Too Much: A Loveswept Contemporary Erotic Romance (All or Nothing) by Lea Griffith Page A

voice.
    “Jeremiah—”
    He took another step back and turned away from her to stare out the windows. He wouldn’t let her talk, and his move away from her felt like rejection. Her gaze took in the enormous, open room and she glimpsed her coat in a chair. She made a beeline for it, wrapping herself up, gaining a little more clarity now that she was somewhat hidden from his gaze. She’d hopefully get even more once she was out of this building.
    His closeness stole her brain. She needed space and quickly put her heels on. She’d just turned to leave when his voice stopped her.
    “You need time to process things. I’m going to let you go today. Go home, rest. But know this: if you don’t return here tonight, ready to submit to me, I will come get you.” Silken threats wrapped up in a cold, hard voice. “And I will make it hurt so sweetly, Daly. If you remember nothing else, remember how I can make it hurt so good.”
    She located the door and had just turned the deadbolt when his voice sounded directly behind her.
    “Wear red, Daly. I like you in red.” It was a taunt.
    But as she fled through his office, down the stairs, passing two monitors and even Toby, she recognized the truth. She’d returned to The Underground last night because Jeremiah had rekindled a flame Daly had thought extinguished.
    She would burn, but she was damned if she wouldn’t take him with her.
    * * *
    Copeland punched the first thing he came to and winced as his fist went through the drywall. “Damn it!”
    “Saw her leave,” Toby said from the doorway.
    Toby tsked, and Copeland flipped him off after he rubbed his hands over his pajama bottoms. Hell, he’d only worn the fucking things for her. She’d given him her body last night, a precious gift to be sure, but he hadn’t wanted to freak her out when she woke in a strange place.
    His hands tightened into fists and he pressed them against his eyes. He fucking needed her, but he had to give her time and space to assimilate. He’d wanted to cement their physical bond first, but he had to understand that until they dealt with the past, things would be dicey. Still, it didn’t mean he wasn’t frustrated.
    “Your brother called me this morning. Apparently he can’t meet you until this coming weekend.”
    “Leave, Toby,” Copeland said in a rough voice. It came out hateful. He couldn’t muster the energy to care.
    He’d had her in his hands and now she wasn’t. He couldn’t think past that right this second. The issue with David would have to wait. Copeland had a man watching her house and making sure she was safe. But in this moment, Daly held his mind.
    She’d return tonight. In his bones he knew it to be true. But the time between now and then might drive him batty.
    “She’s already got you tied in knots. I say, go downstairs and work off that aggression on one of the free subs.”
    Jeremiah’s gut clenched at Toby’s words.
Been there, done that.
He shook off the suggestion. Nobody deserved the fire another woman stoked. He wouldn’t give something that was hers to another ever again. No, everything he had was Daly’s. “You keep talking, Toby, when I asked you to leave. You can’t fix this. Who are you afraid for? Her or me?”
    Toby winced. “Both of you.”
    Copeland nodded. He understood that. Toby was her brother and Copeland’s best friend. The man had seen the best and worst of their relationship. He turned to once again look out overthe sprawling city of Atlanta. Fall was bearing down, and the trees the city was so known for were turning colors. Reds, oranges, yellows, and browns—they were all beautiful when tossed by the wind. From fifteen stories up, Copeland watched the trees sway in the breeze.
    Toby sighed behind him. “Stanton will make sure she gets home.”
    He nodded once. “How many people are signed up for tonight?”
    “Ten scenes,” Toby answered automatically.
    “The Black Dungeon is mine. Whoever was slated for its use needs to be