Chained by Love Vol. 1: Angel (Vegas Billionaires #1)

by Alexia Praks

  A loud, irritated voice came our way. “Where the hell have you been, Joseph? You’ve already fucked up my day.”

  God, William sounded so pissed. Yet why did I have the feeling that his tone wasn’t meant to offend Joseph in any way? That this was probably their usual manner to one another?

  And why on earth did I have the sudden feeling that William didn’t know I was coming to see him?

  As I turned the corner of the hallway, went through another door, and entered what I assumed was the living area, my eyes immediately came to rest on William.

  My steps faltered at the sight of him. I halted in my tracks and simply stared at the man half slouching on that leather couch.

  He was in the exact same posture I had seen him back in my apartment, stretched out as if he were lifeless. The only difference was this time he had the back of his hand resting on his forehead, as if he was shading his eyes against the glare of the sunlight or something.

  I licked my lips as I turned to look at Joseph, my eyes questioning the elderly butler as to what I should do next.

  Joseph chuckled and signaled his head in William’s direction. Was he telling me to get closer to William and announce my presence?

  “What the hell is so amusing, Joseph? And hurry up and prepare my lunch. I’m starving. And if you must know, I’m in a shit load of pain.”

  Joseph cleared his throat, still nodding at me to get closer to William.

  Having witnessed how pissed William was, even though it had nothing to do with me, I refused to move an inch from my spot there in the middle of the room.

  Joseph said, “That’s your own fault, sir, for refusing to take your prescribed painkillers. You’re so stubborn, as per usual.”

  “Shut up, Joseph,” William snapped in irritation. “Your bitching is giving me a headache.”

  Joseph chuckled with amusement, and instead of backing out, he continued, “If you must know, sir, you have a guest. I’ve brought her along to help clean your wound, since you stubbornly refused to go to the hospital. Or let me change the dressing for you.”

  William snorted in exasperation. “Fuck! Joseph. I’m not going to die just because I’m not cleaning some small, insignificant wounds.”

  “You haven’t been cleaning the wounds on your back as suggested by the nurse, and personally, I’m concerned you might get an infection.”

  William muttered darkly, “I can do them myself when I shower.”

  Joseph chuckled. “Of course, you can, sir. But you wouldn’t be able to clean it properly, and that’s why, as I stated before, I’ve brought Savanah here to help.”

  Was it just me or did Joseph really have a triumphant sort of look on his face when he finished with his proclamation?

  The moment Joseph was done speaking, William flung himself upright and his gaze immediately flew to me.

  He stared at me long and hard, as if he couldn’t believe I was actually there, standing before him in his penthouse.

  “Fuck!” He swore loudly, which made me more than a little nervous.

  I licked my lower lip and tugged my long hair behind my ear. I said timidly, “Hello, William.”

  Chapter 11

  Savanah

  Sitting there staring at William’s naked torso was more than a little uncomfortable for me. I kept wanting to touch and caress his skin, despite the obvious dark bruises and scratches that ran across his back, which I knew without a doubt must really hurt.

  Was this the reason he didn’t want me to clean his wound the other night? Because it was this bad, and he didn’t want me—a mere teenage girl and a stranger at that—to get involved and feel sorry for him?

  I didn’t know, but I was a little upset that he hadn’t relied on me a little when I obviously wanted to help.

  “I didn’t know it was this bad,” I said absentmindedly as I applied the antibiotic ointment on the raw cuts and bruises that ran across his back.

  “They’ll heal,” he said roughly. “It’s not the end of the world. I won’t die.”

  Gosh, even now he was still reluctant to accept my assistance. Thinking back, it had taken me nearly half an hour just to convince him that it was important I take a good look at his wounds. I had also threatened him that I wasn’t going to leave unless he either let me change his bandage and treat his injuries as Joseph had suggested, or agreed to visit the hospital. Eventually, the stubborn man finally relented and allowed me to have my way, and Joseph applauded, pleased with the outcome.

