My Love Forgive by Anna Antonia

me off the bed.
    “What are you doing?”
    “Taking you to the bathroom.”
    “I can go on my own!”
    “You lost that privilege when you used your hands against me instead of your words.”
    “Do you mean I can’t go without you taking me?”
    “I so enjoy your quick mind. It saves us both lots of time.”
    “There has to be something else you can do instead.”
    “Negotiation isn’t an option with me. I hope you understand that as quickly as you did this.” Damian opened the door to the large en suite bathroom. He deposited me by the toilet. True to his word, the chain reached with plenty of length to get into the whirlpool tub as well.
    My heartbeat picked up speed but I tried to maintain control over my outward emotions. “Okay, you can go now. Thanks for the lift.”
    “No, my sweet Risa.”
    Horror dominated my disbelief when Damian’s angelic smile darkened with sadistic delight.
    “I’m sorry…I…I don’t understand.”
    “You understand me perfectly well.”

23
     
DAMIAN
     
    Three Weeks Earlier: Risa and Damian’s Office Building
    She was avoiding me. Again.
    I checked my temper as Risa’s black skirt flew up from her mad dash into the bathroom. It was almost comical the way she’d taken one look at me before lunging for the door.
    You’re really going to hurt my feelings if you’re any more obvious.
    After seeing Gretchen to her car the night before, I’d driven the route between my apartment and Risa’s eight times. No Risa. I’d called her twice. No answer. I’d cursed her 267 times. No relief.
    Now seeing her in perfect health, spry enough to dodge me by hiding in the bathroom, and thinking me stupid enough to keep walking by just to save face created a dangerous break within my vaulted self-control.
    Fuck that. It’s time for Risa to see a bit of who I can really be.
    I walked up to the door, checked the hallway, and slipped inside. If there was anyone besides Risa, I’d throw on a flustered expression, babble my apologies, and retreat.
    If not…
    Risa, this kind of behavior is completely unacceptable. Today will be the day you learn this directly from my hand.
    I looked around the corner and smiled. Small, with only three unoccupied stalls, it was easy to see it devoid of annoying, breathing obstacles. The empty bathroom immediately transformed into a treasure box filled with delicious possibilities.
    Too bad it’s too early in our relationship to really do anything about it.
    I locked the door and sauntered over to the small woman hovering by the far wall.
    “Stop frowning, Risa.”
    She whipped around, breathing my name in shock. “What are you doing here?”
    The tiny quiver in her voice made me hard. Usually, I tried to be a good boy but something about Risa brought out the bad man in me. I hoped to push her limits a bit more.
    “The same goes for you.”
    She craned her head to look around my arm. “Damian! You can’t be in here! What if someone comes in?”
    “I locked the door already.”
    “You cannot be here. You have to leave now.” Risa commanded it, fully expecting me to obey her. Poor girl. She still didn’t understand what kind of man she took on when she agreed to see me.
    “Why are you avoiding me?”
    “I’m not.” Her flush betrayed her.
    “Liar.” I encroached into her personal space. Risa backed up against the taupe wall. The top of her head came even with the bottom of the framed flower print. “I looked for you last night. I was very worried that something may have happened to you.”
    “Well, as you can see I’m okay.” Her breathy explanation ended with a dazzling, insincere grin.
    “You didn’t answer your phone last night.”
    She looked away. “I know. I just didn’t feel like talking.”
    “Why didn’t you want to talk to me?”
    “I’m sure you can figure that out, Damian.” Risa’s resentful gaze slammed into me before darting away.
    Defiance. Interesting.
    “I didn’t want you to go last night, Risa.”
    “You were