Looking back over her shoulder at him, she locked eyes with hot, annoyed ones.

“Handcuffs? I don’t think that’s a great idea.”

His lip curled in a cruel twist as he lowered his face close to hers.

“I don’t remember asking for your opinion. Now, turn around, and shut your mouth.”

Biting down on her bottom lip, Rachel lowered her eyes and tried to control the shiver that racked her body. Something didn’t feel right. The way he had looked at her with a glint in his eyes that hadn’t been there before felt evil.

“Spread your legs,” he demanded, his warm breath skating along the skin at the top of her spine.

Opening her eyes, she slowly spread her legs as she felt him snap the left cuff around her wrist. Rachel could feel her heart beating faster, and despite her growing fear, she could feel herself becoming more and more aroused.

When she heard him removing his jeans, she closed her eyes again, waiting for whatever he was about to do.

“I ran into your brother today,” he said, his voice cutting through the air.

The words were so unexpected and so inappropriate that she had no idea what to say or if she was supposed to say anything at all.

“He’s such a player. He’s always got a new piece of pussy on his arm. Wonder what he does to make the women flock to him.”

Rachel stiffened. Turning around, she was ready to tell him to get lost. As she faced him, he reached out, and with a strong palm to her breastbone, he pushed her hard against the wall. Looking up at him, she could feel her breathing accelerate as fear fully replaced any kind of arousal she had been feeling. Her arms hurt as he moved in close and crushed her against the wall, forcing the metal cuffs to bite into the skin on her wrists. Sliding his hand up to her neck, he squeezed as his eyes narrowed.

“Your precious Mason told me to let you know he heard from a friend of his.”

Rachel’s brain was trying, trying to catch up, but nothing was making sense. “You’re hurting me. Can you please move?”

“No, I can’t fucking move, and you aren’t going anywhere either. Who’s Josh?”

Josh? What the fuck is he talking about?

“Josh, an old family friend, according to Mason. He told me you used to have a big old crush on him.”

Rachel swallowed, trying to think, willing her brain to catch up. Josh? She hadn’t seen or heard from Josh in years. Yes, she’d had a crush on him in high school, but that was fucking high school.

The man in front of her had completely morphed, and there was no way he was going to listen to her. Changing before her eyes, he had gone from a man she had found comfort with to a man she no longer knew. He had become a man who terrified her.

“Let me go. You’re being ridiculous, and I don’t think this is the time for me to explain anything.”

“You’re not going anywhere.” He took a step back and removed his shirt.

Rachel looked him over as she stood there, shaking. “Well, I’m not staying here with you.” She moved to push past him and leave the room, but she didn’t get far.

Before she knew it, he grabbed her shoulders and threw her on the bed. She landed on her back, and as he straddled her body, crushing her hands beneath her, the pain in her arms ricocheted up to her shoulders.

“Get off me!” she yelled as she thrashed underneath him.

“No! You’re going to fucking lay there while I show you exactly who you belong to,” he growled. He held her shoulders and pinned her down, leaving her utterly helpless.

“Get the fuck off me, Ben!”

She bucked her hips up just as he raised his right hand, and he slapped her hard across the cheek. Closing her eyes to the pain that blasted up the left side of her face, she felt the tears sting her eyes as they escaped down her cheeks. As the weight on her shifted, she turned her head, hoping to block out some of what she knew would follow.

Preparing herself for a second blow, she was shocked when she felt fingers lightly graze her stinging face, wiping away her tears. A strong grip took hold of her chin, pulling her face back, as a voice filtered through her throbbing head.

“I know I shouldn’t touch you, Rachel, but I wanted to.”

Her eyes fluttered open and met with heated hazel.

Naked from the waist up, Cole straddled her hips as she realized her hands were suddenly free and clasped together above her head of her own volition. Her core clenched while she stared up at exactly what she wanted.

His mouth pulled into a tight smile as he reached forward with a large hand. Automatically, Rachel flinched, but it didn’t deter him. He gently pushed a piece of her hair behind her ear as he lowered himself down until his lips were against hers.

