Free Mistress to the Beast by Eve Vaughn Page A

took Hunter aback. The dogs must have sensed the tension in the room because they began to whimper. Her words were like daggers cutting into him. He hadn’t sought her out to have an argument. But he wasn’t going to let her to see how her obvious hatred affected him.
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    Mistress to the Beast
    Narrowing his eyes, he gave her a long hard stare. “Seeing as how you think I’m trying to control you, I may as well live up to my reputation. I don’t want to see you in that outfit for the remainder of your stay. Dinner will be served in an hour. Wear something appropriate and don’t keep me waiting like you did last night.”
    Lila folded her arms beneath her breasts. “Or what?”
    “Or I’ll paddle your ass raw.”
    Her mouth opened, eyes widening. “You wouldn’t dare.”
    “I don’t issue idle threats, Lila. Six o’ clock…and choose something sexy.”
    “I hate you”
    “Hate me all you like, but for the next several weeks you’ll follow my rules or would you rather call the whole deal off?”
    For a moment, she looked like she wanted to do just that. With her fists balled at her sides, Hunter believed if he were standing closer to her, she’d probably belt him one.
    “It’s easy for you to challenge me when you know I have no recourse. Fine. You win, but so we’re absolutely clear with each other, you make me sick to my stomach.
    Whenever you touch me, my skin crawls.”
    Hunter laughed out loud to show her barb hadn’t been like an arrow to the chest—
    even though it was. “How easily you forget the way you screamed my name last night and clung to me like you couldn’t get enough of what I was giving to you. I believe I need to jog your memory.” He advanced further into the room, stalking toward her like a panther with an eye on his prey.
    Though she took a step back, Lila wasn’t quick enough to evade his grasp. “Let me go!” She struggled against his hold.
    Hunter slammed her against him, crushing her breasts between their bodies. He moved to capture her lips, but she turned her head. “Don’t!”
    He grasped her ponytail and gave it a healthy tug, exposing the silken column of her neck. “You’re in no position to dictate my actions.” He circled her beating pulse with the tip of his tongue. At the small contact, her stiff body relented and she began to tremble.

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    Eve Vaughn
    The hands that had been pressed against his chest, poised to push him away, fisted in the folds of his shirt. Releasing her hair, Hunter allowed his hands to slide down her back to cup her ass and gave it a squeeze.
    Lila moaned, her eyes widened, but the expression he read within them wasn’t one of outrage, but arousal.
    His cock grew to painful stiffness. More than anything he wanted to toss her to the floor and bury himself deep inside her tight sheath, but knowing Lila wanted it too was enough to get him through dinner. He released her with an abruptness that had her stumbling backwards.
    Righting herself, Lila glared at him, her eyes narrowing. “I hate you so much.”
    “You keep saying that, sweetheart, but your body doesn’t.” He chuckled to drive his point home. Hunter didn’t really want to taunt her. Hold, kiss, caress and worship her body was what he wanted to do. Not this bickering. Hell, this was only her second day here and they were already at each other’s throats. He didn’t want things to be this way between them, but what else could he have expected?
    A little more amiability? Perhaps he’d envisioned—no. Hunter knew how it would be between the two of them when they made their bargain. There was no point in dwelling on the should’ve, could’ve, would’ves. But, why did he feel so empty inside?
    Lila’s glare became venomous. “Maybe my body does want you, but it’s only that, my body. My mind, heart and soul don’t.”
    “Fortunately for me, then, your body is all I require. I’ll see you at dinner.” Turning