Hot for Hostage

by Maggie Evans

Mr. Reed. I’m the one with the gun, so if I say you’re my hostage, then you’re my hostage. Got it?” Oh, I got it. “Of course. My apologies. I’m your hostage,” I said, no longer hiding my grin. And to think I’d thought today would be boring.

“You okay, bunny?” Davian’s eyes narrowed on my face, and a shiver rolled down my spine at his inspection. “You look a little pale. Maybe you should sit down.”

Who knew Davian Reed would be attracted to short bakers in pink overalls, pointing a gun at him?

And hopefully she’d forgive me for this, because I wasn’t ready to let her go just yet.

“I’m not leaving here without my dog!” she yelled at Fessy and his crew, brandishing the broom. “Where is he?” A determined scowl pinched her face—more endearing than intimidating—and I swear my goddamn soul floated out of my body.

“You told me Bear was a dog,” Davian muttered, eyes narrowing into slits as he got to his feet. “Not a hellhound.”

The mutt guarded Sadie like he owned her, and it pissed me off. I couldn’t even hold her fucking hand without him getting in the way.

Davian’s lips met mine—slow and teasing—before molding against them with a hunger that stole my breath.

“Now open those pretty lips and let me taste you.” Sadie shivered under my grip but readily parted her lips, and I took full advantage by slanting my mouth over hers. She tasted like fucking sunshine.

Sadie’s Guide to Hostage-Taking Being Taken Hostage Forming a Partnership with Your Hostage Embracing the Hostage Lifestyle, Tip #14: Don’t feel ashamed for making out with your hostage. Own it.

“Wait!” I cried through my laughter, grabbing a cupcake off the counter we passed. “I need to finish icing these.” Davian stopped midstep, then dutifully turned and carried me back to my station. He set me back on solid ground but didn’t go far. Instead of stepping away, he pressed his front against my back, and both his palms flattened against the counter to cage me. I swallowed and placed the cupcake down. This felt nice. Once I could breathe normally again, I patted Davian’s forearm. “Good boy.”

Sadie’s lips tasted like the sweetest salvation, and I would’ve been happy to drown in them for the rest of the afternoon.

“Well, it doesn’t matter anymore. I might’ve misjudged our connection.” Vince’s warnings haunted me, seeping into my thoughts like poison. You’re a distraction. A sweet thing he can play with. Gladys sighed. “You say that now, but I swear, child. You better not have magical lady bits that make him come after you.”

“It’s a lovely thought, but we’re not egg whites, Dav. And we’ll never be meringue.” I pulled the phone away from my ear and stared at it—wondering if I’d had a stroke—before putting it back. “Say that again in English.”

My mind shut down. I must’ve misheard him, because I could swear he’d just threatened her nipples.

“Let’s get one thing straight, Ali. I’m going to kill you. That’s a done deal.” The words left me in a growl, and I didn’t even try to cover it up. “But if you dare lay a single dirty finger on what’s mine, I’ll fuck you up in ways you can’t even fathom. There won’t be anything quick about it. I’ll take my time—probably even enjoy it a little—and when I’m finally through with you, your own mother won’t recognize what’s left. Understand me?”

And as much as I wanted to rip into Zain for treating her like this—for even thinking taking her from me was a good idea in the first place—reassuring Sadie was more important.

“But you’re not a distraction. You’re the furthest thing from a mistress.” My eyes flicked back up to hers, and I stopped caring who was listening as I laid it all out on the table. “And we may not be meringue, but don’t let that fool you, because you are mine. The moment you pointed that gun at my chest, you became mine. That isn’t something you can just run away from.”

That was a lie. I actually didn’t mind Davian staking a claim on me. Not at all. In fact, I think I liked it a lot—as did the horny demon.

Davian had just promised to make a man’s death unimaginably painful if he so much as laid a finger on me.

I was so over being abducted. At this rate, someone should’ve at least given me a loyalty punch card for all my troubles. Survive ten abductions and earn a free ice cream!

And if I had the chance to do it all over? I would take him hostage again in a heartbeat.

“Sadie, I’ve been yours since the moment you pointed that gun at me. But I want more—like my ring on your finger. I want you to take my name and make this partnership official. I want to spend every day trying to make you happier than you were the day before. And that’s just the start of my new list.”