“It’s not necessary,” she says quickly, starting to pull away. My grip on her wrist tightens.
“I didn’t ask. If I let you walk out of here alone, someone else might think you’re fair game.”
The threat and promise in my tone make her pupils swallow up the pretty grey of her eyes. I shouldn’t want to possess her, not so soon, but I do. I want it in a way I haven’t wanted anything in a long time.
I walk her toward the exit. The crowd parts around us like they know better than to interfere.
The stairs are cast in shadows above. The hostess waits above, her brows lifting minutely when she sees me rise from the melee below. Her eyes flicker to the guards, and the woman turns to face me, the white of her dress soaking in the amber lighting and paying homage to her curves.
With two fingers, I dismiss the hostess. Her departure goes unnoticed.
“Thank you,” the hare whispers.
Leaning in, I catch her hand and warn, “I already told you—I’m not your hero.”
She steps back, and I can see the flicker of heat in her fearful face. A slow smile curves beneath the mask as I order, “Close the entrances. Don’t let anyone in or up.”
Chapter 3
Roxy
The men obey him without question. In seconds, they move the marble slab into place over the staircase below. Do the guests down there realize that they’re trapped underground, all at this man’s whim?
Four guards stride out of the vault, pulling the massive door shut and slowly spinning the lock until it booms into place. The bear mask looks even more cruel in the vault’s light, and though it’s brighter than it was below, the close space gives everything a feeling of intimacy.
Which shouldnotbe possible with a complete stranger.
Especially one who is stalking me across the room.
When he smirks, there’s a dull glint of metal in his mouth. It almost draws me closer, like a magpie to some treasure, but I’m not sure if this will result in reward or regret. His dark eyes seem to promise both.
“Are you scared, little hare?” he asks, stalking closer. The accent in his voice thrilling something in me I didn’t know existed.
I shake my head but take a step back. Deep green security deposit boxes in assorted sizes with gold numbers on the front line the wall. On either side of me are large cabinets that areso tall they reach my hip. The wood is dark, old, and worn with locked drawers secreted away.
The bear advances, closing the distance slowly, but surely. Hanging off of his broad shoulders like a long, heavy cape, I can see his costume-like jacket.
Suddenly he’sthere.Hands on my hips again, digging into the soft flesh I’m so self-conscious of. I let out a cry of surprise, half-turn away from him, but there’s no real struggle. He backs me up against the nearest cabinet with a growl, pressing his body close to mine. The rumble of his satisfaction is the only sound filling the vault as he leans in and skims his nose along my throat.
“Everyone is wrong about you,” he murmurs, pressing a light kiss to my jaw. My pulse skyrockets, chest heaving against his as he squeezes my thick waist. “Aren’t they? You know it, deep down. Here.”
His hand cups my center, and I gasp in surprise. His small laugh is like honey in my ear, but he does nothing more; just holds me there as his other hand caresses down my back and rests just above my ass.
“That woman. You know her?”
Nodding, I swallow hard and try to break the anxiety making my body vibrate. “Y—yes. She’s my sister.”
The bear pulls back briefly, his dark eyes searching mine. “Your own sister saying those things to you.” He shakes his head. “Shame. Shame on her not to realize seduction personified when it walks into a room.”
His hand leaves my pussy, and I close my eyes tight, trying to ignore the stab of disappointment. But then he’s gripping my hips again, turning me around to face the cabinet, the wood pressing into my pelvis.
“And the man she spoke about,” he murmurs, his hips rutting against my ass—leaving no questionwhyhe asked the guards to lock us in.
To leave us alone.
His cock is impressively hard against my ass, a warm iron rod thrust lightly over and over. Beneath the satin, my nipples pebble against the silicone modesty covers I bought this morning at a pharmacy. My head whirls with the memory of such a normal morning contrasting withthis,a beast massaging the most intimate parts of me and growling in satisfaction.
“I’m going to prove,” he promises in a cold, calculated voice, “that they areallwrong about you. And I’m going to enjoy having you all to myself, little hare. Just how I want you.”
