Bound By Her Ring

by Nicole Flockton

  “Yes well, perhaps you’re right. Now can we just get down to business?”

  “Very well,” he murmured. “You and I are taking a trip together, Jasmine.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  He continued as if she hadn’t interrupted. “We leave tomorrow. You’ll need to cancel your appointments for the next two weeks.”

  “Two weeks?” Her voice rose in astonishment at his haughty demand. “I can’t leave the office for two weeks.”

  “Not my problem. Just make the relevant arrangements and make sure you are packed and at the airport by nine tomorrow morning.”

  “Why do you need me to go on this trip with you?”

  “I’m meeting with some Japanese delegates of a resort I’m interested in purchasing. As my wife you will accompany me on this and all future business trips.”

  “All future trips? I don’t think so. Just where do you get off telling me what to do?”

  “The day we married.”

  She laughed at his absurd words. If he thought she’d bow down to him, then he didn’t know her very well at all.

  “Well think again, because I’m not going with you. Show me a very good reason why I should disrupt my life to accompany you on business trips.” She took a deep breath, “Better yet, show me some proof of our marriage and then I’ll consider it. Until then the answer is no.”

  “I don’t need to show you proof. My word is the truth and I think you will come with me, Jasmine.”

  “You’re unbelievable. My word is the truth,” She mimicked shaking her head in disbelief. “It’s absurd I should take anything you say seriously. What makes you so sure I’ll accede to your command?”

  “If you don’t want to see your father in financial trouble, you’ll be there.” He turned to face the window again, the breadth of his shoulders obscuring part of the view.

  “What exactly do you mean my father will be in financial trouble? Anderson’s are in a very good financial position.”

  “Yes the hotels are running at a profit but they were used as collateral so your father could obtain the finance to enter into the joint venture with Regents.”

  “I’m afraid I still don’t understand what this has to do with you and me and our business trip?”

  He left his stance at the window and walked towards her. Power exuded from his every pore and she caught her breath as he stopped inches from her. Her skin tingled as he feathered his hand down her cheek. Her mind focussed on the heat his hand was generating.

  “I’m in a position to be able to call in your father’s loan, cara.”

  “How can you do that, you’re only his business partner.”

  “I’m more than that, Jasmine.” He paused before laying his cards on the table. “Your father organised his loan through a merchant bank. A merchant bank which happens to be a subsidiary of Morelli Corporation. I can call in his loan anytime I want.”

  She felt the colour leech from her face as his words penetrated her hazy mind.

  “You can’t do that,” she whispered.

  “Watch me. The only thing that will stop me from calling it in will be for you to accompany me on this trip.”

  “But that’s blackmail.”

  “Call it what you will, but the choice is yours. Either you come with me and your father doesn’t suffer any undue financial stress. Or you don’t and your father ends up bankrupt. What’s it to be?”

  “I will not stand here and be dictated to by you. I told you last night no one, and I repeat no one, tells me what to do. Now get out.”

  “You really don’t want me walking out that door.”

  “Oh yes I do.” She placed her hands on her hips. “Make sure you close the door behind you.”

  “You shouldn’t test me Jasmine, the consequences of your actions right now will affect you and your father’s future.”

  “Issuing threats again are you? I believe I asked you to leave.”

  “You don’t want me to leave because by the time I get to the street the loan will be called in and your father will be on his way to being ruined.”

  She shivered at the power behind his words. But she was determined not to let him see how his words affected her.

  “What has my father ever done to you for you to act this way?”

  “Your father has done plenty to me and you know it. I have the power to make it impossible for him to ever open another hotel in this town. I can also make it unbelievably hard for you to get gainful employment.”

  She’d done some research this morning and found that Morelli Corporation was a billion dollar company with many different aspects to it structure. Even with all the company’s various interests, she didn’t believe Luciano could hamper any future employment possibilities for her. Did she dare test him? Push him to see how far he would go?

  “You don’t have that sort of power,” she scoffed.

  “I do and believe me I won’t hesitate in using it to get my way. In fact I can start now.”

  Mesmerised by his animal grace, she watched as he walked towards the phone on her desk. He picked up the receiver and punched out a series of numbers, all the while keeping his gaze firmly focussed on her. She shivered at the steely glint shining in his hard, dark eyes. They resembled chips of iron ore.

  “Robert, Luciano Morelli here. I’d like to check the status of the Anderson Hotel loan. We’ll be…”

  He wasn’t going to be pushed. With those brief words spoken she knew she had no choice. Her father’s livelihood was being held in her hands. They may have had their differences throughout her life, but he was her father. She would do whatever it took to keep his business safe. She reached out towards the phone.

  The beeping of the disconnection tone resounded in Luciano’s ear. Looking down he saw Jasmine’s finger on the disconnect button, the slump of her shoulders telling the story—she was joining him. She’d caved in the moment she knew he would call in the loan and ruin her father.

  He looked pointedly at her hand and then into her eyes, “You have something to say?”

  “You win, I’ll come on this trip but there are conditions.”

