All Chapters of COLLATERAL DESIRE : Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

The titanium blade sliced through the back of my designer silk dress before I could scream.Ethan didn't give me room to process the cold metal against my spine. Kneeling over me on the settee, he used his free hand to rip the split fabric down to my waist, exposing my bare skin to the freezing air of the penthouse."What are you doing?" I choked out, trying to twist away."Shut up, Ava," he growled, his voice a low, rough rasp. He tossed the penknife onto the table and dragged his palms aggressively over my ribcage. His broad hands traced the curve of my ribs, sliding down to my hips and digging into my skin with brutal precision as he searched every inch of me for hidden listening devices or tracking wires."Get your hands off me!" I shouted.My cell phone sat buzzing on the glass table barely two feet away. I lunged for it, needing to reach someone before Ethan completely stripped away what was left of my control.Before my fingers could touch the glass, Ethan grabbed my waist and

"Don't move," Ethan growled into my ear, his fingers burying deep into the high silk slit of my dress.He shoved me backward against the cold marble pillar, pinning my hips firmly with his heavy frame. We were tucked just behind the heavy velvet curtain of the VIP balcony box, completely hidden from sight. Yet, only a few feet away, high-society patrons laughed, clinked their champagne glasses, and conversed over the hum of classical music."Keep that smooth, perfect smile on your face, Ava," Ethan whispered, his harsh breath fanning across my jaw.Under the voluminous silk fabric, his hand worked relentlessly, sliding further up my bare thigh. His large fingers pressed hard against my sensitive skin, testing my limit, silently demanding to see if I would break composure in front of the elite crowd.A sharp gasp hitched in my throat, but I caught it just in time, biting my bottom lip until I tasted copper to suppress the moan threatening to escape. My pulse hammered wildly against the

"Sign the warrant, Ava, or I swear to God I’ll strip every piece of pride you have left."Ethan’s voice dragged against my ear, heavy and laced with a terrifying quiet authority. He pinned my wrists above my head with a thick leather tether, binding me securely to the vault's central bed. Before I could scream, his broad frame came down hard over mine, straddling my thighs with a weight that utterly paralyzed me. The silver ring on his thumb dug painfully into the delicate skin right above my heart, branding me with his overwhelming presence.A heavy, mechanical hiss echoed through the chamber as the vault’s reinforced air lock sealed completely shut. The bright overhead lights died, plunging us into a suffocating, dim red emergency glow. The crimson light washed over Ethan’s bare chest as it crushed down against mine, his rapid heartbeat hammering against my ribs."Look at me," he commanded, his jaw set in a hard line. He didn't just want my signature; he demanded total, absolute sur

My mouth was crushed beneath Ethan’s in a brutal, desperate kiss before the screech of rending metal even faded. Smoke poured from the transport's shattered hood, and overhead, the iron security grates of the tunnel floor groaned under immense pressure. He tasted like copper and gunpowder, his lips hard and demanding, stealing what little air remained in my lungs while the world tore itself apart around us.Outside the crushed frame of our vehicle, heavy mechanical clicks echoed through the dark tunnel as weapon mounts locked into position.Ethan’s hands slammed against my waist, his fingers digging into my skin as he ripped away the jammed seatbelt straps with a single, furious yank. In one violent movement, he hauled me across the cramped cab, pinning my hips directly against his thighs."Stay down, Ava," he gritted out against my mouth, his heartbeat hammering against my ribs like a war drum.Panicked, I tried to scramble toward the rear door, my eyes fixed on the tinted glass. My