“Last chance, Sydney.” His head tipped down at me “Give me your hands.”
“Why?” was the only word I could force out.
Ever had that sensation where your body was there but your mind wasn’t? That’s where I was. Stuck in some weird suspended state of tingles while I stared at him. His full, thick lips looked so soft and touchable that I couldn’t stop staring.
Not even when he barked out, “Because I fucking said so!”
“You smell good.”
Devlin arched a brow, making mine knit.
Why did I just say that?
Sure, he smelled good, all masculine and spicy, but that was beside the point. The last thing he needed was an ego boost.
“Compared to the mold that’s probably down here, a bag of shit would smell good.”
Almost instantly, the slow clap started in the back of my head.
Good save, Syd. Why don’t you say something else stupid?
Which was exactly what I planned to do until his nostrils flared.
“Did you just smell me?”
“No,” Devlin insisted, but I noticed the way his pupils flared.
“Yes, you did.”
“No, I didn’t,” he snarled back. “Why the fuck would I smell you?”
That was a good question. Why the fuck would he smell me? The man hated me.
“Ah ha!” I exclaimed when his eyes dipped down for a fraction of a second. “You just looked at my boobs.”
Devlin rolled his eyes and snorted. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
“Don’t try to deny it,” I sang. “I saw you.”
The next thing I knew, I was being held back against the wall with his hand around my neck.
“You’re the one that has them hanging out like a goddamn whore,” he spat. “What the fuck did you think was going to happen?”
He could hate me all he wanted, but I was so done with his bullshit. “Fuck you, Devlin.”
Anger pulsed through his fingers as they tightened around my throat.
“Dress like a slut, and I’ll treat you like one.” My pulse picked up as Devlin stepped in, pressing his body up against mine.
I couldn’t help but glance over to a corner where various whips and other instruments hung. He was just messing with me, right? People didn’t whip people. At least not as punishment.
The way Devlin stood there, looming over me with his shoulders rolled back, made me reconsider that thought. Other people might not do something like that, but I didn’t think he’d have a problem with it. Devlin Adair wanted to hurt me.
“You don’t scare me.” Maybe if I stood my ground, he’d back down.
I wasn’t that lucky.
“Yes, I do.”
