Total Surrender

by Erika Wilde

  And make no mistake, that’s exactly where he intended to have her, eventually.

  Not giving a shit that both Theodore and Gavin watched, he reached out and brushed the backs of his fingers across Arabella’s smooth, silken cheek, immensely pleased to see a heated awareness flicker in her gaze, proof that persuading her into his bed wasn’t going to be all that difficult. She might hate him for what he held over her father, but she wasn’t immune to the attraction between them.

  “I’ll accept your offer, Bella,” he murmured, taking her chin between his thumb and forefinger, wanting this beautiful creature to look into his eyes and know exactly what he expected of her. Wanting to make sure there was no mistaking what she was about to trade. “Your father’s freedom for your total surrender. That is the deal.”

  Her lips parted on a soft gasp at his bold, brazen request, and behind her, Gavin went ballistic at Maddux’s offer. The other man tried to lunge at Maddux, but Mark, one of his security guys still standing at the door, was quicker and had Gavin’s arms secured behind his back in no time flat, holding him back while Maddux continued.

  “This is how it will go, Bella. I’m going to be gracious enough to allow your father to walk out of here tonight just as he arrived at the ball, still in debt and his assets signed over to me until I’ve decided you’ve fulfilled your part of the contract, but I will not ruin him tonight … as much as he deserves it.” Not yet, anyway.

  “No, but you will ruin her,” Gavin shouted belligerently.

  What was this, the eighteenth century? Gavin sounded like an ass and Maddux arched an insolent brow at the other man. “I’m not forcing her into this arrangement.”

  “Gavin, stop,” Arabella insisted. “I am doing this of my own free will to save my father.”

  “Do you realize what he’s demanding of you?” he asked, nearly frothing at the mouth with loathing, along with an unmistakable amount of heated jealousy.

  She swallowed hard and nodded. "Yes."

  Maddux allowed a sneer to curve the corner of his mouth as he met the daggers in Gavin’s gaze. “Don’t you think what I’m asking is a small price to pay for her father’s and your sins?” He didn’t enjoy exploiting Arabella, but for the sake of provoking Gavin, he made an exception. “Or maybe you’d like to tell Arabella exactly why you and Theodore are in this predicament to begin with?”

  Gavin struggled against the guard’s hold, all to no avail. “Bastard,” he spat at Maddux.

  “How long do you intend to keep my daughter?” Theodore asked, still sitting, his color looking slightly better than he had a few minutes ago, and his anger had returned.

  Maddux wasn’t sure if Theodore was more concerned about his daughter or the possibility of having his loan forgiven and his assets given back, which Maddux never intended to let happen. Not in this lifetime. “Three million dollars is a shit ton of money, Theodore,” he drawled insolently, knowing his next words would undoubtedly inflame the other man. “It could take years to work off that kind of debt.”

  Theodore stood up, though he wasn’t altogether steady on his feet. “You’re a goddamn beast.”

  “And you, Arabella, are going to be his whore,” Gavin said, lashing out to hurt her.

  Maddux saw the shocked, hurt look on Arabella’s face and he didn’t hesitate to close the distance between himself and Gavin and wrap one big hand around the other man’s throat. With his security guard still restraining Gavin, he squeezed tight until he nearly cut off Gavin’s air supply and the man’s eyes began to bulge. “If you ever talk to her like that again, I will bury you alive beneath five feet of concrete right down the street where the sidewalks are being torn up and renovated. Do you understand?” he asked succinctly.

  Gavin tried to move his head, and Maddux took that as a nod of agreement and released the other man, who immediately gasped for breath.

  “Get them both out of here,” Maddux ordered his security guys with a wave of his hand. “I want them off the premises immediately.”

  Mark dragged Gavin out of the office while he yelled out to Maddux, “You’ll pay for this!”, but before the other security guard could escort Theodore out, Arabella rushed to her father and pulled him into a hug.

