Free Bound and Determined by Sierra Cartwright Page B

water.
    There was a knock on the door, followed by a cheery, “Room service!”
    “That’ll be your coffee.”
    “And a pastry?”
    “I value my life.”
    She took the towel from him. “I’ll just finish up in here.”
    He paid the woman and gave her a generous tip. Not only were the coffees in go-cups, but an assortment of pastries had been placed in a paper bag.
    “Your taxi should be here momentarily, sir.”
    Sinead came out of the bathroom, and as the other woman closed the door behind her, Sinead dropped the robe and reached for the knickers he’d laid out.
    It was as if, momentarily, they had a normal relationship, not one of snarling and gnashing of teeth.
    She shimmied into her thong, and the only thing he was thinking was how to get her back out of it.
    She fastened her bra in place then pulled on her jeans and another T-shirt while he shamelessly watched. This one had a graphic of a hair dryer and a saucy message to accompany it: This blows.
    He might have thought she’d bought it intentionally.
    “Is that coffee for me, or are you holding it hostage?”
    “Cream,” he said. “And sugar.” He splashed a huge dollop of cream in the cup and stirred in several packets of sugar.
    “If that one’s mine, it needs to be sweeter.”
    “Jaysus, woman. Your teeth’ll rot.”
    “Good. Maybe it’ll keep you from trying to kiss me.”
    “No chance. You’ll have your mouth full of my dick every chance I get.” He carried her coffee to her.   “You can join me in the bathroom while I brush my teeth.”
    “You’ve lost your senses.”
    “I’m taking no chances with you, Sinead. I don’t trust you for a moment.”
    “If I promise not to dash out the door?”
    “Into the bathroom with you.”
    She scowled, but she accepted the coffee. She didn’t say thanks—she just wordlessly preceded him into the small room. “I’ll tell you right now, if you decide you want to use the bidet, I’m so out of here, even if I have to jump out the window.”
    “Oh, my cock needs a good wash, but it’ll be your mouth doing it.”
    She choked on her coffee. He gave her a good pat on the back that nearly lifted her off her feet. While she fought for breath, he brushed his teeth.
    “I’ll not make you stay in here while I use the facilities. But this much is clear, Sinead. If you’re not sitting on the bed when I come out, I will tie you to the bloody seat on the aircraft.” He levelled a gaze at her. “Clear?”
    “You’re a bastard enough to do it.”
    “Believe it.”
    When he returned to her, she was sitting on the edge of the bed eating a pastry. He wasn’t sure whether or not he liked her behaving. “Did you save me one?”
    She grinned and popped the last bite into her mouth. “No.”
    “You ate them all?”
    She licked her fingers. “They were delicious. I hope you’re not too hungry.”
    His stomach gave an on-cue groan of protest.
    “And if you don’t hurry, I’ll have your coffee, as well.”
    The phone rang. “That’ll be the taxi.”
    She stood and shoved her feet into a pair of sandals.
    “Over my shoulder?” he asked. “Or will you walk like a good girl?”
    “Good girl? Good girl ?” Her mouth opened like a fish out of water.
    He’d caught her off guard, maybe even pissed her off a bit. He extended the handle on her bag and started towards the door, grabbing his coffee from the table on the way.
    He opened the door for her. “You need to know, Sinead, it’s always your choice. I’ll treat you with the respect and trust you earn. But I do rather enjoy you being over my shoulder with my hand on your arse. You might spill your coffee, though.”
    She tossed her hair like royalty and breezed past him to punch the elevator call button. She moved all the way to the back of the car, as far away from him as possible. In a move that was sexy as hell but something she hadn’t done intentionally, she propped her gorgeously shaped buttocks against the brass rail.
    The illusion that