Yield to Me (10 page)

“I’ll be back with breakfast. In the
meantime, you can shower if you like.” His obvious hesitation pulled her attention
back to him. “Tom fixed the connecting bathroom door so you can’t go wandering.”

“Thank you for the warning,” she
said softly, meeting the humor gleaming in his eyes.

“I have to go out for a while, and
the last thing I want is for you to be roaming freely throughout the apartment.
I’m not totally convinced Tom can handle you, or your tricks. And, just so we
understand each other, I rarely issue threats I’m not prepared to back up.”

His warning was crystal clear, yet
Sophie remained stubbornly silent. Let him draw his own conclusions!

He sighed deeply. “I don’t trust
that innocent look spreading across your face, so you’re wasting your time. I
should just gag you and tie you up so I don’t have to worry about it.”

Sophie didn’t like the sound of
that, but she remained silent. Why provoke him into carrying out his threat? At
least this way she had the freedom to move about. He looked at her long and
hard, as if trying to determine what he should do. Then, with a snort of
disgust, he pivoted, striding to the door and leaving her without another word.

He should have followed his hunch,
because Sophie had a plan of her own.

Chapter 9

“Senator Adams, do you know how your
daughter is?”

“No, I haven’t spoken to Sophie
since her abduction.”

“Who do you think is behind this? Do
you think it has anything to do with the upcoming elections? Are you…”

“Please, one question at a time,” he
interrupted with obvious annoyance, holding his hand up to cease the barrage of
questions storming his way. “I prefer not to speculate on the reasons behind
her abduction. As for your other questions, I believe Jonathan is better
equipped to answer them, since the kidnappers contacted him earlier.” He turned
slightly to include the man standing at the podium next to him.

Jonathan Lord was impeccably dressed
in an Italian silk suit that complimented the color of his eyes, which appeared
to crystallize the second he knew the cameras had swung his way. Not a hair out
of place, his character reeked of the superiority and self-importance he was
known to possess. He stepped closer to the mike, clearing his throat for
effect.

“Mr. Lord, when did you first find
out the senator’s daughter had been kidnapped and do you know how she is?” a
reporter up front called out.

“I was first alerted by my security
staff that something was amiss, when they found my fiancée’s apartment door
open and the place trashed,” he began, putting great emphasis on Sophie’s
relationship to him and instantly drawing sympathy in the reporters crowding
around the podium. “My worst fears were confirmed when one of the kidnappers
called this morning to assure me she’s alive and…”

“What are their demands for her
release?” someone else called out, interrupting.

“At this time they haven’t made any.
However, you can rest assured, if they harm Sophie in any way…” Pausing significantly
for effect, Jonathan gave the flashing cameras time to record his stricken
appearance. “I’ll hunt them down myself and…”

“What time did the call come in?”

The interruption caused his brows to
come together in a fierce frown. “At precisely ten o’clock.”

“Did they ask you not to inform the
authorities?”

“If they had we wouldn’t be standing
here before you now,” Jonathan retorted sharply, making eye contact with the
reporter who’d dared to ask him that question. The reporter actually stepped
back into the crowd. “Today was supposed to be our wedding day,” he went on.
“Sophie’s my life and I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize her well-being.”

“Senator Adams, how are you holding
up, sir?”

“As well as can be
expected.
I have every faith that once the
demands are met Sophie will be released unharmed.”

“What are the facts, as you know
them?” a reporter in the front row asked.

“The facts?”
The senator paused, making an obvious attempt to pull himself
together. “From what little we know, she was apparently kidnapped right out of
her apartment last night.”

“Security did a thorough search of
the building, including the tenants’ apartments, but turned up nothing,”
Jonathan continued, bringing the attention back to him.

He looked directly into the camera,
as though peering into Sophie’s eyes. “I’ll pay whatever they ask to get you
back, darling. Hold onto those thoughts until you’re safely
back
in my arms, where you belong.” As numerous cameras flashed capturing the
moment, Senator Adams turned and walked away.

* * * *

Clicking off the TV, Sophie dropped
the remote before walking to the big window facing the ocean side. She leaned
against the frame, staring down at the glistening water without really seeing
it, thinking about the news broadcast she’d just watched.

It broke her heart to think of the
worry her father must be going through; not knowing where she was or if she was
okay. With the exception of the day her brother died, she’d never seen him let
his emotions run away with him, and today hadn’t been any different. He’d stood
strong and composed during the brief interview, the briefest emotion simmering
in his eyes.

A deep sigh escaped her as she
crossed her arms. She had to think of a way out of here,
or at the very least how to gain access to the phone in the living
room. Her father was the only one she cared about. Jonathan had played a
convincing part, but she knew he was a consummate actor, skillfully playing the
situation to his advantage. To the world watching he was a deeply devoted man;
one who would do anything to get back the woman he loved, but she knew the real
man. As far as she was concerned, Brent could hold her forever if it prevented
her from marrying Jonathan.

The memory of the afternoon he’d
asked her to marry him came flooding back. A scene that haunted her dreams both
day and night. They’d only been dating a few weeks so his proposal had come as
a complete surprise. Until that moment he’d been charming and patient, never
pressing her to do anything she hadn’t wanted, including sleeping with him.
He’d gained her trust during those first weeks until she’d grown almost fond of
him, but that was all. His rare kisses and caresses hadn’t evoked any feelings
in her. She’d closed the lid to the velvet box containing the engagement ring,
declining his proposal with a counteroffer of her own. One she was naive enough
to think would be warmly welcomed.

