Capturing Callie Read Free

up into his arms. When she started to struggle, he simply squeezed her tightly to his chest and whispered, “Be still or I’ll drop you.” He was pleased when she settled immediately. Hmmm—a submissive criminal? That would be a novel concept. Suppressing the urge to laugh, Ian took the lead as they made their way back up the steep, carved rock steps leading to his home.
    When they reached the back entrance, Jace stepped in front of him and tapped the code into the security system and then opened the door. “I’ll secure these and meet you in your office in fifteen. That should give you time to get that crap off her face. We need to be able to see her while we sort this out.” Then after glancing in her direction he returned his gaze to Ian before adding, “If I were you, I’d leave the little she-devil bound.” With that he turned and stormed down the hall toward his own office and quarters.
    Ian had already set her on her feet and watched as she winced at Jace’s words and then turned back to him. When she looked up at him, he felt like he’d been hit by lightning. Her eyes were the most amazing shade of violet he’d ever seen. There was almost something mystical about their color, and he suddenly understood the fascination Russians had with tanzanite. Looking at her, he was immediately hit by the zing of sexual awareness that seemed to arc between them. He felt a connection that he’d only read about in the ancient folklore tales his father had always insisted he study. The elder McGregor had reminded his son repeatedly about the importance of honoring “the gift of his Irish heritage.” Before this moment, Ian would have sworn the old romantic tales were nothing but pure fiction. But now? Now he had to wonder if his father hadn’t been a lot wiser than Ian had ever known.
    Taking her elbow firmly in hand, Ian led her to the small washroom off his office. Since he didn’t trust her, he entered the small room also. He cut the zip-ties, then turned to her and simply said, “Strip.” Watching as her eyes went wide and then dilated before they turned to ice, he had almost laughed when she tried to appear taller by standing on the balls of her feet. Jesus, the defiance was coming off her in waves, but there was an underlying sensuality that had been sparked to life. He’d seen it flicker in her eyes before she’d managed to effectively hide it. If he hadn’t been a trained Dominant, he was sure he wouldn’t have caught it, but it had been there, even if for only a millisecond. When she didn’t make any move to comply with his order, he took one step forward and watched as she tried to step back but stopped when her ass came up against the countertop. “What is your name, Carlin ?”
    “It’s…um…Callie. Callie Reece. Who are you? And why do you want me to strip?” Her voice had trembled in genuine fear, and while he didn’t want her comfortable, he didn’t want her so afraid of him that she completely shut down emotionally either. Hell, they’d never find out anything if she clammed up. Best she enjoy at least some of his attention, so he decided he’d give her a few options to consider.
    “Well, Callie, my name is Ian McGregor and this is my home. As a matter of fact, I own the entire island you just tried to sneak onto. As to why you have to strip, I have to make sure you aren’t armed, and I want that crap washed off your face. And since I don’t trust you and I think you might well attempt to make a break for it, I’ll be staying right here. Now, either you strip or I’ll strip you. And if I do it, you’ll get a paddling for my trouble, is that clear enough?” Ian knew he wasn’t going to win any “Host of the Year” awards, but the tiny troublemaker was getting to him in a big way and he was losing patience with himself as well as with her continued deer-in-the-headlights stare.
    Deciding to see how she’d react to his full-on Dom tone, he barked, “Now, Callie. Strip or