  “Don't worry about me,” she assured him, her voice strong and steady. “I’ll be fine. You need to take care of yourself. I love you and I’ll be in touch so you’ll know I’m okay.”

  The first inklings of remorse crept across Theodore’s face, as if it was finally registering what his daughter was giving up for him. “You don’t have to do this,” he said gruffly.

  A sad smile touched her lips. “There’s no other alternative and we both know it,” she said softly. “I just wish you would have told me about the debt before it got this bad.”

  Maddux watched Theodore go, thinking about all the deceit and lies the man had kept from his daughter all these years. If she knew all of the truth, she’d undoubtedly see her father in a whole different and unflattering light. He wondered if she would have so graciously offered herself in her dad’s place if she’d known the blood Theodore had on his hands.

  As soon as the other men were gone and the door closed behind them so that he and Arabella were alone, she turned around to face him, beautifully, stunningly fearless, and a little defiant as she met his gaze.

  And all Maddux could think was that his brother and sister were going to fucking kill him when they discovered what he’d done. That he’d allowed Theodore to walk away unscathed in exchange for a tiny slip of a woman Maddux wanted for himself.

  His display of weakness rankled the hell out of him, and he embraced the spite he needed to keep his emotional distance from Arabella Cole when she was nothing more than a piece of collateral in this war between him and Theodore. Physically, however, all bets were off.

  Chapter 6

  Now that Arabella was alone with Maddux, her initial bravado slipped a few notches and a good dose of wariness trickled through her as her captor held her gaze. His arms were crossed over his broad chest, which was more prominent now that he was no longer wearing his tuxedo jacket from earlier, and he’d taken off his bow tie for his meeting with her father. The first few buttons on his dress shirt were undone, giving her a more detailed glimpse of the scarred flesh on his neck, and he’d rolled his sleeves up, revealing strong, muscled forearms.

  She exhaled a deep breath as the charged silence stretched between them, his expression hardening with animosity. Arabella didn’t question offering herself to this dark, commanding man in exchange for allowing her father to safely walk out of this room, because her dad’s health and well-being were what mattered the most to her right now. After everything she’d just heard and witnessed, and the accusations that had been verbalized, she had no doubt her father was far from a saint. But with his age and his heart condition, she knew he’d never survive the stress of everything Maddux had just threatened him with, and she’d offered up the only thing she could think of that might interest a man like Maddux. Herself. In any capacity he desired.

  However, Arabella was smart enough to realize that all the resentment and bitterness Maddux harbored toward her dad had not magically disappeared just because he’d accepted her proposal. He still held every single one of her father’s assets hostage, and there was no guarantee that he’d ever relinquish them. But this arrangement at least gave her time to try and figure out a way to get her father out of the mess he’d created for himself. If there was a possibility, she had to try.

  Which meant she now belonged to Maddux Wilder. Her life. Her body. Her entire world. She was his to do with as he pleased, and while Arabella was certain she was just a temporary diversion for a powerful man like him, a plaything, and possibly a pawn to use to hurt her father, there was no denying the heat and lust in his eyes when he looked at her. And as much as she wanted to despise him, her traitorous body was inexplicably drawn to Maddux and shamelessly wanted him in ways she’d never desired another man.

  “Having second t
houghts, Bella?” he asked, his tone mocking, as if he was trying to provoke her or see how far he could push her before she’d break.

  “No.” She tipped her chin up, showing her obstinate side. She might be small and petite, but she was not fragile, emotionally or physically. “I don’t renege on my promises.”

  He inclined his dark head arrogantly, causing a few long, unruly strands of his hair to fall across his forehead as his mouth twisted sardonically. “Good to know, considering what it’s going to take for you to work off your father’s debt.”

  There was a thread of anger in his voice, whether at her or at himself, she wasn’t quite sure, but she stood her ground and didn’t wither beneath his increasingly irritable glare.

  His jaw clenched and he strode to the door and opened it before glancing back at her. “Let’s escort you to your new living quarters, shall we.”

