Shock consumes me when he gently cups the back of my head and draws me into him slowly. I don’t resist, still coiled, waiting for him to strike.
He leads me to the bed, sits down, and gathers me, towel and all, across his lap. I freeze in his grip, waiting for something. All he does is hug me to his chest, and after a moment, he scoops my hair to the back of my neck and presses his forehead into mine.
“I’m going to be hard on you. Some days, I’ll be so demanding you won’t be able to stand it. Others, I’ll care for you so gently you’ll be putty in my hands. And even still, there will be days you hate the very sight of me. But the thing you need to remember is no matter how bad or good the days are, you belong to me.”
His tone takes on an edge, and the grip on my neck tightens as he digs his fingers into my skin. “You belong to me,” he repeats. “Every breath you take is mine. Every time you fall apart, every happy moment, and sad, they all belong to me. One day you’ll understand, but for now, just know you’re safe. I won’t be selling you. No one will gawk at you or touch you except me.”
I swallow heavily, my heart beating hard against my ribs, and I don’t even know why. It’s not like I want him. Because I don’t. I definitely want nothing to do with this murderer who turns me inside out and makes me feel every nerve ending in my body.
He tugs the tray toward him on the bed and lifts a piece of toast to my lips. “Eat for me.”
And all I can do is meet his eyes and let him feed me.
9
Nic
There’s an accusation in her eyes. As if I’ve stolen her all over again, and she’s counting the seconds until she can break free. I hate that the look is there because of me, but I’m also not strong enough to give her up. Not strong enough to watch her slip from my grasp.
She frowns as I feed her a bite of scrambled eggs. In her mind, feeding her is an act of degradation. In mine, it’s an act of caring, an act of a provider.
When she finishes chewing, I feed her a bit of sausage and take a bite for myself.
“Why are you doing this?”
Deliberately misunderstanding her question, I say, “You’re hungry, and I want to feed you.”
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
I hold the fork up to her lips again, but she bats my hand away and shakes her head.
“Not eating isn’t going to help your situation. You might as well enjoy my excellent cook as part of the perks.”
Her scowl makes me grin as I move the tray to my dresser and then return to the bed.
“Now what?” she asks, ice returning to her voice.
I tuck a piece of damp hair behind one of her delicate ears. “I give you what you tried to offer me before the auction, a way to ensure you don’t get put on the block again, by me or anyone else.”
“How?” Her eyes narrow in suspicion.
My grin should be a warning, but her eyes are still wide as I tug the tucked ends of the towel around her breasts and strip it away.
She tries to chase after the towel, but I’ve already jerked it off and tossed it on the floor before she can get a proper grasp on the cotton.
“What the hell? I don’t want to sleep with you,” she whines, cupping her hands over the breasts I just carefully washed.
“It’s adorable that you think you have a choice, princess. Do you want your buyer to get his hands on you? Because I promise, if he finds you, and you’re still a virgin, he’s going to be a very happy man until he breaks you and then discards you.”
“How is that different from what you’re doing to me?”
I wave at the food and toward the shower. “I’m caring for you. Having sex with you, while I admit, will be enjoyable, is also meant to ensure you lose some of your appeal to many of my clients in the future.”
Her gaze is even icier than her tone now. “How magnanimous of you to fuck me to keep me safe. What a hardship this must be for you.”
With a snatch, I grasp her chin and pull her into me. “Watch your tone, stellina. I’m being gentle with you, but I won’t be disrespected so defiantly.”
She clamps her mouth shut and continues to glare. I can’t wait to wipe that look from her eyes when I make her shudder and moan around my cock.
“Come here,” I say and drag her naked into my lap. Her ass is full and soft in my hands, and I knead my fingertips into her muscles.