“You think I’m cute when I’m angry. You think I’m pretty when I cry. You’re messed up, you know that, right?”
“Yes, so you’ve told me,” I said drily, unaffected by the barbed comment. She couldn’t seem to help herself; she’d been riled by the solitude of her day. I’d resolve that for her. After all, it was my job to take care of my pet. “I’d like to see you smile, too, but I don’t think that will happen for a while yet.”
Her jaw dropped. “You think I’m going to smile for you?”
“I think you’ll settle down and find a way to be happy with me. Once you adjust and accept your place here.”
“Accept my place?” She slapped my chest in a burst of anger.
I clicked my tongue at her, remaining calm rather than falling prey to the anger that had gripped me that morning. Now, I understood that this little fit she was having wasn’t much more than a tantrum, and a mild one at that. This was completely different from her accusations about Lauren that had cut me so deeply.
“That wasn’t very nice,” I rebuked. “But you’re not trying very hard, either. You’re upset, and I’m going to make you feel better.”
“Short of releasing me, that’s not going to happen,” she said flatly. “Do you really think I’m going to feel better about being trapped with a sadistic psycho?”
“Mind your tongue.” This order was sharper. I wouldn’t allow her to pull me into the same turmoil she’d created with her comparisons to my brother. I wouldn’t lose control again. “I’ve indulged you too much. You will speak to me with respect.”
“Right.” Sarcasm dripped from the word. “You’ve been so indulgent with me. Beating me, violating me, chaining me up. You’re so nice,” she finished with spite.
I set her on her feet and studied her, curious rather than incited to anger. “You really can’t stop yourself, can you? You’re not capable of holding in your thoughts, even knowing they could get you into trouble. I think a little discipline will be good for you. You can learn some self-control over these tics of yours.”
She instantly clapped her hands over her bottom. “I don’t want you to punish me again.”
I trailed my fingers over her hair to soothe her. “Discipline doesn’t necessarily mean punishment. Now, try your best to be quiet and stay right here.”
I left her, walking the few steps it took to reach my desk. She remained rooted in place, but her eyes swept the room. I noticed her shoulders slump in relief when she realized we were positioned several yards away from the closed door to the playroom. I really had frightened her more than I’d intended. That was something I could work on another time.
I drummed my fingers against the desk, calling her attention to me. A wicked grin split my lips when she gasped and lunged for my laptop. I’d suspected she’d try to reach it.
As though I’d give her a chance to touch any technology.
It was fun toying with her, though.
I grabbed her waist and wrestled her to the floor with little effort, pinning her on her front with one hand between her shoulder blades. Her fingers scrabbled against the carpet, her feet kicking out wildly.
Keeping her pinned, I reached into one of my desk drawers and retrieved a pair of handcuffs, wasting no time before securing her wrists together at the small of her back.
She thrashed uselessly. “Do you just have kinky shit stashed everywhere?” she demanded on a growl.
“Of course.” My penthouse had been designed with my perversions in mind, and I’d made sure to stock restraints in various locations since I’d captured Samantha. “Settle down. This won’t hurt.”
“You think I’m going to settle down when you basically just taunted me with a laptop? Do you know how starved I am for the internet? For technology? You don’t even have a real clock, for god’s sake, and you’ve been hiding a laptop from me?”
I
curled my fingers around her nape, pressing her cheek against the carpet to still her shaking head.
“I need my laptop for work,” I replied calmly. “I’m going to take care of some business, and you’re going to be quiet and look pretty for me while I do.”
“Work,” she spat, scathing. “You mean drug trafficking and selling women.”
My fingers tightened around her neck. “Be very careful what you say next, Samantha. I know you struggle to control your tongue, but I’m warning you to try very hard. I don’t want to punish you now, but I will.”
I’d made allowances for her sass about being left alone all day, but we were skirting dangerously close to topics that would rile my anger. I didn’t like being angry around her. It made me erratic. Dangerous.
I didn’t want to harm her by accident. She was so fragile in my grip. I could damage her by exerting a fraction of my strength.
“But it’s what you do.” Her mouth was running away with her again, the words streaming from her lips. “You and your brother. That’s your business.”