Free Snare (Delirious book 1) by Clarissa Wild

scoff.
    “You could’ve gotten that from anywhere. I’ve heard about enough now,” he hisses.
    “I’m not leaving.”
    He doesn’t respond, so I follow him into the building next door to the gym—the exact address that I found on the internet when I searched for him. I knew it; he does live here. Why else would he go in here?
    “Mister Brand, are you honestly going to deny the fact that we have been talking for ages now?” I try to ignore the guard at the desk, staring at us from under his glasses.
    “Yes. Yes, I am.” He smiles at me while pressing the button on the elevator.
    I make a petty face. “You can’t fool me. I know you know me, and I know you remember all those nights at the hospital. Don’t tell me it wasn’t real. I’m not sure what kind of game you’re playing here, Mister Brand, but I’m not falling for it.”
    “Oh, I’m not playing games, Miss. If I was, you’d know.” There’s amusement on the surface of his voice.
    “Oh, do tell.”
    We step into the elevator, and he presses a button. I look around and notice that even the elevator looks expensive. Wood lines the walls, the bars are colored gold, and on the floor is a velvety red rug. Everything about this entire building is expensive, and from the looks of it, Sebastian is anything but poor.
    “I actually happen to enjoy plenty of games, but this is not a game to me,” he proceeds. “This is serious. I’m honestly wondering why you are following me. You do realize I could have you arrested for harassment, right?”
    “I’m sure you could.”
    He chuckles. “I like that you’re not at all terrified. I admire that in a woman.”
    “I’m not intimidated by men in suits, and you, sir, don’t scare me at all.”
    “How unfortunate …”
    I gulp and look at the numbers on the panel in the wall. There are still a lot of floors to go. This building is huge, and he lives on the top level. This could take a long time. A very long time alone with him. Oh, shit.
    As the elevator doors close and I’m left alone with Sebastian, or whoever in the hell he thinks he is, my heart beat speeds up. I shift in place to try to hide my discomfort. I must push through. I will not leave him, no matter what he says.
    “Listen, I don’t know what game you’re playing, but you know just as well as I do that—”
    Suddenly, Sebastian grabs my arms and shoves me against the wooden wall, trapping me between his arms. The money that was in my hand drops to the floor.
    “What? That I know you or you know me?” He leans forward. “That I did something with you?”
    I swallow, staring him dead in the face, not giving in to his taunt. “We had sex.”
    Squinting, he steps closer, tightening his grip on my arms. “And?”
    “And it was wonderful.”
    He smiles cheekily. “Of course it was.”
    I breathe a sigh of relief.
    “I rock every woman’s fantasy. Too bad it’s only a fantasy.”
    “What?” I say. “It wasn’t just a fantasy.”
    “Oh, Miss, whatever your name is …”
    “Carrigan,” I sneer.
    “Miss Carrigan …” The way he says my name sends shivers down my body. “Whatever you have in your mind, you’re mistaken. I would not take a woman and not remember her.”
    “ Don’t call me a liar.”
    “I’m not. I simply think you’re confused. That’s okay. I know how to deal with confused women.”
    I snort. “I bet you cause most of that confusion.”
    He smiles. “Touché. You’re right, I do.” He cocks his head. “And you know what else?” He leans forward, pushing himself up against me. My nipples perk up from arousal, smoothing along his casual attire. Even though he denies every single thing I say, he still turns me on.
    “What?” I ask, my lips still parted, inclining toward him.
    He moves his head to my ears, making me gasp for breath.
    “I mess with their heads.”
    I take a sharp breath. Jesus Christ.
    He places a hand on the wall beside me, squeezing my arm even harder with his other hand. “What