Talk about being locked up with a tiger who considered you prey. That was exactly how Kara felt with Blake on her heels as she headed down the stairs and into the small cabin. Instinctively she scanned the windowless space, taking in the mini kitchen, a couch attached to the wall, and a door to a bathroom before she whirled around to face her wild beast. And Blake was definitely a wild beast.

He stalked down the stairs toward her, anger etched in his handsome face. Unsurprisingly, the door slammed and locked behind him. They were officially caged, prisoners who could very well be headed to their death. Right now, though, Blake was headed for her. He didn’t stop until he stood toe to toe with her, but she didn’t back away. Not that there was anywhere to go.

His hands came down on her shoulders, the touch solid, the impact sending spirals of heat through her body. “You and I are going to have a talk.”

“Oh yes,” she assured him, biting back what she really wanted to say, all too aware they were likely being recorded, maybe even videotaped. “We will.”

“What you’re going to do is exactly what the fuck I tell you to do.” He eased closer, whispering in her ear. “They cannot know you matter to me.” He leaned back and glared at her. “You’re here to do paperwork and fuck me. Nothing more. Understand?”

She knew his crudeness was an act. She knew he was trying to send a message to whoever was listening that he owned her that she wasn’t emotionally important, but she couldn’t completely keep it from cutting. “You know I do,” she bit out.

His gaze pierced hers for several more seconds, his handsome faced etched in anger, strands of dark hair falling loose from the tie at his nape, before he dropped his hands away from her. He turned away and Kara hugged herself, watching him shrug out of his jacket, forcing herself to inhale, trying to catch her breath. Why did this man always steal her breath?

Tossing the jacket onto the couch, he sank down on a cushion and patted the one on his other side. “Come sit. It won’t matter if we’re going a mile up the way or ten, they’ll make this a long ride to keep us disoriented.”