My pulse pounded as he tilted his head, running his tongue along his bottom lip like he had all the time in the world to see me unravel and get on all fours.
Lies. He didn’t have any patience. I knew it. The only reason he was being patient right now was because he knew I’d do it. One way or another. Even if it ended up with me being on the ground with his hand in my hair, forcefully or willingly, he was giving me a choice here. His way, or mine, which in reality was his way also.
“Dolcezza,” he murmured, voice like a dark promise. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”
I could feel it. The shift. The thin line I was forcing him to cross. One that wouldn’t end well for me.
Something in me screamed to run. Another part? The traitorous part? It shivered. With anticipation, fear and dread. I knew if I made a run for it, my legs would give up on me.
His patience was wearing thin. I could see it as his fingers tapped against the armrest.Tick. Tick. Tick.
I was playing with fire. And he was the fucking inferno.
Obedience.
The word tasted bitter on my tongue. Every part of me rejected it. I didn’t want to do this. I shouldn’t, but there was no other way.
None.
He was the immovable force. The unshakable pillar. The lion watched its prey thrash in the trap, knowing full well there was no escape.
I was cornered completely. My mind ran through every possibility, every alternative. Could I say no? Would he letme leave? Would he let me breathe, exist without any consequences?
No.
I knew that already. I’d always known.
A sharp pang hit my chest as my fists curled. It wasn’t fair.It wasn’t fair. And yet, my body moved before my pride could stop it.
Slowly and painfully, I uncurled my fingers, letting go of the last shreds of my resistance tangled in the silk. Shaky breaths shuddered out of me as I slowly lowered myself.
The wooden floor was cold beneath my palms as I pressed them down, my knees following next. Shame burned through me. I could feel the heat crawling up my throat, sinking its claws into my chest and ripping out the flesh.
I kept my gaze low, refusing to see the satisfaction I knew would be painted all over his face.
My insides churned as I shifted onto my knees completely. Humiliation curled, and I suddenly couldn’t breathe. This was what he wanted. To break me. To strip me down until I was the perfect submissive woman in his eyes.
My spine straightened even as my body trembled while I crawled to him.
I crawled until I reached him, everything in me breaking with each second. I wanted to hide away from him. This man was crazy, insanely horrifying.
Just when I was close enough, I stopped.
“Look at me,” he ordered, and even with no heart to obey him, I did it.
The look on my face pleased him, and he cradled my cheek with his large palm. There was no other physical contact, but still, it was enough to unravel me. He leaned, invading my personal space until his mouth was barely an inch away from my earlobe.
“That’s my good girl.”
My face turned red. All I could do was flutter my lashes as he caressed my ear.
“Come closer.”
I was already between his legs, on the verge of touching his thighs, so when he slightly nudged me to his body, I shivered in response before my hands involuntarily landed on his muscular thighs for balance.
The moment my hands touched him, I was taken aback by the solid muscles under my palms. It was laughable how my entire palm was barely half the width of his thigh. He was tall, broad-shouldered and muscular, but I never imagined him to be rock solid.
That only heightened my terror. This man could crush my skull with his one hand.
