Free Branded (Strand Brothers Series Book 1) by Lora Ann

in a high-rise with a doorman for security, but I was happy in my brownstone in the Upper West Side. No, it was not Fifth Avenue, but it’d been my home for five years. Now, more than ever, I knew I’d made the right decision to leave Manhattan and move across country. California was definitely on my radar. With the San Francisco deal pushed aside, maybe it was time to check into San Diego, Lake Tahoe, or Napa Valley. Guess I would see where fate led me.
    I approached my apartment and quickly realized I couldn’t enter. Instead, I used my key to Renée’s place. That’s funny, the lights are on but she’s nowhere to be seen. “Ren!” I hollered, “You here?” There was no answer, which was very odd. She didn’t believe in wasting electricity. I decided to go check her bedroom. All of a sudden, there was a heavy knock at the front door as a deep male voice roared, “Aimee! Open the damn door.”
    Crap! How did Nik figure out where I was? “No!” I bellowed.
    “Either you open up or I’ll break the fucking thing down. You have till the count of three.” Was he serious? Then I heard him counting, “1…2…” Well, that answered my question.
    Before he finished, I yanked the door open. “What the hell are you doing here?”
    He stood there with a menacing look on his face, add to that his thick arms crossed over his massive chest, and I was terrified. I took a step backwards. I’m not stupid; I knew when to back away from a furious man. And this one, in particular, was beyond that. I actually rubbed my hands over my arms due to the icy waves his body produced. Oh, he’s pissed off. “Why’d you run from me, Aimee?”
    “I…uh…well, I…” I stammered—unable to complete a thought, let alone a sentence. Geez, what have I gotten myself into with this man? He arched a brow at me, as if to say, “I’m listening.” Finally, I found my voice. “I wanted to stay here. I was uncomfortable at the penthouse.”
    With a firm “Bullshit,” he called my bluff.
    Ah, hell. How could I tell him the truth? As if I would ever confess to being hurt by his rejection.So I suggested, “You don’t have to take my word for it. I think my actions speak very clearly,” I huffed and spun around to walk away from him.
    He wasn’t going to put up with that. Therefore, he firmly grabbed my arm, turned me around and commanded, “Never turn your back on me.” His gaze was intent, and his grip insistent. I wasn’t in pain, exactly, but I wasn’t comfortable either. When I tried to pull away, he wouldn’t let me. “Are we clear on this, Aimee?” I stared him down. Who did the man think he was? I did not take orders from anyone, especially him . “Answer me,” he demanded.
    As I stood my ground, I titled my chin up in defiance. “Fuck. You.”
    He hauled me against his hard body. “Watch it,” he warned. “You’re on thin ice with me right now. Don’t make me take you over my knee,” he threatened.
    What the?! And why did that sound so hot? I’d never been into pain for the sake of pleasure. When I say pain, I mean the hard core kind like Renée was into. Not my thing, at all. I scoffed, “As if.”
    Next thing I knew, I was lying across his lap, and he was actually spanking my butt. It was not pleasurable. It hurt! “Ow,” I complained. He only struck harder. “Okay, enough. Dammit.” When he released me, I was fighting back tears. Immediately, I stood and backed away from him. My eyes blazed into his as I scolded, “That was uncalled for.” He had some nerve. The man wouldn’t have sex with me, yet he’d spank me. Appalling. Why I oughta find something big and heavy to clock him with. Asshole!
    While he approached me, he declared, “I warned you. Next time, you better remember I don’t make idle threats.”
    “You are a Neanderthal.”
    “Maybe. But you will respect me.”
    “Oh, like you revere me? Let’s be clear here, Nik . Touch me like that again and I’ll find a way to retaliate. Are