“Keep your hands right there above your head for me.”

After nipping her bottom lip, he shifted and brushed a kiss against her cheek. “I won’t touch you again until you ask.”

Rachel felt her mouth part as he moved away from her. She was about to ask. She could feel it. And that was when…

She woke up.

* * *

Three meetings later, Cole glanced at his watch as he stood, stretching his neck. Finally, he could head out. It was a shame he had to go out of town. He wouldn’t have minded a follow-up visit with one Rachel Langley, but this was something he couldn’t put off.

Moving to the coatrack, he fastened his suit jacket, pulled on his thick coat, and draped his scarf loosely around his neck.

“Heading out for the weekend, sir?”

“Yes, Jane,” he told her, stressing her name, as he walked over to her desk.

“Well, you drive safely.”

Cole shook his head with a small smile as he turned and walked to the elevators. He pressed the button and then faced his paralegal. “I have been driving for years. I’m sure I will be okay.”

Jane looked at him with a serious expression, and he was surprised at the frown that creased her brow. That look was usually reserved for him.

“Yes, but you are preoccupied. Try not to worry. Check out the situation before you fly off the handle.”

A loud ding sounded behind him, signaling an elevator’s arrival.

Nodding once, Cole told her sincerely, “I will endeavor not to lose my temper unless it is warranted. How’s that?”

“Very good, Mr. Madison.”

Cole turned, stepped onto the elevator, and pressed the parking garage button. Just as the doors started to close, he called out, “Go home early, Mrs. Markham!”

He chuckled as “Yes, sir,” met his ears.

* * *

The drive to Lake Forest took approximately forty-five minutes to an hour, and as Cole finally drove down the main road, he tried not to feel annoyed at himself. He hated leaving her here, but it seemed like the best solution.

Heading off the main road and making his way through several streets, he finally saw the sign for him to turn up ahead. Making a right, he drove past two entrances and turned at the third. Pulling his black Peugeot 907 into one of the parking spaces, he climbed out and shrugged into his coat. He didn’t bother to button it as he made his way briskly across the parking lot to the front door. Taking a deep breath, he raised his hand and opened the front door to Tranquil Lakes, the retirement home he had been visiting every Sunday for the past three years.

“Good evening, Mr. Madison.”

Cole moved to the front desk. Resting his arms on it, he clasped his hands together as he looked down at Gillian, the petite blonde who had been greeting him since he’d been coming here.

“Evening, Gillian,” he greeted. “Is Becky around? I told her I would be arriving by five.”

Gillian nodded and looked at the clipboard that was in front of her. “Yes, Nurse Parnell just went down to your mother’s room. Do you want me to page her?”

Cole shook his head. “No, don’t worry. I’ll meet her down there.”

Turning to his left, Cole made his way down the first hallway, leading to the east wing of the facility. Pushing his hand into his pocket, he tried for a smile as he passed a nurse in the hall, but he knew it came off more as a grimace. He was too preoccupied with the fact that he had not been contacted immediately about the incident that had occurred after he had left last Sunday night.

His mother had accidently burned herself during a cooking exercise. The activity had been supervised, but apparently, during a moment when eyes were not focused, his mother had placed her hand directly on top of the hot burner.

Cole wouldn’t have been so infuriated if he had been informed immediately. Instead, he had found out about it only after he had called. Becky, his mother’s nurse, had claimed she hadn’t wanted to needlessly worry him. Well, too fucking late for that. It was bad enough that he couldn’t look after his mother himself, but when shit like this happened, he felt completely useless.

As he reached the end of the hall, he stopped at the open door and rested his shoulder against the jamb. Looking in the large room, he could see his mother sitting in her favorite rocking chair in front of one of the large windows overlooking the lake.

The room was decorated with all her beloved knickknacks, and a single painting was displayed on the wall. She had bought an abstract of the Eiffel Tower on her honeymoon with his father.