Chapter 5 Hands Up, Diana

"Get out of the fucking car, Diana."

I stare at him; my brain is screaming at me to lock the door, to honk the horn, to do anything but obey.

"No," I whisper, even though he probably can't hear me.

I shake my head aggressively, my hair brushing against the leather seat. "I'm not coming out. Go away!"

Cairo doesn't look angry. Instead, his lips curved into a smug look I don't like.

It's the kind of smile a predator gives when the victim thinks they've got a choice.

"Eden is only a minute away, Diana," he says, his voice sounding lethal and dangerous.

"If I have to break this glass and drag you out, he's gonna hear it. And then I'll have to deal with him."

Then he gets close to my ear through the window, close enough to make my body react.

"Do you really want your husband crawling before he reaches his car?"

My chest empties instantly with a panicked gasp.

I stare at him and I can see the firm promise in his eyes. I think this man can actually do what he just said.

My fingers are shaky as hell as I push the door handle to open the door.

My heart is banging so fast I feel like I'm going to pass out.

The night air gets my whole body vibrating, but his body close up gives me a little bit of warmth.

Before I can even stand up straight, his large hand wraps around my wrist.

He doesn't say a word as he starts dragging me away from the car, toward the line of trees that borders the road.

"Where are we going? Cairo, stop!" I stumble behind him, my heels sinking into the soft dirt in the woods.

"My husband is right there! He's going to see us!"

He keeps going until we're far into the woods, the streetlights spilling faint lights through the branches.

He spins me around and pulls me fast against his chest, his thumb pressing firmly against my lips to silence me.

He finally gives me a smile,a genuine smile that makes his dimple pop, like he's finally won a big prize.

"Are you enjoying this?" I ask, my lips shaking against his thumb.

"Does it make you happy to scare me like this?"

"Yes," he grunts, his voice vibrating deep in his chest. "I fucking do. I told you not to leave that goddamn table, Diana. You don't listen."

"I'm married!" I fire back, trying to push against his stone-hard chest, but it's useless.

"I have a life and I have a husband! He just went in that station, Cairo. If he sees us together, he'll..."

Cairo gives me a short, dark laugh, and I can't tell if I should be scared or fascinated.

"Oh, that sounds really fun. Let him come. He'll finally learn exactly who you belong to."

Then his face goes completely still. The laughter clears out, replaced by a gaze so threatening and possessive at the same time.

"I don't want any other man close to my woman," he says, his voice dropping to a growl.

"I'm definitely gonna have to do something about this little marriage of yours."

I scoff loudly. Who the hell gave birth to this outrageous human being?

"Do you always say crazy things with so much confidence? You can't just end a marriage because you feel like it."

"I can do real crazy things if I see a male hand on you again," he whispers, leaning down until our noses are touching intimately, as if he didn't just make a threat that could end my marriage.

Or worse... end my mom's life.

I stare at him, feeling completely lost. I want to tell him again that I'm not Sienna, that he's making the biggest mistake of his life, but I can't find the words anymore.

"Why did you bring me here?" I ask instead.

Cairo looks around the dark woods, then back at me, like I'm supposed to remember something.

"Look around you. Tell me what you see."

I glance at the woods. I don't see anything special around.

"I only see trees, Cairo. It's just the woods."

He nods slowly, his eyes still on me. Suddenly, he gives me a firm push.

My back hits the rough bark of a big tree with a thud that leaves me gasping.

He reaches for his neck and slowly unwinds his black satin tie, pulling it free from his collar.

My heart starts racing with pure terror. That's when I remember where I am.

I'm in the dark woods with a stranger who thinks I'm a woman from his past.

"What the hell are you doing?" I gasp.

"Fulfilling your slutty little desires," he says, stepping into my space. "Have you forgotten already?"

I tilt my head; I don't think I register what he just said.

"What are you talking about? I don't have any desires."

"First," he says, his voice sounding smoky as hell, "you asked me to fuck you silly in front of the mirror until you covered the glass with your squirt."

"Which I did for you. Over and over."

"What?!" I scream. I've never even heard of someone doing that.