  It wasn’t so much a question as it was a demand. For her, the fairy-tale ball was over, and Arabella had a feeling she wasn’t going to be living happily ever after any time soon. She walked out of the office, and Maddux took her elbow and directed her toward an elevator on that same floor. He inserted what looked to be a security key card, and the double doors slid open, allowing them inside the surprisingly plush lift.

  She had no idea where Maddux was taking her and didn’t bother asking since it didn’t really matter and she had no say in the situation anyway. Her “living quarters” could be a dump or a dungeon with bars for all she knew. He pressed a button with a capital M etched on it, which was above a button with an H and another with a T.

  As the elevator gradually made its way upward and past each floor in the district warehouse, her stomach definitely twisted and turned with a bout of silent nerves, because no matter how she looked at things, her life was about to undergo some major alterations, and she had no say over any of the changes about to happen or the demands that Maddux made. She’d given herself to him of her own free will.

  The elevator finally came to a smooth stop at what appeared to be the top floor of the building, and when the double doors slid open, Arabella was shocked to see that they’d arrived at what looked to be a luxurious, palatial apartment, with black marble floors and an entryway that transitioned to a spacious open-concept living room, dining room, and state-of-the-art kitchen. Everything was black and chrome and leather, the décor sleek, minimal, and masculine.

  “What is this place?” she asked quietly.

  “My penthouse, where I live. Follow me,” he said, his tone brusque. “I’m not in the mood to give you a tour of the place. You can familiarize yourself with everything tomorrow while I’m out for the day.”

  Alrighty then. She followed him down a hallway off the living room, passing a few closed doors, until they reached a bedroom big enough to host a small party in. The black and chrome and leather theme continued, and there was no overlooking the huge, king-sized poster bed dominating a good portion of the room. The mattress was so high off the ground compared to her petite height, she’d almost need a small set of steps to help boost herself up, or a running start to jump on top.

  “This is where you will stay and sleep,” he informed her, his expression and attitude still terse. “There is a master ensuite for your use, as well.”

  She turned to face him. “Is this . . . umm . . . a guest room?”

  That beautiful mouth of his slanted with callous amusement. “No, sweet, naïve Bella. It’s my room. Trust me, the bed is plenty big enough for two. I didn’t exchange you for three million dollars for you to have a fun sleepover in the guest bedroom.”

  She exhaled a deep breath. Okay, fair enough, she thought, realizing that there was no reprieve for her. No easing into the situation or a courtship leading up to the sex part of their agreement. Romance of any kind was not a part of this package deal.

  “Make yourself comfortable,” he said, his voice as cool and indifferent as his demeanor. “I’ll be in my office on the other side of the apartment, and I don’t want to be bothered. We’ll go over rules and more general expectations of your duties in the morning.”

  He quickly spun around to leave, as if he couldn’t get away fast enough, but she wasn’t ready to let him go just yet. “Wait,” she blurted out before he cleared the bedroom door. “I have one question for you.”

  Body tense, he abruptly stopped and slowly faced her again. He said nothing, his expression frustratingly blank, but she took advantage of the fact that he’d actually acknowledged her request, even if only silently.

  “What, exactly, did my father do to deserve this treatment and your hatred?” she asked.

  He was quiet for long moments, as if debating whether or not to spill the truth. “You’ll have to ask him that question,” he said, clearly wanting her dad to give her the cold, hard facts. “Just know this . . . Theodore Cole is not the man he’s portrayed himself to be to you. You have no idea who your father really is or what he’s capable of.”

  She was beginning to believe that was true, but instead of acknowledging Maddux’s statement, she boldly tossed it right back in his face. “That’s what Gavin said about you. That you’re a dangerous, malicious man.”

  “Did he now?” He arched a dark brow as he leisurely started walking back toward her, though his disposition was anything but casual. “He’s right, Bella. I’m vindictive, merciless. And fucking ruthless.”