  Now, with my fingers light and gentle, I rubbed the ointment onto his skin, taking my time, making sure every scratch and bruise was taken care off.

  I was concentrating so hard on what I was doing that when William growled and snapped, “Are you done yet?” I jumped in surprise.

  I pulled back and frowned, wondering why he was so pissed. Well, I knew he was more than a little upset, about what I had no clue, but for him to actually snap at me like that? Like he didn’t want me to touch him, like I was a disgusting leech that was sucking at his blood or something, that was quite hurtful.

  I sighed and said, “It’s done. I’ll bandage you up now.”

  His reply was another rough grunt, which was followed by, “I can do it myself.”

  I rolled my eyes. Honestly, this man did not know when to back down on his independence and just accept some help, did he?

  I cleared my throat and said, “I doubt you can do it properly, especially where your back is concerned. William, just give it up already. For God’s sake, I’m not going to bite you.”

  I received a dark glare for that last statement. Of course, I didn’t back down at the obvious challenge that exuded from his intense eyes, either. I raised my head high and stared right back.

  God, I had never done this with anyone before, standing up for what I thought was right and accepting challenges. But with William, it was different. With him, the thought and act of defying him and standing up to him excited me.

  A moment later, instead of turning away, he said darkly, “I doubt a little rabbit like you can bite.” He snorted, and once again, I could sense that dark, seductive aura from him that both terrified and thrilled me at the same time.

  His eyes turned hot and intense as he continued saying, “Now, a wolf on the other hand, can certainly bite, and I am that wolf, Savanah.” He leaned toward me so that his face was close to me, our noses and lips were nearly touching, and his warm breath was fanning sensually on my skin.

  I held my breath, and my heart raced as I stayed there in that position, paralyzed. I was mesmerized by his sexy, suggestive stance.

  He said softly, “I advise you to stay far away from me, Savanah, before I have the chance to bite you. Believe me, when I find a little rabbit I like, I’ll go through hell to get that little rabbit, and when I get her, she’s mine. I’ll bite her and never, ever let her go. Understand?”

  His dark words shook me to my core. All I could do was sit there, staring at him, my body quivering in awe, excitement, and trepidation.

  I licked my lips. My voice shook a little as I said, “I’ll keep that in mind.” Although, honest to God, the thought of William biting, licking, and kissing me excited me instead of frightened me. For sure, it’d be heavenly.

  I blushed at my naughty thoughts, and my tummy fluttered deliciously.

  William must have not liked the way I wore my expression because he swore loudly. “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!”

  He flew off the seat, stalked across the room, and then up the stairs to the floor above, which I assumed was where the bedrooms were.

  I was a little confused as to what was happening.

  “William?” I called out, rushing after him with the bandage in hand. “I haven’t finished yet.”

  I hurried up the stairs after him, and when I landed on the second floor, I followed him into a bedroom, which I assumed was his.

  I found him pacing back and forth, swearing fluently and loudly like a sailor. There were a lot of the F-word as well as the S-wo
rd and a whole lot others I didn’t want to hear.

  “William?” I said loudly, interrupting his tantrum. “The bandage?” I even showed him the material by raising my hands up in the air so that he could see.

  “Fuck!” he swore again, before coming my way and taking the bandage from me. “Now leave. I’ll do it myself.”

  I wasn’t about to let him have his way and snagged the bandage back from his hands, which surprised him into speechlessness.

  I said, “I will finish my job, William. Now please, be a good man and sit down so I can bandage you up.”

  He looked flabbergasted at my highhandedness. I supposed no one had ever defied his order and stood up to him before, huh? Even worst, I supposed no one had ever talked to him as though they were talking to a child either like I had just done. Oops!

  I knew I was overstepping my bounds and immediately worked to rectify my mistake.

  I licked my lips and said, “Please? The sooner we get this done, the better. I promise I won’t bother you after we’re done with this. I’m very worried about you, William. And I swear, if you won’t let me finish, I’ll keep coming back and checking up on you, and I know you don’t want that. I know you don’t like that.”

