Her eyes began to shine, and I frowned. “Did I make you sad?”
“No,” she said, her voice catching. “That…means a lot to me.”
“Then why are you crying?”
“Because I don’t want to leave,” she whispered. “I don’t want to leave you, but I should.”
My jaw firmed as possessive anger flared, tinged with hurt and fear. “You’re still thinking about how to escape?”
“No,” she said quickly. “I mean, yes. I mean, I want to get out of working for Cristian. I don’t want to spend my days locked in this penthouse, fearing the day your brother comes for me. And if you really value my mind like you say you do, you won’t want that for me, either.”
I scowled. “This is the safest place for you. You should fear Cristian. This is the only way I know how to protect you.”
“This isn’t the life I want,” she said, desperate. “I can’t stay trapped in a cage forever. I need to do something meaningful. I need to help people.”
“You’ve been reading too many comic books. You can’t be a superhero, Samantha. You’re far too breakable, and I won’t put you at risk.”
“I can be a hero,” she asserted, her eyes sparking as her anger rose. “I used to do it every day, before you took me. I had a life. I had purpose.”
I wrapped my arms around her and rolled, settling my weight on her. She couldn’t escape me. She couldn’t leave me. “Your life is with me now. And my purpose is to protect you.”
“You won’t be able to keep me from Cristian forever,” she reasoned. “Let me call my friends at the Bureau. If you go into hiding before they come for Cristian, I can cover your tracks. They won’t find you. You’ll be safe.”
She wanted to send me away. That wasn’t going to happen. I’d never allow her to be parted from me.
“And what about you?” I demanded, my jealous anger rising. “Where will you be while I’m in hiding? Will you go back to your friends? To your Dex?” I spat the man’s name.
“I…I don’t know,” she whispered.
“You’re mine,” I snarled. My cock stiffened against her, pressing at the entrance to her cunt. “And you’re not going anywhere. Not back to your Dex. And not to my brother. You belong to me.”
“I’m yours,” she agreed. “But I can’t—”
I cut her off with a merciless kiss as I drove inside her, reminding her of my claim, our connection. I fucked her hard, possessing her with deep, merciless strokes. She rocked her body against mine, meeting me with her own fierce need. Samantha didn’t want to leave me. She was just confused, still caught up in the fantasy that she could save the day. Regardless of her wishes, I’d never put her at risk. And I’d certainly never agree to a plan that separated us.
I joined our bodies with ruthless thrusts. I’d drown her in brutal ecstasy until she realized she couldn’t live without me.
Chapter 18
I woke her early the next morning with a soft kiss against her neck. She turned her head, offering me better access. I rumbled my approval, nipping at her. She pressed her ass back against my erection in wanton invitation. We were both naked, nestled under the sheets together. I’d allowed her to rest, studying her peaceful features for a long while. Now, I was too hungry for her to allow her to continue sleeping.
“It’s time for your punishment,” I murmured in her ear.
“Punishment?” she asked, her tone slurred and sleepy rather than sharp with alarm. “Why?”
“You tried to escape,” I reminded her, more aroused than upset. “That was very naughty, gatita. I’ve owed you a punishment for days.”
“Oh. Okay,” she agreed easily.
I kissed the tender spot I’d bitten. “Good girl.”
I gave her a few minutes to stir and go through her morning routine. When she emerged from the bathroom, her cheeks were pink and her eyes were sparkling.
I beckoned to her from where I stood in the threshold to the sitting room. “Come.”
She came to me without hesitation, her expression serene rather than fearful. She knew pain was coming, but she wasn’t terrified, as she’d once been. I’d trained her to enjoy erotic pain. Or perhaps she’d always been this way. Perhaps she’d been built just for me, my perfect Samantha.
She placed her hand in mine and walked with me into our playroom, utterly docile and willing to accept whatever punishment I chose to dole out. Her contrition for trying to leave me was genuine, and she accepted that she deserved discipline for her rash actions. We’d both feel better when she released her tears.