“No.”
He raises his eyebrows. “No?”
“That’s nonsense.” I take a deep breath. “You’ve asked me what I want, and given me gifts?—”
“Those were—” he rumbles.
“Brody.” Impatience licks at me as surely as the afternoon sun. I don’t allow myself to second-guess this. He enjoyed it last night in the pool, I know he did. But for some reason, he won’t do anything about it. “What do you want with me?”
He stares down at me silently, mouth in a flat line.
“You said I couldn’t leave. Does that mean that you wantme? Because you’ve had plenty of opportunities, but you haven’t touched me.”
He straightens to his full, imposing height and his jaw clenches.
“Tell me, or I’ll escape.” I throw out the threat desperately.
“I’ll find you,” he replies.
“I’ll escape again.”
“Wherever you run to, Caterina.” He draws my hand inexorably towards him. His voice is husky. “I will find you and bring you home.”
Ohh. Oh my god. It takes all my effort to not melt. The idea of him coming for me, wherever I am? Scorching.
And I smile. Because it’s not a confession of love, but it might as well be. Still, I need more. “I’ll run at every opportunity. You’ll be forever dragging me home.”
His silver eyes gleam in the afternoon sunlight. “That’s not such a terrible game.”
My heart thuds. But in a good way. With excitement, like I’m glad to be alive. “Okay.”
“Okay,” he repeats cautiously, sober again. He’s sceptical. Wary. My grumpy Bratva kingpin is worried I’ll reject him, I realise. In some ways, he’s as scared as I was when he pulled me out of that wardrobe. And as lonely.
“Chase me.” I’m throwing in all my pride here. Maybe it was the bruised and battered girl who he didn’t fancy, but I’m healed now, and I have to try. “I’m going to run. If I can get away, you’ll tell me what you want.” I leave the implication hanging. I’ll come back.
“My little cat,” he says, voice soft and smoky, a smile curling over his lips. “If you win, I’ll tell youeverything. I’ll tell you my every sordid desire. I’ll tell you things that will make you blush like fire.”
I’m already nodding. “Yes. And then I can choose, and you’ll let me go if I wish.”
“But if I catch you, I’m going todowhatever I want, for as long as I want. I get to keep you.” His voice has lowered further. It’s pure sex.
My nipples think so too. And my pussy. They both zing.
“You need proof of how much I crave you, moya koshechka? You need to be hunted and captured?” A hint of a smile tugs at his mouth.
The sound that comes from my throat is one of agreement, but it’s of a small, soft prey animal. My breath is all shallow and my heart is racing already. Yes, yes.
What will he do when he catches me? If I win, he’ll tell me his desires, and my mind fills with delicious, filthy words that he could pour into my ears. Things I could respond “yes” or “no” to. Gifts to unwrap.
But if he wins… He won’t tell. He’ll show.
He’ll claim whatever he wants. Since I’ve been his captive all he’s ever done is what I asked. The reversal makes me quiver with anticipation.
I won’t get a choice.
“Come.” He turns us away from the house and leads me through the garden. The sun is lowering, gilding every surface with pink gold and casting shadows so dark you could fall into them.
It takes me a moment to see where we’re going, then my heart ticks faster as we emerge from the long borders of flowers to the entrance of a maze.