  The words were a low, mean snarl and she swallowed hard and held her ground as he neared, crowding into her personal space. Her breathing kicked up a notch, causing the upper swells of her breasts, pushed up by the corset stays in her dress, to quiver ever so slightly—her only outward sign of unease. She resisted the urge to step back, and considering he was essentially towering over her, she had to tip her head back to look up at his face, which was stunningly gorgeous, despite the animosity etching his features.

  “Considering everything I am, are you afraid of me?” he asked, his tone harsh and provoking.

  She’d already told him she wasn’t scared in his office, and that still held true despite his boorish behavior now. “No.”

  A spiteful smile curled the corners of his mouth. “Maybe you should be.”

  The light amber hue of his eyes had grown dark and turbulent, and still that didn’t change the fact that, while she might be a tad bit nervous about the unknown quantities of her confinement and everything it entailed, she wasn’t frightened, nor did she feel unsafe with him. Maybe that was too naïve and trusting of her, but this big, assertive, dominating man standing in front of her had already proven to be a contradiction and she wanted to trust the good she’d seen in him.

  Twice he’d already defended her honor . . . the first time when they’d been dancing down at the ball and Gavin had roughly grabbed her arm, and again when Gavin had called her a whore and Maddux had nearly ripped his throat out for his disparaging comment. Arabella had to believe a man who didn’t hesitate to protect a woman, especially one connected to his greatest enemy, wasn’t looking to deliberately hurt her physically. After everything that had transpired downstairs in his office, he had his own walls up, and his anger was out in full force. He was lashing out, and she was currently taking the brunt of his resentment. He hated her for her father’s sins, but on a gut-deep level, she knew Maddux wasn’t a man to abuse any woman—despite his threat that she should fear him.

  “What are you going to do to me?” she asked in a soft voice, more curious than worried.

  His gaze fell to her lips, then traveled down to her chest, a flicker of hunger igniting in his eyes when they met hers again. “Anything. Everything. I told you I expect your total surrender, and I meant it.”

  “Will you take me by force?” Yes, she’d just assured herself that he wasn’t a cruel man, but she wanted and needed to hear the truth from his own mouth.

  His jaw clenched at her question, and his brows slashed angrily, as if she’d thoroughly insulted him. “I’ve never forced a woman to do anything she didn't want to, and I’m not a
bout to start with you. Anything that happens between us will be consensual and because it’s what you want and desire. But make no mistake, Bella, I will have you in my bed, and not just to sleep. I will have your sweet mouth wrapped around my cock and your body milking mine when I’m buried deep inside your pussy.”

  Her lips parted and her entire face flushed red hot with shock. The dirty, filthy words should have offended her—it was what he probably intended—but instead they aroused her. Her tightening nipples scratched against the fabric of her gown, and the slick moisture she felt between her legs was in direct response to his explicit and vivid statement.

  His gaze narrowed slightly. “Have you ever been kissed?” he asked abruptly, obviously mistaking her blush and speechless response for total innocence.

  “Of course I have,” she replied indignantly.

  He smirked at her snappy retort. “Have you ever been fucked?”

  She should have expected that blunt, crude question, but he once again managed to steal her ability to form a quick comeback. That, and her face was once again turning bright pink with the fact that she had to admit, at age twenty-five, she still owned her V-card.

  “Answer me,” he demanded impatiently.

  “No,” she said with a shake of her head as her fingers anxiously twisted in the fabric that made up the skirt of her gown. “I’ve never been with a man that way.”

  His nostrils flared ever so slightly with that realization, and there was no mistaking the possessive spark of heat that flared in his gaze, making her entire body hyperaware of the fact that he owned her and her virginity.

  “Are you saving yourself for marriage?” he asked.

  “No.” Remaining celibate for this long had never been a conscious choice, it was just the way things had worked out. “I just never got that far with any of the guys I’ve dated.” In fact, most of her relationships had been incredibly short-lived and she’d always wondered why, since those men always abruptly ended things without a reason or explanation.