  “Conditions? Do you really think you’re in any position to lay down conditions with me?”

  “Whether I am or not doesn’t come into it. I will only come on this trip if you agree to my terms.”

  Luciano looked at the fire sparking in her eyes and his body instantly hardened. He’d never seen her look this way before. They’d had many encounters concerning her father. But this time she looked like a lioness protecting her cubs. He wanted to pull her into his arms and change the fire in her eyes from one of anger to one of desire. He wanted her to melt in his arms. He wanted to burn in hers.

  But not today, he had plenty of time to act on those feelings when they were away. It was all part of his plan, to make her succumb. Succumb to his ministrations. Succumb until she couldn’t think straight anymore. He tempered his thoughts when he heard her. “Well?”

  “Go ahead. I’ll listen and consider them. But remember all it takes is one phone call to change your father’s life.”

  “That’s my first condition, your guarantee you will not call in the loan and harm my father’s business. Second, as this is a business trip the only time we will spend together will be for any business functions you have to attend. At all other times I’ll be free to do my own thing. And finally, I want separate rooms.”

  He laughed at the absurdity of her conditions. “If you go on this trip you have my guarantee I won’t call in your father’s loan, his business is safe—for now. But that’s it. I won’t agree with any other conditions.”

  He held up his hand as she blustered to interrupt him. “Listen to me very carefully. We’re husband and wife; we will be sharing a room.”

  He moved forward and soon he was standing right in front of her, pulling her into his arms, her body rigid in his hold. He would soon change that.

  “You will be by my side from morning to night. You will ac
company me to every meeting I attend. And you will agree to these terms, if not, you know what will happen,” he paused to let his words sink in. “These are my conditions and they won’t be negotiated.”

  He finished by capturing her lips in a kiss, taking advantage of her startled gasp to deepen it, groaning low in his throat as her mouth opened further beneath his. Her arms circled his neck as he pulled her closer, letting her know exactly how much he desired her.

  His fingers found the front of her suit jacket and popped the button, smoothing it open. His hands slid over the silkiness of her blouse. He heard her moan as his hands moved up cupping her breasts, his thumbs lightly caressing her erect nipples.

  Leaving her lips he slowly trailed soft kisses down her neck. Her head fell back allowing him greater access and he nibbled on the tender spot beneath her ear.

  Feeling her legs buckle under his seduction, Luciano scooped her up and sat her on the desk. Her desire for him was evident by the way her hands roamed underneath his jacket, fisting his shirt. In the next instant her hands left his back and grasped his head, leading him back to her mouth. She ground her hips against his erection, proving she was frantic for him to take the next step. If they were any place else but her office he would have obliged her. Lifting her skirt, pushing aside her panties and burying himself deep within her moistness.

  The vision so powerful he almost gave in, regardless of the fact that her secretary could interrupt them.

  Reluctantly, slowly, he pulled away. Tempted once more to her sweet taste by her dishevelled look and kiss swollen lips. He stepped back from her, banishing the thought of following through on his seduction. He tucked in his shirt and straightened his jacket. He took a deep breath, before he pulled at his shirt cuffs with short, sharp, precise movements. Making his way to her closed door, he turned and looked her up and down once again, waving his arm at her desk, reminding her of what they had just shared on its shiny surface.

  “This is why we won’t be having separate rooms.”

  Chapter 4

  The car slid to a smooth stop and Jasmine checked her watch.

  Nine o’clock.

  No surprises there, she thought as she unclipped her seatbelt. There was never any doubt she wouldn’t be on time. Luciano had made sure of that.

  The car.

  The knock at the door, which didn’t belong to the driver of the cab she’d ordered. The security team in the standard black SUV, waiting outside to follow her. All clear signs he hadn’t trusted her to turn up of her own accord. Given he’d caught her out yesterday at their meeting she understood his reluctance to trust her, but she still didn’t appreciate his high handedness.

  She’d even expected to see him sitting in the back of the car, all pure smug male reclining on the leather. When an empty back seat had filled her vision, she’d told herself it was relief that had coursed through her, not disappointment that he wasn’t there.

  Now she’d arrived at the airport, and wondered, where were they going? What was going to happen? What did Luciano expect from her?

  A gust of fresh air whispered across her legs, gently lifting the soft folds of her dress. The car door had been opened and a figure stood to the side, holding it for her to leave the safety of the car.

  Was it Luciano?

  All she saw was the silhouette of a man in a suit. Warily she stepped out anticipating a confrontation with Luciano. Again, relief mingled with regret when she took her sunglasses off and realised it was just the driver. She should be happy it wasn’t Luciano. If she were honest with herself, she didn’t think she was quite ready to face him.

  She took a moment to compose herself. Now wasn’t the time to dither. She needed to get her frazzled nerves under control. Luciano would pick up on any sign of weakness she showed and he would make sure she knew he’d seen it.

  She waited while the driver collected her bag from the trunk, following him into the terminal with determined strides, resolve resounding in her mind. She would be in command of her emotions, nothing Luciano said or did would sway her.

