Mistress to the Beast by Eve Vaughn Read Free Book Online

missing for months and whistled, looking happier than he had in a long time. She wouldn’t have his decline on her conscience, but still, how would she get through this ordeal without losing every ounce of self-respect she possessed?
    “I gave you three weeks to back out of our agreement. But the very fact that you’re here tells me you’re fully prepared to honor your end of the deal. No. I won’t allow you to fob me off now because you’ll keep coming up with excuses as to why we should wait.
    In light of rearranging plans for the megaplex and in essence putting my business reputation on the line, you had better get used to the idea of sharing my bed, and fast.
    And as for my sleeping with you, I have more productive things in mind than that.”
    Lila willed herself to remain still, otherwise she knew she’d slap the bastard into next week. If that was the way he wanted things to go down, she’d make sure she conveyed in every look, motion and sound that she didn’t want to be here. She had agreed to allow him the use her of body, but he never said she had to like it. “Fine,” she delivered between clenched teeth.
    38
    www.samhainpublishing.com

    Mistress to the Beast
    The sound of his chuckles were tormenting to her ears. He was getting off on her misery!
    “I like your spirit, Lila Saunders, but if this is to be a battle of wills, I’ll have you know, I don’t intend to lose. And no worries, my dear, there’s no better way of getting to know each other than in bed. I look forward to the experience.”
    She kept her head bowed, refusing to rise to the bait.
    “Eat.”
    “I’m not hungry.”
    “Eat!”
    She jumped as his roar reverberated through the dining room. Did she dare defy him?
    As appetizing as her meal appeared to be, her stomach was too tied in knots to ingest a single bite. But still, if she didn’t he’d press the issue. Lila didn’t think she had the strength to continue the argument. She picked up her fork and stabbed a string bean with its prongs before popping it into her mouth. The vegetable could have been cardboard as far as she was concerned. She tasted nothing. “There. I ate.”
    Hunter watched her with those devastating green eyes, his expression giving nothing away. Would he take this as an act of disobedience? He lifted his wine glass and downed the remainder of its contents and stood up. “If you’re through, then by all means, let’s retire.”
    When he held out his hand to her, panic set in. There had to be a way to buy some more time. Lila shook her head. “Just give me tonight. I promise, I’ll be ready for you tomorrow.”
    Nostrils flared as he narrowed his eyes. “Lila, I don’t make a habit of repeating myself. Get up now or by God, I’ll drag you upstairs.”
    “Sir, is there anything else you’ll need?” Mrs. Coates poked her head into the dining room.
    “Go away!” Hunter growled.
    The older woman disappeared as quickly as she appeared.

    www.samhainpublishing.com 39

    Eve Vaughn
    Lila gasped. “Do you make a habit of talking to your staff that way? You are a hypocrite. How can you expect other people to be courteous to those who work for you, when you don’t know the meaning of the word?”
    For his answer he grabbed her by the arm, practically yanking it out of its socket as he hauled her out of her seat and pulled her roughly against his body.
    Her fighting instinct emerged. She didn’t care what kind of bargain they had, there was no way she’d let him get away with manhandling her. Lashing out, she smacked his broad chest. “Don’t ever do that to me again! You have no right—”
    “That’s where you’re wrong, Lila. My house, my rules. You didn’t have to agree to the terms set before you, but you did so now you’ll have to deal with the consequences.
    So far my words have had no effect on you so I think the time calls for action.”
    Before she could utter another word of protest, Hunter bent over to lift and toss her over his