“It’s okay, angel,” he growls in return. “I couldn’t take something away from you when it makes you smile like this.”
His sweet words make me feel warm and cozy inside. The sparks ignite when he reaches for me, gently tipping my chin back to make me look at him.
“You need to stop being so bratty. It makes me look bad,” he mutters. “My colleagues are already questioning my ability to run the Scorpion cartel, since I seem preoccupied with you. If you want me to treat you the way you deserve, you need to earn it. So no more bratty shit. Got it, angel?”
“Yes,” I nod, my voice soft and barely audible.
“Good girl.” He looks like he’s about to kiss my forehead, but then changes his mind at the last minute and pulls up. Xavier stands, fixing his cufflinks as he nods toward the dogs, saying, “You’re going to have to name them and find some way to tell them apart.”
“I already picked their names,” I beam. “Zeus and Hades. Since they’re brothers.”
He groans at the words. “Of course you’d pick something like that. This is an indulgence I’ll allow you, Tallulah. But make up for it with your behavior, angel. Otherwise the dogs are going.”
My vision clouds with fear, and I glare at him. “You can’t take them away from me.”
He smirks. “I can do whatever the fuck I want to you, angel.”
Chapter 7
XAVIER
It’s almost midnight, which means soon, Tallulah’s special day will be ready. We agreed on one day per season, when she can touch me, kiss me and spend time with me. I will give in for those twenty-four hours, but given all her recent transgressions, she hasn’t earned the right to a reward.
I tell her she’s free until the next afternoon, and to get some rest. Around four p.m. the next day, I saunter into her room without knocking.
The puppies are in her lap as she reads a book on the window seat overlooking the cliffs. She glances up at me, her eyes darkening when she sees who came to visit. The puppies growl at me and she smirks to herself, clearly pleased with their obedience. Too bad the damn things only listen to her.
She nervously toys with the silver pendant as she pretends to read. I sit down on her bed. “What are you reading?”
“I...” She flushes. “Wuthering Heights.”
“I can see that,” I smirk, motioning to the cover, which clearly states Pride and Prejudice. With an outraged look, Tallulah snaps the book shut and returns it to the large built-in bookshelf I added to her room. Last week, I gave her an unlimited book budget, which she’s been happily taking advantage of.
The dogs follow closely behind her, throwing suspicious looks at me as if they’re unsure on whether they should trust me. Tallulah lingers in the middle of the room, as if she’s unsure where to go next.
“Have you thought about your bratty ways?” I smirk. “Am I going to see some regret for your actions? Or are you going to be just as badly behaved today?”
“I haven’t decided yet,” Tallulah mutters, defensively crossing her arms in front of her body.
“Wrong answer,” I mutter. “I told you not to mouth off. I gave you so many opportunities to fix yourself into a better toy for me.”
“I’m not a toy.”
“That’s exactly what you are,” I hiss. “Better get used to it now, or spend the rest of your life with me by your side being fucking miserable.”
“I refuse to be reduced to property,” she huffs, angrily glaring at me. “I’m not your plaything, Xavier.”
“Well, someone sure has been improving her vocabulary with all those books,” I laugh out loud. “But it will not help you. Submit, or suffer the consequences.”
“When am I going to see my parents and Mathilda?”
I rub my temples warily. “You sound like a broken record with that question. I already told you. Somebody’s threatening you. You’re not going anywhere.”
“You can’t keep me from my family forever,” she hisses. “I’ll run away from you.”
“Explain something to me, angel,” I mutter, rubbing my chin. “You were such an obedient, sweet little thing when I was just your guardian. What made you turn into this little bratty nightmare that’s only good for giving me trouble? Do you think I fucking enjoy punishing you?”
“I don’t doubt that you do,” she says with a contemptuous look. “I know you get off on hurting women.”
“No, angel,” I say with a sly smirk. “The only one I enjoy hurting is you. Because you fucking love it.”
She walks away, but I follow closely, grabbing the silver chain around her neck and forcing her to stop in her tracks lest she choke on her own necklace.
“Behave,” I remind her sternly, spinning her around so she’s forced to face me. “Tell me about this pretty little necklace. A gift from your parents?”