“I won’t allow you to have me transported like livestock.”
“You won’t allow it?” he mused, steepling his fingers.
Her expression changed so that it matched the artfully applied mask. The fire in her eyes smoldered and then cooled, leaving her with an appearance of calm that wasn’t normal for her.
“You are the youngest advisor to the throne that there has ever been. I was foolish to underestimate your ruthlessness.”
He said nothing, choosing instead to watch her carefully.
“I acknowledge your victory,” she said, her tone dripping with resentment.
He stood and crossed the distance to stand in front of her. He put his hands on her shoulders. She pulled free, but he caught her wrist and held it, not allowing her to remove it from his grasp.
He leaned forward and spoke softly. “I was ruthless. The part of me that cares for you apologizes for that.”
Her gaze flicked to his face.
“But at my core, from birth and training, I am a certain kind of man. I will never be anyone’s plaything. If you try to force that role on me, I’ll make you take it instead.”
“You were distant. I only wanted to be close to you again.” She took a deep breath and exhaled. “But I suppose I was too giddy and a bit taunting about my freedom. I shouldn’t have expected you to celebrate with me so soon after you’d lost your pet.”
He brushed his thumb over her wrist and let it go.
“Although,” she said, as he began to walk away.
He paused and looked back at her.
“You don’t seem to have lost your pet for very long. Did you drug me?” she demanded.
He shrugged. “If you give me an excuse to render you helpless, naked, and bound, I will take the opportunity and enjoy it.”
“Monstrous, down to the bone.”
He smiled. “Tell me the truth. Other than shocked, how did you feel about what you witnessed in the pet compartment on the glider? Did you turn away from what happened? Or did you watch the exploitation of the other little pet with a bit of relish?”
She swallowed and stalked over to the window.
“That’s what I thought,” he murmured. “Rocurt is on his way. I summoned him so that he could take you away from here before the debauched party events begin,” he said, striding to her. With his body close to hers, he whispered, “But you can choose to stay. I wish you would.”
When she didn’t make a biting remark, he put a hand on her hip and eased her body back against his.
“It’s your chance to see the things no one will let you see,” he whispered. “Maybe your only chance.”
She turned her head. “You don’t care about my curiosity.”
“On the contrary. I care about it a great deal since it’s my leverage to get you to stay.”
She turned to face him and looked up into his eyes; the gold flecks in hers were especially stunning. She didn’t draw back, which only stoked the fire in his groin. Her subtle defiance called to his dominance more than anything ever had.
Brandese placed her small hand on his chest, over his beating heart. “We’ll all leave.”
“I’m required to be here at least one night.”
She frowned. “I don’t want you to stay without me.”
“Then we’re agreed.”
“No, but if Rocurt stays, so will I.”
