Free Surrender Your Heart by Raven J. Spencer

sugar-coating, aware that this standoff could
escalate at any moment, and maybe that’s what I’m going for. Maybe I have to
find a way for things to right themselves, make her the guilty, and me the
innocent party. Most of all, I can’t believe how much I’d anticipated sleeping
next to her.
    The corners of
her mouth twitch into a wry smile.
    “In my world,
that’s a kind of compliment, so be careful,” Carter says. “Anytime.”
    She walks out
and locks the door behind her, and in a sudden fit of drama, I bang my fists
against the wooden door until my knuckles hurt. “You can’t leave me like this,
damn it!”
    My tears are
mostly from anger, at her, at myself, for being this naïve—where did I get the
idea she’d be the type to cuddle?
    I’m still
standing at the door when I hear the raised voices, but they are too far away
for me to make out words. I’ll learn about it in the morning—or not. I guess
I’ve been put in my place regarding what I’m here for, and who has all the
power.
    I walk back to
the bed and slide under the covers that still smell like us, like her, curling
up in a space that feels much bigger than before. I am in a world of trouble.
     

Chapter Six
     
    Carter
     
    I’ve been called
a bitch so often that at some point, I decided to own it, live up to the image.
Mind you, the term came from men mostly, and it became liberating not to have
to put up a front anymore. I like having the reputation of a ruthless
businesswoman. I like being that person if it makes a few of the good old—and
new—boys shake in their boots.
    It’s a bit of a
downer hearing the same word from my beautiful captive, Penelope, but I’ll get
over it. Given the context, I can hardly blame her. At the moment, there are
more pressing matters to deal with, all of it before I can even wash my hands.
    This happened
sooner than I expected, and it was everything I imagined, but I can’t deal with
remembering how hot she was, coming under my fingertips and then, my mouth. I
have little regrets about breaking the law, if it’s for the greater good of
Penelope, and me.
    “What the hell!
I gave you clear instructions!”
    I feel a bit
sorry for yelling at Marlene, because I know firsthand how hard it is to resist
those doe eyes, and I’m sure Penelope pulled every trick she knows—that doesn’t
make the outcome any better.
    “Everything went
fine,” Marlene defends giving a razor to a woman
who’s my more or less unwilling guest. The one I chose, the one who’s
still struggling with that realization…I am sick at imagining the
possibilities.
    “Yeah, it did,
this time. You’re lucky. Don’t you ever do that again if you want to keep
working for me.”
    How did that
happen? Marlene is one of my most trusted employees, has been with me for almost
two decades. Unfortunately, she doesn’t take any shit from me either.
    “Ms. Elliot
might not have fully adjusted yet, but she doesn’t want to kill herself. She
wanted to get ready for a romantic evening.”
    “That’s none of
your business!” The words are out of my mouth before their revealing nature
registers with me. Yes, Marlene knows a bit about what’s going on here, but
there’s such a thing as too much information when it comes to employees. None
of this concerned her in the first place. “Next time she asks you for anything
dangerous, you say no. Don’t get swayed, if you’d like to keep your job.
Believe me, I know what I’m doing. Do you understand?”
    Marlene, aware
that she overstepped a critical boundary, nods. “I understand, Ms. Forbes. Just
one suggestion, if I may…”
    I wait,
impatient. I wasn’t lying when I said I still had work to do. There’s a company
I’m buying, and while I would have liked to postpone the final deal until after
our designated vacation time, it’s not possible. I hear there’s been negotiating
with another buyer behind my back which is clear breach of contract. I’m good
at being bad, in the right