  Shit! What did I just do? I was supposed to say nice things to him so that he’d relent, but instead, I threatened him, yet again. What the hell was wrong with me? And God knows I had never threatened anyone before in my life. William, it seemed, was my very first victim.

  He stared at me long and hard, and then finally, he sighed. “Fine,” he said, giving in.

  I watched him as he turned on his heels, headed toward the large, king-sized bed, and sat down. I secretly smiled at the fact that I had managed to influence him with my words, which was a rare thing for me because I certainly had no power whatsoever over anyone.

  I followed him and took a seat on the edge of the luxurious bed beside him. Of course, sitting so close to him didn’t help with my racing heart, but I was determined to get my job done.

  I leaned forward and started wrapping the bandage around his torso. As I was doing so, I couldn’t help but feel his intense gaze on me, watching my every move. Now and again, I’d raise my face and our eyes would lock. When this happened, I’d feel my breath was snatched away from me and my heart would skip a beat.

  A few moments later, I said, “There. All done.”

  William muttered a “thank you” under his breath before he flew from me into the adjacent bathroom, like the devil was after him.

  As I watched the door close, I wondered in dread why he was so irritable around me. His actions truly confused me. One second he was pissed off and infuriated with me and my presence, and the next, he was super nice and kind, and then the next all sexy, suggestive and intense.

  With my mind still on the hot billionaire, I headed back downstairs and went about searching for Joseph. I couldn’t find him anywhere and wondered if he had gone out to run an errand. I hung around for a bit, along the corridor, not knowing what to do. Obviously, I didn’t want to go and bother William again, because he might just bite my head off for real this time around, as he hinted that he would.

  Apparently, he didn’t perceive me as a normal girl as everyone else did. To him, I was a little rabbit. I mean who’d regard a girl as a little rabbit, anyway? Because a rabbit was a pet. And I was certainly not his pet!

  I was just loitering around in the hallway near the entrance door when William’s voice came my way. “Savanah, what are you doing?”

  I hastily turned to face him and said defensively, “I’m looking for Joseph.”

  God, I didn’t want him to think I was actually sneaking about his house and stealing his stuff. Despite being extremely poor, I wasn’t the type to stoop that low to survive. I’d rather work my ass off in a low paying job than to do the dirty work of stealing.

  “What for? Why do you need to find Joseph?” he asked, as if my answer was a made-up excuse to hide the real objective. Gosh, he sounded like a detective aggressively interrogating a suspect, which happened to be me.

  I licked my lips and tugged my long hair behind my ear as I watched him. I noted that he now had on a white work shirt, which made him look so damned sleek and sexy and just out of my reach. Very aware of the vast difference in our status, I cast my eyes downward and scanned my own drab clothing. Just a plain hoody and old jeans. How depressing.

  I sighed and then said, “To say goodbye, because I’m leaving.”

  Then I quietly added in my head, ‘Which is a polite thing to do when you’re leaving somebody’s house. And you obviously didn’t when you left my house the other morning after I had helped you.’

  I scanned the foyer, wondering yet again where Joseph was, when suddenly, William approached me.

  The man came to stand right in front of me and stared deeply into my eyes. Instantly, I felt the change in the atmosphere. It was suddenly hot and intense, and my body responded by warming up.

  I licked my lips as I gazed up at him, my eyes glued to his. Then his expression transformed from that of indifference and almost a sort of irritation, to something akin to passion and understanding.

  He lifted his hand, and with the tips of his fingers, he lightly touched my face. It was as though he was adoring me, just like a master’s affection for his beloved pet.

  I inhaled sharply and my heart began to race furiously. My body felt all fuzzy and fluffy, and God, I loved it when he started stroking my cheek.

  He said, “Sorry I didn’t say goodbye the other day. I was in a hurry.”

  I nodded in understanding. “You left a note,” I said, as if explaining to him that that was enough, even though, in actual fact, it wasn’t. At least not for me.

