Rush

and ready.
    They rode in silence, though his anger was a force all on its own. She never once
     looked in Gabe’s direction, refusing to show any weakness. And she knew it only pissed
     him off more.
    When they reached his building, he yanked open her door, grasped her hand and hauled
     her out. His fingers wrapped firmly around her upper arm, he walked her into the building
     and onto the elevator.
    As soon as his apartment door shut behind him, his lips tightened and he seemed to
     be working to maintain his temper as he stared down at her.
    “In the living room,” he ordered. “We have a lot to talk about.”
    “Whatever,” she muttered.
    She wrested her arm from his grasp and walked into the living room. She flopped onto
     the couch and then stared expectantly at him.
    He paced back and forth in front of her, stopping to glare ather. He sucked in his breath and then shook his head. “I can’t even talk to you right
     now I’m so pissed.”
    She arched an eyebrow, unimpressed by the fact that he was the one angry. She was
     pissed. She had a right to be.
    “
You’re
pissed?” she asked incredulously. “What the hell for? Did your floozy turn you down
     after all? I can’t imagine that to be the case. She was pretty hot to get into your
     pants.”
    Confusion wrinkled his brow. “What the hell are you talking about?”
    When she would have been more than happy to explain, he raised his hand, cutting her
     off. “First you’re going to listen while I explain just why I’m so goddamn pissed
     off. Then, when I’ve had a chance to calm down, I’m going to redden your ass.”
    “The hell you will,” she snapped.
    “You disappeared,” he bit out. “I had no idea where you went, what happened to you,
     if some asshole had taken you or if you were sick or hurt. What the fuck were you
     thinking? Did it ever occur to you to give me the courtesy of an explanation? If you
     had said you wanted to go home, I would have taken you myself.”
    She surged to her feet, angry at his obliviousness. Was he really that thick?
    “If you weren’t so glued to your father’s date, you might have noticed!”
    Understanding flashed in his eyes, and he shook his head as he sighed. “So that’s
     what this is about. Stella.”
    “Yeah, Stella. Or whatever the hell her name is.”
    He shook his head again. “You were jealous. For God’s sake, Mia.”
    “Jealous? You’re so damn arrogant and self-centered, Gabe. It has nothing to do with
     jealousy and everything to do with respect. You and I are in a relationship. It may
     not be a traditional one. But we have a contract. And by God you damn well belong
     to me and I’m not sharing you with some blond bimbo.”
    He looked completely startled by her vehemence. Then he threw back his head and laughed,
     which only served to piss her off more. His shoulders still shaking, he said, “You
     just managed to curb the edge of my anger enough that I’m going to spank that pretty
     ass of yours. Get in the bedroom, Mia. And strip.”
    “What the fuck?”
    “And watch your mouth. Jace would wash it out with soap.”
    “Don’t be a hypocrite. You and Jace have toilet mouths.”
    “Bedroom, Mia. Now. For each minute you delay, you get an extra five smacks, and if
     you don’t think I’m serious, try me. You’ve already earned twenty.”
    She openly gaped at him, but when he glanced down at his watch, she bolted for the
     bedroom. She was insane. She should
so
be out the door, and yet here she was, stripping down to nothing in his bedroom so
     he could spank her.
    A shiver worked up her body. Anticipation coiled in her belly. Anticipation? It made
     no sense to her. The idea of being spanked was repugnant, and yet somehow it all seemed
     so…enticing and erotic. His hand on her ass. Marking her. Exerting his dominance over
     her.
    She was out of her damn mind. But that wasn’t a new thought. Signing the contract
     in the first place made her sanity questionable.
    When Gabe entered the bedroom, she was naked and sitting on the edge of the bed, hesitant
     and worried, her mind fried over what was to come. She wasn’t at all sure she was
     going to like this. She was fairly certain she wouldn’t. But there was that small
     part of her that was intrigued and aroused by the idea of his hand on her ass.
    Her heart leapt into her throat when he stopped in front of her, his presence powerful
     and consuming.
    “Get up, Mia,” he ordered calmly, all traces of anger