‘Give me what I want. Now.’
She debated for a tense few seconds. Then, figuring she had nothing to lose, she complied.
Her hair was thick, long and often times unmanageable. She’d spent almost an hour wrestling it into place tonight and in the end had chosen to wear it up. Her effort to straighten it would’ve worn out by now, and she couldn’t help but fidget when his gaze raked over the golden-brown tresses once, twice and over again.
‘You’re exquisite,’ he breathed after an endless moment during which her stomach churned with alien emotion. ‘Your skin is flawless and I want to drown in your eyes, watch them light up with pleasure when I take you.’
Ruby couldn’t believe mere words could create such heat inside her. Hell, everything about him made her hot and edgy.
She needed to nip this insanity in the bud before it went any further. ‘I’m sorry if I gave you the impression that something more was going to happen between us. You won’t be...taking me.’
‘Will I not?’ he asked silkily, his finger drifting down her cheek to settle beneath her chin. ‘And what makes you say that?’
‘Because you don’t really want me.’
His laugh was rich, deep and incredibly seductive.
‘Every nerve in my body disagrees with that statement. But if you need proof...’ He bent low, scooped her up and threw her over his shoulder.
His laughter increased at her outraged squeal. ‘Put me down!’
The hallway passed in a blur as he took her deeper into the suite. Her hair entangled with his long legs as he strode with unwavering purpose.
‘I don’t know what the hell you think you’re doing but I demand you put me down right—’ Her breath whooshed out of her lungs as she was dumped on a bed. A very large emperor-size bed with slate-coloured sheets and over a dozen pillows.
‘You were saying?’
She brushed her hair out of her eyes and saw him tugging off his shoes. When he unhooked his belt, she scrambled off the bed.
He caught her easily and placed her back in the centre. ‘Are you going to be a good girl and wait for me?’ Silver eyes speared her.
‘Wait for... Hell, no!’
He stepped forward and caught her chin in his hand. When his head started to descend, she jerked away. ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’
‘Capturing your attention for a moment. You don’t need to be frightened, dolce mia. Nothing will happen in this room without your consent.’
Oddly, she believed him. ‘You don’t need to kiss me to capture my attention.’
Slowly he straightened and dropped his hand. ‘Shame. Let me remind you of some ground rules before we proceed. We’re not supposed to reveal ourselves to each other. However, since you’ve done me the honour of revealing your name to me, I’ll grant you the courtesy of removing my mask. But you’ll give me your word that it will stay between us, sì?’ He started unbuttoning his shirt, revealing mouth-watering inches of golden skin.
Heat slammed into her chest and she sucked in a gulping breath.
Crunch time. Time to get this dangerously bizarre situation over and done with.
‘There’s no need. I already know who you are. You’re Narciso Valentino. You’re the reason I’m here in Macau.’
HE FROZE AT her announcement. A second later, he drew the mask over his head, and Ruby got her first full glimpse of Narciso Valentino.
He was breathtakingly gorgeous. With a definite edge of danger that sent her already thundering pulse straight into bungee-jump mode.
She watched his face grow taut. Watchful...condemning.
‘You know who I am.’ His words were icily precise, the warmth in his tone completely gone.
Licking dry lips, she nodded. His other hand dropped from his belt, leaving her curiously disappointed.
‘You’re American.’
‘Yes, I live in New York, same as you. That’s where I came from.’
‘And you followed me all the way to Macau. Why?’ The clipped demand came with eyes narrowed into cold slits.
A mixture of anger and trepidation rushed through her, propelling her from the bed.
He caught her easily. ‘Move again and I’ll be forced to restrain you.’
Panic flared through her. Tugging at his hands, she fought to free herself. Before she could fathom his intentions, her wrists were bound to the bedpost with velvet rope he’d pulled from the side of the bed.
She looked from her wrists to his face, unable to believe what was happening. He tossed his mask on the bed, whipped the unbound tie from his neck and flung it across the room, barely suppressed fury in the movement. ‘Okay, fine, you’ve made your point. But you can’t keep me prisoner for ever.’
‘Watch me.’
‘I could scream, you know.’
Nice, Ruby. Nice.
‘You could. And I can turn you over to the management and let them deal with what can only be regarded as a security breach. Trust me, breaches aren’t taken lightly.’
She tugged at her bound wrists. ‘I can’t believe you tied me up.’
‘You left me no choice. Now start talking before I call security.’
Her breath caught as images tumbled through her head of being stuck in a foreign prison. Aside from her roommate, Annie, no one knew her whereabouts. And even if Annie tracked her down to Macau, she wouldn’t have the first clue where to find her.
‘Tell me what you want to know,’ she offered in a rush.
‘Is Ruby really your name?’ he asked, his gaze dropping to her lips.
Remembering what he’d said about her mouth, she felt heat spike through her belly again.
‘Yes.’
‘And your earlier assurance that we hadn’t met before?’
‘Is true. Although we almost did...last week.’
One sleek brow shot upward. ‘How?’
‘I tried to find you at a nightclub—Riga—but you were leaving when I arrived.’
He prowled closer to the bed, and a fresh load of anxiety coursed through her system. Hands poised on lean hips, he stared down at her.
‘I’ve had women do...unexpected things to get my attention but I don’t think I’ve had the privilege of a full-blown crazy stalker before.’ His eyes raked her from head to toe. ‘Perhaps I should’ve made it happen sooner.’
‘I’m not a crazy stalker!’ She yanked at the restraints and only succeeded in tightening them.
‘Of course not. Because those ones readily admit to their charges.’
‘Look, I can explain. Just...untie me.’
He ignored her and leaned down, placing his palms flat on the bed so his face was level with hers. ‘We could’ve had so much fun, amante. Why did you have to spoil it?’ There was genuine regret in his tone, but bitterness had crept in with the iciness.
‘I have a genuine reason for being here.’
‘For your own sake, I hope so. I don’t take lightly to being manipulated.’
Her