She repressed a shiver of repulsion
as she recalled his cold reaction over her suggestion that they remain friends.
She knew a man with an ego the size of Jonathan’s wouldn’t take rejection well,
and he hadn’t. Still, nothing could have prepared her for what happened next.
The charming, soft-spoken man she’d come to know disappeared completely, suddenly
turning into a cold-hearted monster with a cheating card up his sleeve. She
could still remember the look in his emotionless eyes when he reopened the box
and removed the ring, sliding it on her finger with such deadly calm that she’d
stopped breathing.

In the space of a heartbeat
everything she’d ever heard about Jonathan came crashing down upon her
shoulders. Only by then it was too late to pay attention to the rumors and
gossip columns. She’d been backed into a corner with nowhere to turn, becoming
the weapon he’d use against her father. Jonathan had calmly informed her that
she would marry him. Then proceeded to tell her why, almost glorying in the
horror his words had produced as he informed her of the terrible secrets he’d
learned about her mother. A woman she hadn’t seen since the age of five.

A shudder escaped Sophie as she recalled
the almost sardonic delight he’d taken in telling her that her mother was a
high-priced hooker living in Europe.
Even going as far as
backing up his statement with explicit pictures of the woman with various men.
It hadn’t taken much convincing for her to realize if something like that
leaked out to the public, it would ruin her father.

Tears of despair choked her,
clouding her vision. She hugged her arms, knowing she would do whatever it took
to protect him. Yet sometimes the gravity of her situation got the better of
her. She wished she had someone to turn to; someone who would know what to do.
Usually that person was her father but this was one time going to him wasn’t an
option.

She’d had no choice but to accept
Jonathan’s ring in exchange for his silence, and agree to marry him.
Striking a bargain with him that she’d portray the perfect fiancée
in public as long as he didn’t press her into sleeping with him until after
their wedding.
A ceremony supposed to have taken place an hour ago.

Thank God for unexpected miracles in
the way of a tall, incredibly sexy man.

* * * *

Brent opened the door quietly,
standing in the threshold for a moment observing Sophie, so engrossed in her
own deep thoughts that she hadn’t heard him enter. Her arms were crossed beneath
her breasts, emphasizing their fullness. His glance traveled over her lithe
form taking in the way his shirt had ridden up her shapely thighs. She’d
obviously helped herself to another one, and this one was buttoned all the way.

The soft cloud of hair around her
face and shoulders had a little more curl to it, indicating she must have
showered. The sun was upon it, turning it a darker, richer shade of auburn.
Even disheveled she was still the sexiest thing he’d seen in a long while. It
had been the hardest thing he’d ever done, not giving in to the need to fuck
her that morning.

As if sensing he was there, she
turned her head slightly, their stares locking instantly. When Brent saw the
tear tracks staining her cheeks he cursed inwardly, clenching his teeth until
his jaw hurt. She must be terrified about everything happening to her. The urge
to tell her the truth was so strong at that moment that he knew the smartest
thing he could do was drop her breakfast off and beat a fast retreat. He
slammed the door behind him, taking quick steps to the small table next to the
window where she was standing.

“Breakfast,” he said simply, his
tone less than friendly.

She hastily brushed the betraying
moisture off her cheeks, quietly watching as he moved closer. Her gaze barely
skimmed over the tray in his hands before wandering past him to the door. He
could almost see the wheels turning inside her head as she weighed her chances
for escape. Brent couldn’t fault her for having a one-track mind because he’d
do the same thing.

“Don’t even try it,” he warned,
meeting the contemplation in her serious eyes. “I brought you a nice
breakfast.” Well, as nice as could be expected with two men in the kitchen. He
hadn’t remained a bachelor all this time and not learned a few domestic skills
of survival.

Her gaze dropped to the food, her
brows lifting with mild surprise at the eggs Benedict and bowl of fresh fruit.
Real pleasure spread across her face when she spotted the cup of steaming
coffee. “Thank you, you’re too kind.” The cool tone of her voice made a mockery
out of the pleasure he saw in her eyes.

“We aim to please,” Brent returned,
his firm mouth turning up at the corners. There was no disguising the sound of
hunger rolling in her belly. As he started to set the tray down she made her
move, which he’d been expecting. “Sophie!” He slammed the tray down, everything
on top rattling with his impatience.

The bark of his anger only
encouraged her to quicken her pace. She was almost at the door.
What am I going to have to do, lock her in
the closet, gagged and tied?
“Damn it!” he bellowed, taking off after her.

She made it to the other side of the
door before he caught up to her. He grabbed the doorknob. There was a brief tug
of war, but it was a no-win situation. Brent had to outweigh her by at least a
hundred pounds. Within seconds he wrenched the door from her hands with enough
force to send her flying into the bedroom, and into his arms. They closed
around her as her momentum carried them backward to the carpet. He landed on
his back with a loud grunt. She released an indignant gasp, landing fully on
top of him.

With the wind knocked out of him he
was temporarily incapacitated. Sophie quickly rolled off him and attempted to
crawl away on her knees.
Apparently too concerned with escaping
to appreciate that he’d gone out of his way to cushion her from the fall.
Brent knew he had to stop her because Tom wasn’t around to holler to for
assistance. As he gasped for air, he reached out and caught her ankle, curling
his hand around the delicate bone and easily dragging her back.

“Oh!”

Brent ignored her huff and rolled,
easily pinning her beneath him. His eyes narrowed down at her with annoyance.
“I’m getting damn tired of this,” he grumbled close to her face, pinning her
wrists to the carpet with a little more force than necessary. “Unless this is
the only way you figure you can get back into my arms. Maybe you want me to
finish what I started this morning.”