Free Hard Days Night (The Firsts Book 8) by C.L. Quinn Page B

Good, see , we can make the right choices now.  You need food, good medical care, and a nice firm bed.  The hospital nearby is just the place, so if you will just give me back my phone…”
    “No.”  Ahmose cut her off.  Time was passing, he needed to begin the healing.  He started towards her again.
    Mal backed until she hit the wall behind her.  “You need to back off, buddy.”
    “Ahmose.”
    She frowned, her hands out in front of her in a ready to defend stance. “What?”
    “Ahmose.   It is my name.”
    “Good. Nice to meet you Ahmose.  Let me introduce myself, then. I’m Detective Get-the-fuck-out-of-my-way.”
    He couldn’t help it, Ahmose grinned.  “Pleased to meet you as well.  I am sorry, detective, but I am going to be decidedly in your way for at least another day.”
    With that statement, he could see the fight or f light instinct kick into high gear, but fortunately, that included the tendency to look the opponent in the eyes in confrontation, which was exactly what he needed.
    Using soft compulsion, he trapped her gaze.
    “You will accompany me to my chambers now with no questions.”
    Ahmose walked from the room, leaving Mal standing s till, her back against the wall, as she tried desperately not to follow him, but her legs began to carry her forward.
    Oh, fuck this could not be real.  It wasn’t possible unless he had drugged her.  Had he?   He’d had time, hadn’t he?  But even if he had given her drugs, she was cognitively aware of what she was doing.  Although she wanted to go out to the balcony and leave the house, she followed him like a lovesick puppy.  She was past being frightened now and fully pissed.
    Ahmose waited outside the room as she tried to fight the compulsion.  He knew she was strong -willed to have done it so far.  Moments later, though, she appeared in the doorway.
    “What the fuck have you done to me?” she demanded, her eyes accusatory.
    “I have made you compliant because I need your help.  Please, know that I will release you when this is over, and that I will not hurt you.  You will remember nothing of this after I release you.”  He paused, his eyes moving suggestively across her body.  “And that is a shame.”
    “How are you doing this?”  Mal commanded.
    Mal now knew that it wasn’t drugs or anything else that made sense to her. She knew her own mind and body and nothing in her experience would be capable of forcing her movements like this.  Paired with the fact that she knew that this man had been dead, and yet now he wasn’t, meant something was really fucked up here. Now, she was a little afraid.
    Ahmose put out a hand because he sensed her fear.  “Take my hand.”
    Once again she tried to resist, but couldn’t and watched her hand slide into his.   His fingers were warm and caressed her skin as he led her down the stairs.  “I want you to understand I had no intention of taking you until I realized I had been killed and would need you to help me recover.”
    What?  He admitted he had been dead?
    “Just let me go, please.  This will all be okay, I promise.”
    He led her into a room that had no windows, and for a beach house that was odd. It featured the biggest bed she had ever seen and a wall lined with mirrors and something…what were those things?  When she realized what they were, Mal began to pull away from him.  He held her hand tightly.
    “No.  Hell, no!” Mal yelled.
    Ahmose’s eyes went to the wall and he smiled.  “Oh, no, detective, those are not mine.  Don’t be worried.”
    Still pulling against him, Mal pointed at the generous display.  “Who needs that many vibrators?”
    “That is my point.  I never would.  When a woman is with me, nothing else is required.”
    “Arrogant.  I’m sure no woman ever left unsatisfied.”
    “That is very true.  I would please you in ways you never believed possible.”
    Mal laughed, a coarse scoff that came from deep in her throat.  “Sure.”
    But