  “Stay and have lunch with me,” he said, out of the blue. “And then I’ll drive you home after.”

  I blinked. William was asking me to stay for lunch with him? Sweet Jesus! I was speechless.

  Without waiting for my answer, he said, “Come on.”

  I wanted to say something, though I didn’t know what, when he grabbed hold of my wrist and led me back into the living area.

  As I mindlessly followed him, I said, “But I’ve only just eaten.”

  “Then eat again,” he said. “I’m starving.”

  At that moment, Joseph’s voice said from one of the doors, “Of course, you’ll be starving, sir. You didn’t even have breakfast this morning before going off to your meeting.”

  As I watched the butler heading our way, I did not miss the fact that he was pushing a trolley that contained an assortment of sustenance, which instantly made my mouth water.

  Chapter 12

  Savanah

  It was five minutes later when I found myself sitting outside in the immaculate private garden that overlooked the vast city of Las Vegas and across the horizon. William sat opposite me, heartily consuming the various club sandwiches that Joseph was expertly serving us. To be sure, I wasn’t used to this, being treated like a princess.

  Of course, this was probably normal for Joseph as a butler, who was serving William, and now me. Certainly, I felt out of place and just didn’t know how to behave. Do I just randomly grab what I wanted to eat, or do I wait for Joseph to serve me? And if he did serve me, then do I graciously accept? And if I were to accept, what do I say? Was a thank you good enough? Or do I just take the offered treat, start eating like William had done, and ignore the butler altogether?

  I didn’t know. It was all too complicated in my mind.

  “Try the smoked chicken sandwich,” William said, interrupting my thoughts. “It’s good.”

  I took a sip of my orange juice and then asked, “Is it?”

  “Yes, it is,” he said.

  Before I could pick one for a taste, he offered me his. He even urged my lips to part, intending to feed me himself.

  I blinked and then blushed profusely. I was about to take it from his hand and then serve myself, when he commanded gently, “Open your mouth.”

&
nbsp; My cheeks heated up like they were on fire, and without realizing it, my lips obediently parted according to his instruction.

  William fed me, and once I had the small bite of club sandwich in my mouth, he even went so far as to wipe the crumbs from my lips with his thumb. The action sent a pleasantly warm sensation throughout my body, and my blush intensified.

  As I chewed on the sandwich, loving the taste, I took a peek at Joseph to see if he thought what had just happened between me and William was a bit weird. But of course, being the excellent butler that he was, he didn’t look one bit interested in what his billionaire master was doing to me.

  “Well? You do like it?” William asked, his eyes still on me.

  I nodded my head in confirmation as I was still chewing on my food. Once I swallowed, I took another sip of my orange juice.

  A few moments later, Joseph left, and William began making small talk while we ate our lunch, which I thoroughly enjoyed. He asked me many questions about my school life, which was okay, and my grades, which were just above average. I wasn’t a smarty pants, even though I read a lot. I was more of a creative person than a book-smart person, which most people in my classes knew. I wasn’t the type who’d end up being a doctor, lawyer, or an accountant.

  When I told William this, he laughed. He said, “Can’t imagine you being any of those. The job would probably bore you to tears.”

  I nodded my head in agreement. Yes, I’d probably feel like a trapped bird inside a cage; that was for sure. No, I wouldn’t be happy in any of those job industries. Fashion design, on the other, was the profession for me. I’d probably be so into it that I’d work all day and all night and never rest.

  The chat continued for another hour while we ate. William was so nice to me during the meal that I couldn’t help but feel as though I might have fallen for him. Of course, I knew that any sort of romantic relationship between us could never be because we led very different lives, which saddened and hurt me more than I liked to admit. There was also the fact that I was still a teenager while he, on the other hand, was a very rich, influential man, who, oddly enough, got beaten up by some gangs in the poorest part of the city. Honestly, I had no idea how that fit. Unless, of course, he had something to do with the underground market and those gangs.