Chapter 43

Heart pounding, Claudia lifted her chin and walked toward him. She stopped about a foot away and stared back at him. Unable to handle his prolonged angry silence, she said, "I can't just stay here. You know I'm not willing to accept this situation as is."
"Damn it, Claudia," he said furiously. "You can't begin to comprehend how much danger you're in. You can be killed easily if you manage to leave my protection. That was a stupid thing to do, despite the fact that you wouldn't have made it out of the garage."
"I'm just supposed to take your word for it that I'm in danger?" she snapped back. "And if my life is in danger currently, that would be your fault for alerting the men that want me dead as to my whereabouts. I'm better off on my own than with an egotistical, kidnapping asshole!"
"Enough!" he snarled. "Stop talking, Claudia."
"Don't you dare tell me to stop" he grabbed her so quickly she didn't have a chance to react. He pulled one of her wrists behind her back and held it tightly with one hand, while gripping her jaw in his other hand. Before she could protest, his mouth descended to hers, crushing her soft lips in a ruthless kiss.
She pushed helplessly against his chest, her fist slamming into him. He continued to punish her mouth, forcing her head back until her neck ached. He used his fingers to pry her jaw open and plundered the interior of her mouth, while holding her open so she couldn't bite. His tongue swept across hers, caressing her teeth and plunging deep, stealing her breath.
Tears pricked her eyes and, unable to breath, she began to sway against him. The kiss continued on and on until she thought she would pass out. Desperately, Claudia finally lashed out with the tie pin still held in her fist. She aimed the sharp point at his neck and jabbed him with it. It didn't penetrate his thick neck very far, but it startled him.
"What the fuck!" he snarled, immediately ending the kiss and reaching for the wound.
His hand came up to his neck so fast that Claudia didn't have time to duck. It struck her hard in the side of the head. Already off balance, she tumbled sideways, hitting the island hard and falling to the floor. She stayed where she landed, dazed and terrified of his retaliation.
Tyson realized right away what had happened when he pulled the pin out of his neck. He stared down at her, his face unreadable. She shrieked and backed into the island, pulling her knees up, when he crouched in front of her. He searched her pale face and then gently touched his fingers to the red mark on her cheek where he had struck her.
"I'm sorry, baby. I never meant to hurt you." His tone was regretful and his touch gentle.
Claudia was completely exhausted. She nodded slowly and forced her limbs to uncurl. "I know," she said. "I'm sorry I stabbed you. It was a bad plan from the beginning. Your neck is incredibly thick, like your head."
He laughed. "That tiny prick is definitely not a stabbing, beautiful. Believe me, I've seen plenty of bad shit in my life." He backed up and held a hand out to her. She took it with some hesitation and allowed him to pull her to her feet. "Though, now that I know you're willing to use weapons against me, I'll have to increase my vigilance."
She smiled slightly. "I don't think I have the stomach for a real stabbing. I regretted pricking you almost as soon as I did it."
"If your life was ever in danger, I would expect you to use whatever weapons are at your disposal with deadly force." His face grew serious. "Never take a weapon to me again though, sweetheart. That sort of behaviour won't stand between us. I could have seriously injured you, even if it was an accident. You need to be more careful."
She arched a blond eyebrow at him. "Seriously? You're telling me to be careful around the hulking giant in case he accidentally, what falls on me or something?"
"Funny," he said, urging her onto one of the barstools at the island. "I'm telling you not to prick me, stab me, burn me or whatever else that imagination can come up with. It may end in an injury to you, and I can't abide the idea."
His dark eyes held hers. She nodded slowly. It felt like a bizarre conversation to be having, but then again, she did stab him after trying to run away and steal one of his vehicles. So all told, she was getting off pretty lightly with just a forceful kiss and an accidental smack to the side of the head, which he apologized for. Strange man.
And now, it would appear that he was making her a sandwich. He toasted a couple pieces of focaccia bread, spread mayo on them and added turkey, tomato, lettuce and avocado. She salivated while he prepared the food for her and placed the sandwich in front of her.
"This is my favourite sandwich at Knight's Out, where I work. I eat them almost every day," she said, picking it up and taking a huge bite.
"I know," he said, watching her eat.
She stopped chewing and stared at him. He really did know everything about her, right down to her food preferences. The thought should probably frighten her, since she barely knew the guy. But strangely, she felt cared for. Something she hadn't felt in a very long time. Tears prickled in the corners of her eyes, as longing for her parents swept over her. She dropped her gaze and took another healthy bite of the sandwich.
"What's going to happen to my job?" she asked once she had swallowed the food in her mouth.
"Don't worry about it. Your job's been taken care of."
She frowned at him. "And what exactly does that mean? I don't have a job anymore, or you arranged things so I could leave for a while?"
His eyes caught and held hers. "I mean, you can stop worrying about the café job. Your boss has been compensated for giving you a job in your time of need and recognizing your talent. However, she's aware that your services are no longer for sale."
Claudia's jaw dropped. "What in the actual hell!?" she snapped. "That's just great! Do you have any idea how freaking hard it is to get a job when you can't provide a criminal record check or references?"
Tyson sighed in annoyance and rubbed a hand over his head, "Just shut up and eat Claudia."
She seriously thought about arguing, but decided her empty stomach combined with his ridiculous misogynistic attitude made eating quietly more advisable. For the moment anyway.
He watched her finish her sandwich without further comment, his gaze lingering on her lips. He ate the leftover avocado and tomato from the cutting board and then began cleaning up. He was a very tidy man. Everything had a place. He definitely wasn't the type to toss a coat on the floor or let piles of paper stack up on a table or desk. Exactly the opposite of her. She had an armchair in her tiny apartment that was dedicated full-time to holding clothes. She used her treadmill as a drying rack for hang-to-dry clothes (once she discovered she hated running even more than washing clothes by hand) and she dedicated her pantry to shoes, since the shelves were a perfect fit and she despised cooking.
"Thank you," she said politely once she finished eating. She wiped her mouth on the napkin he handed her and then dropped it onto the plate, which he took.
After finishing up in the kitchen, he came around the island and pulled her stool back. "Time for bed," he said, putting a hand on her arm and helping her off the stool.
Claudia stood next to him, looking up well over half a foot. He was such a big man, she wondered if she would get used to his size. Then she blushed, remembering the size of his erection as it had pressed against her. Her heart picked up speed and her mouth went dry. She stumbled a little when he tugged her forward toward the stairs. He turned the stereo and lights out behind them as they left the room.
When they arrived upstairs he turned to look at her. The lights from the city created a gentle glow in the glass-walled room. He touched her face, running his fingers over her cheeks. "I want to fuck you more than I've ever wanted any other woman, Claudia."
She nodded, knowing he was going to have his way. At least, she hoped, he would make sure she enjoyed herself. She supposed she should feel grateful for that.
"But tonight, I think you just need sleep," he said, stepping back from her.
Her eyes flew up to his. "You're not going to"
He chuckled, "Not now, baby. Believe me, I want nothing more than to fuck that delicious body. But I prefer my women conscious and you look as though you're seconds from passing out on me."
She had no idea how anxious she was about the inevitability of sharing his bed, but once he announced her reprieve, tension left her body. She closed her eyes in relief, tiredness overwhelming her. She swayed on the spot, unable to open her eyes again.
He reached for her before she could collapse.
"I've got you, sweetheart."
He laid her on the bed. Claudia drifted off to the feel of him removing her clothes from her limp body.