Kate drew in a deep breath.
Matt Pearce stood on the other side of the enormous room, but he was far too close. His carefully controlled power filled the space, crowding around her. Her heart fluttered like a wild thing and her pulse throbbed at her temple in a rapid pounding. She grabbed onto the stonework around the fireplace to steady herself.
“What are you doing here?” she croaked.
His sensuous lips twisted into a smile. “I’m your new partner.”
New partner. Oh, God, he must be the investor. She clasped her hands together because they’d started to tremble.
“But you’re not on the list of executives for Facts and Figures Inc.”
He smiled. “That’s because I’m the owner.”
Damn. She drew in a deep breath. “There’s been no agreement signed yet. That’s why I’m here, to see if we’ll be a good fit.”
A smile crept across his face. “As I recall, we’re a very good fit.”
His words sent a tremor through her, along with memories of his hot, hard body pressed tightly against hers.
She felt the heat of a blush creep across her cheeks.
He strolled toward her. “Surely the meeting is just a formality.”
She couldn’t stay here any longer. Being alone with him like this sent panic skittering through her. She glanced toward the door, assessing her chances of escape. She could fling caution aside and lunge around the couch, then race across the room toward the door, but he could catch up with her in three quick strides.
She sucked in a breath. Damn, she was overreacting. The man wasn’t going to chase her.
Or would he?
“You look like you’re thinking of fleeing. Is the thought of being here with me so distasteful that you feel you have to run away from me again?” he asked, the words strung as tight as his expression.
Whether he referred to the incident at the mall last month, or when she had left him two years ago, she didn’t know, or care.
“I want to leave right now,” she demanded.
His lips compressed. “That’s not an option.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“Well…”—he held his free hand out expansively—“we’re at least a mile from the main road. It’s the middle of January and freezing outside.”
“The driver—”
“Is gone.”
She glared at him. “So you’re forcing me to stay here?” A chill ran through her.
“I had hoped you would stay long enough so we can talk.”
A shiver ran down her spine. Did he want to talk to her about why he’d betrayed her two years ago? Not that he would think of it as betrayal. It was part of his way of life. To control his woman so completely.
Or did he want to talk to her about why she’d left? Her leaving must have been a surprise to him. He must have assumed she’d accept his complete domination or he wouldn’t have planned the events that night.
A shiver rippled through her at the thought that he intended to keep her here against her will. Would he force her into submission?
She had never realized his desire for domination ran so deep, until that fateful night two years ago when his true—and frightening—nature had been revealed.
Panic welled in her. He was bigger and stronger than her. With no difficulty at all, he could physically constrain her. Chain her to a wall or tie her to a chair. Flog her.
A flash of remembered pain ripped through her, but she pushed it aside.
His eyes narrowed as he watched her face. He stepped toward the fireplace. “I’m not stopping you from leaving, Kate.”
His calm, reasonable voice dragged her from her panic.
She blinked, momentarily confused. “I don’t understand. You just said—”
“I said the driver left.” He picked up a brass poker and shifted the logs on the flame. Sparks flared violently. “That means you can’t leave immediately. I told him I’d call him later this evening when we need him to come back.” He gazed at her again. “After we’ve talked.”
She tipped up her chin in defiance. “And if I don’t want to stay
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