Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 123575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 618(@200wpm)___ 494(@250wpm)___ 412(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 618(@200wpm)___ 494(@250wpm)___ 412(@300wpm)
I twist around and grab her wrist, squeezing just shy of pain. “I know your ears work so don’t play games with me. I told you not to touch anything, so don’t.”
Challenge fills her eyes. “Going to punish me already?”
Yes. No. Maybe. I don’t fucking know.
What I do know is that I need to focus. I need to stay on top of things. I release her and move into the bedroom. She follows me like a curious cat. The space feels different with her in it—smaller, charged with energy.
“This drawer is yours.” I empty one of my dresser drawers methodically, trying to ignore the way she explores my space, making it hers. “Bathroom is through there.” I point to the left. “And the security system will alert me if a door opens.”
She runs her hand along my bookshelf, examining the titles, blatantly ignoring my previous warning. “Quite the collection. Advanced Security Systems, Chemical Restraint Methods, Corporate Espionage...just a little light reading?”
“Lilian.” My voice carries a warning.
“Oh yes, sorry. Just getting to know my new... roommate? Or should I call you captor? I guess we never really established what to call this little arrangement.”
I need to draw the line, make her understand that while I don’t want them to hurt her, that doesn’t mean I won’t do whatever the hell I want with her. I stalk toward her, and instinct makes her walk backward.
She doesn’t look away, not even when she becomes trapped between the bookcases. “We’re calling nothing. I’m the only thing standing between you and death, so behave, and stop touching my shit.”
Annoyance coats each word I speak, but she does as I tell her, and underneath that annoyance something else grows. Watching her insert herself into my carefully ordered space makes my chest ache and my stomach turn upside down.
It makes me all warm and fucking fuzzy. Great. Her clothes are in my drawer. Her toiletries are in my bathroom. Her scent is mixing with mine.
It’s like watching a predator mark her territory—except I’m not sure which of us is the predator anymore.
“There.” She closes the drawer with a satisfied smile. “All moved in. Now what?”
The question hangs dangerously in the air between us. Now what indeed?
“Ground rules.” I move to block her path as she starts toward my computer setup. “The security room is off-limits. The holding area is off-limits. Try to access either, and I’ll make sure you regret it.”
“Holding area?” Her smile is too innocent. “Is that what we’re calling Aries’s cell?”
“Don’t.” My voice comes out harder than intended. “Aries is off-limits, and I won’t discuss it any further.”
“He’s my stepbrother.” She presses closer, invading my space. “I should at least be able to see him, talk to him—”
If she thinks I brought her here so she can rescue him she’s going to be dissatisfied. I pinch her chin between two fingers as I force her to look at me, to truly hear what I’m saying to her. “Let me be very clear. You’re here because those men made you a liability. That doesn’t give you privileges. It doesn’t make you part of this.” I gesture in the direction of the cell.
“I’m already part of this.” Her hand comes up to wrap around my wrist, not pulling away but holding on. “Can I see him? Please? Just for a minute.”
“No.” I growl, but even I can feel my resolve crumbling.
“Why not?” She inches a little closer, her chest brushing against my shirt. She’s going to make me snap, make me lose control again. At some point a man breaks completely. “Afraid we’ll conspire against you? Plan an escape?” The way she wiggles her eyebrows would be adorable if what she just said wasn’t actually a worry eating at the back of my mind.
Jealousy and rage slice through me at the same time.
“I’m not afraid of you conspiring against me. I’m afraid of you complicating things that are already far too complicated.”
Like both Aries and I both falling for you, wanting you, claiming you.
“And how would I do that?” She tilts her head to the side.
“By existing, by tempting me, making me lose control.” I speak the words through gritted teeth, my blood burning with need.
Why do I deny myself? Why not take her right now?
Leverage. Remember the task at hand. Remember why you brought her here.
“I know you want me. You don’t have to deny it. Don’t have to pretend.”
“I was never pretending, and I told you that. I’ve made it known that I want your tight cunt pulsing around my cock since the very beginning.”
She thinks I don’t notice the way she flinches ever so slightly at my crude language, but I know it hurts her to be thought of as a mere hole that I’m willing to fuck and toss aside…but what does she expect?