeling he hadn't intended to ask her that. "None of your damn business, Soloman," she replied haughtily, purposely splashing the water a little more so he couldn't miss the sound.

He cleared his throat and growled, "Invite me over, Riley, right fucking now, and I will forget your constant disobedience and the punishments I have racking up for you."

"What, are you a fucking vampire now? Since when have I had to send an invitation for you to show up at my place? Last I checked, you just wander in at will."

He ignored her and growled, "I promise you will enjoy our night together if you just say the words to me."

The breath rushed out from between her lips before she could stop it. She knew he could hear the small gasp. Knew that he knew he affected her just as much as she affected him. Fuck, it still didn't give him the right to force her will to his. Despite the fact that her nipples tightened against the edge of the tub where she clutched it tightly. That her body begged her to give him the words he wanted, to ask him over.

Wait, punishments? What punishments? Fuck him!

"Fuck you, Soloman!" she snapped. "You don't get to tell me what to do. Ever! You don't get to fucking send me gifts and dictate what I wear or where I'm going to wear it. And you don't get to demand dates with me, asshole. I'm so over this shit!"

She could feel his anger rising through the phone as though it were a living thing. She stood in the tub and reached for a towel, suddenly feeling too vulnerable. Wrapping it around herself as best she could with one hand, she hurried dripping through her apartment to the front window. It was next to the door. She peeked through the curtain, down to the street. Sure enough, she could see Roman standing next to Soloman's S7 looking bored while he waited for her.

"We haven't even begun yet, little girl, and we will never be over," Soloman's voice whipped through the phone. "Go get dressed right now or Roman will come through that door in two minutes and drag your ass down to my club, naked or not. I'm partial to the second option, although if you force my man to put his hands on your bare body, you better believe I will beat your ass when I get my hands on it."

Her breath came out in short, gasping pants. She could see Roman check his phone, then look up toward her condo. He turned and started striding toward the building, his long legs eating up the distance to her place. She whirled on the spot, letting the curtain drop and ran full tilt down the hall toward her bedroom.

"And Riley?"

"What?" she asked in a panicked gasp.

"Wear my gift."