  As she approached the terminal she spied Luciano through the glass windows. He’d flicked back his coat sleeve, checking his watch, irritation furrowing his brow. If he’d been paying attention he would’ve seen her car arrive.

  She reached the door as he looked up, his gaze mesmerising her, sending shafts of heat winding around her spine, like a vine clinging to a tree. Her feet refused to move, as if the pavement had formed hands and latched onto her ankles, anchoring her to the ground. He held her trapped and the resolve she was so proud of only moments ago fled, leaving her vulnerable to anything he said or did.

  The trip was going to be pure torture if this was how she reacted every time she looked at him.

  What was it about him that made her almost melt? All he had to do was look at her and she lost control of such a simple task as walking. If only she could move her feet, turn around and leave him standing alone in the middle of the airport terminal. If only he’d never turned up at the hotel and catapulted her life into a tornado of confusion. If only she could remember him.

  His arrogantly raised eyebrow was all she needed to get her blood flowing again. She wrenched her gaze from his, willing her feet to move and continue the short walk into the terminal. He met her halfway, his fingers touching hers softly as he brushed her cheek in a brief kiss.

  “Nice of you to join me,” he drawled.

  “As if I wouldn’t, the driver knocking on my door and your band of thugs following my every move made sure I’d be here.”

  He had the audacity to send a wink in her direction. “Well even with taking precautions, one can never tell. Women are notorious for changing their minds, especially at the last minute. But when it comes to the thugs? They’re there to protect you, so get used to it.”

  “I don’t need protecting by you, I need protecting from you.”

  She left him standing in the middle of the terminal and headed towards the small check-in counter, her heels clicking out a staccato beat on the glossy tiles as she moved away.

  She hadn’t gone a few steps when a hand grasped her, electricity sparked up her arm and along her shoulder blades. She found herself being steered the opposite way.

  “Where are we going?” she asked, pointing in the direction she’d been heading. “Check-in is this way.”

  “Yes I know, but if you hadn’t noticed, Jasmine, this isn’t the main city airport.”

  “I’m aware of that, but even still surely we need to check our luggage in, no matter what type of flight we’re going on?” She stopped as another thought filtered through her mind. She pulled her arm away from Luciano’s grasp. “By the way, where exactly is my luggage and where are you hijacking me to?”

  “You don’t need to worry about checking in your luggage, and I haven’t hijacked you at all. If you recall our conversation yesterday, you agreed to come on this trip.”

  “I agreed? I don’t think so. I have a completely different take on the conversation. What I recall is that I had no choice but to accompany you. You threatened my father and his business. Remember?”

  The look he sent her smouldered through to her soul. Fire began deep inside and a sensual fog threatened to consume her. She was never going to survive two weeks with him.

  “I remember everything about you.”

  He flicked his gaze to the large round clock hanging down from the ceiling, breaking the spell and dissipating the fog. “Now can we please continue on our way? We’ll miss our scheduled take off slot and I, for one, don’t plan on hanging around all day to wait for another to become available.”

  His words resounded in her mind as she followed blindly behind him, I remember everything about you.

  Would he be willing to share that information with her? Somehow she doubted it. It was clear to her Luciano went by his rules and no one else’s, and don’t even dare question him or his motives. He was an immovable force. Play by his game or don’t play at all. If she wanted a
nswers then she would have to get her emotions under control.

  Walking out the door she found herself back out in the sunlight, squinting at the brightness after the subdued lighting of the terminal. Why on earth had she put her sunglasses away? Easy answer—she never expected to find herself outside again. She expected to check-in, make her way to some seats, sit down and have a drink. She expected to board a commercial flight of some sort. She should’ve realised travelling with Luciano would be a completely different experience to the norm.

  Why had she expected normality?

  Fishing around her handbag she extracted her glasses and put them back on. Once her eyes adjusted to the muted sunlight her glasses provided, she gasped in surprise at the sight that greeted her. Not one hundred metres away sat a sleek silver jet, engines purring like a jungle cat, waiting to take flight. An intricate logo of the letters ’M’ and ’C’, entwined around each other adorned the tail of the plane leaving her in no doubt as to whom the plane belonged to.

  “I take it this is yours?” she asked when she finally caught up with him.

  “Obviously,” he drawled as he stepped to the side, indicating she should precede him up the staircase.

  Brushing past him she made her way up. Upon entering the plane she finally understood just how wealthy the man claiming to be her husband was.

  The jet was the epitome of luxury. No expense had been spared in fitting out the plane. It even smelt expensive. The interior of the main cabin was completely different to what you would find on the average airliner. Black, soft looking leather armchairs, bunched into two little groups of two to create a cosy atmosphere replaced the normal uncomfortable vinyl upright seats she was expecting to sit in. The spacious cabin looked more like a luxurious lounge room than the inside of a jet.

  Just how safe were those chairs?

  Taking a closer look, she breathed easier when the comforting sight of a seatbelt peeped out from the cushiony depths.