"Secondly," he continues, getting even closer until I have to lean my head back against the bark, "you begged to be my little fuck toy all night. And I gave you that privilege... Diana."

He says my name like it's a new flavor he's still trying to decide if he likes.

Then he scans my face, his eyes searching for a memory that isn't even there.

"And after that... you just disappeared," he says, his jaw crushing. "You didn't even let me know you were carrying my child until you left her on my porch and ran again. Did you really think I wouldn't hunt you down?"

He stands up straight and holds the satin tie between his hands. "Hands up, Diana."

"Sorry, what?"

He reaches out and grabs my cheeks, forcing me to look up at that mischievous, dominant smirk.

"Do I need to remind you what's third on your slutty little list? Lift your hands. Now."

"No! I'm not doing that!" I yell. "You're fucking outrageous!"

Cairo steps back and laughs.

"Seems the name change came with a little defiance, huh? I love the new version of you."

Before I can protest again, he lunges forward.

He grabs both of my wrists and drags them up above my head.

I struggle, but it's like trying to fight a mountain.

He loops the satin tie around my wrists and knots them tightly to a branch above me.

I'm literally gasping, my heart thundering from a mix of shock and pure adrenaline.

"Cairo, what are you doing? Let me go!"

He brings his face inches from mine, his breath smelling like expensive vodka.

"'I want you to tie me to a tree and fuck me until my legs can't move.' That was the third thing on your list. And as always... Your wish is my command."

"No, no, no!" I shake my head, my wrists straining against the silk. "You can't do that! I never said that!"

He gives me a wicked grin. "I can't? We've done much worse together baby, and you begged for every second of it."

"I'm married!" I scream at him.

His expression changes instantly. The amusement clears out.

"I'd like you to stop mentioning that marriage to me, Diana. It's starting to fucking irritate me."

He starts reaching for the buttons of my work uniform; I try to shift away, but I'm pinned.

His fingers are surprisingly steady as he opens the first three buttons.

His hand slips inside, sliding over my skin until he finds the lace of my bra.

He slowly glides his fingers underneath, cupping my breast.

A large gulp rushes out of me. My whole body weakens.

His hands are slow, but they feel like fire.

"Tell me," he whispers, pressing his lips against the sensitive skin of my neck.

"Did your little husband ever pin you to the balcony of a building 2000ft up, and fuck you until your screams reached the clouds?"

I can't answer. My brain is turning to mush as I imagine what he's saying.

"Tell me if he's ever made you cum so hard that you begged on your knees for more," he mutters.

Then he starts running slow, wet kisses down my throat.

The vibrations of his deep voice rack through my body, weakening my knees until I'm practically no longer standing, but hanging from the branch.

I stare at him, lost in the magnetic pull I can't deny.

My heart is thundering. My skin feels too hot, like I'm running a fever, despite the night cold.

I'm scared, yet... I want him to keep touching me.

"Cairo, please..." I beg. I don't even know what I'm begging for anymore.

I'm terrified that Eden will walk into the woods and find us, but I'm also terrified that Cairo might stop.

His mischievous smile returns. He drives his hands off my body and suddenly drops to one knee in front of me.

I look down at him, my hands still tied above my head, wondering what on earth he's doing.

"Well," he says, looking up at me with those predatory eyes. "Let's see how many times you scream my name before your little husband finds you."

My thoughts scatter like leaves in the wind.

I should scream for help or fight him, but my body has never felt so alive. He pays so much attention to everything he does.

He dips his hands under the rim of my skirt and pushes it up, bunching the fabric around my waist.

My thighs are bare to the night air, the cold prickling my skin, making me shiver.

Then he lifts my legs, dropping them over his broad shoulders.

His face is only inches away from my pussy. That's when I realize I've been vibrating down there. And my black panty is soaked.

It doesn't make a single bit of sense.

Not even Eden has ever gotten me this wet. He hasn't even tried because he literally has never cared to.

His tongue shifts the fabric of my pants and I throw my head back, staring up at the dark night sky.

My heart is pounding so hard it could tear in two.

God, I'm married and my husband will be here any minute, yet I don't want him to stop.

What the hell am I doing?