He smiled, almost softly. “Don’t worry. I haven’t needed the restraints in a very long time. I’ve done this job myself for eleven years. But now I have you.”
Now I have you...
Why did those four little words affect me so?
Stress throbbed in my temples, but I kept it at bay as my eyes roamed over his bare, almost hairless chest. He didn’t have an inch of fat on him, leaving his muscles pronounced and sharp.
Did he shave or was he just naturally annoyingly gorgeous?
“Where are you from?” I asked before I could censor myself, mortification painting my cheeks.
He smirked, his gaze roaming over me just like mine roamed over him. “Why? Suddenly curious about me?”
“Would you kill me if I said yes?”
“Probably.”
I exhaled heavily. “Fine. Forget I—”
“Where areyoufrom?” He cut in, wrenching my eyes to his.
His first personal question about me.
His first curiosity.
My heart skipped a beat. “Me? I’m—”
“Forget it.” He bared his teeth as if shocked he’d even asked. “I don’t care.”
But he didn’t look away, and his voice couldn’t quite hide the lie.
Could it be possible?
Was he feeling things like me?
Was he as confused and wary as I was?
Falling into his dark eyes, I blurted, “You know...you still haven’t asked me what my name is.”
He scowled, his belly tensing as he sucked in a breath. “Why would I ask the names of those wanting to kill or seduce me?”
“I think we’ve established that I’m not, in fact, trying to kill you.” I shrugged and arched my chin at all the needles and medical paraphernalia. “If I was, you’re playing a very risky game bringing me here.”
He smiled coldly. “Do you honestly think Whisper would let you lay a single finger on me that I didn’t allow?”
My hand moved on its own accord, landing over his forearm on the chair rest.
He jolted.
I froze.
Whisper dashed forward and nuzzled where we joined as if approving rather than forbidding it.
The panther’s whiskers tickled. I wrenched my hand away.
Clearing his throat, Lucien shook out his arm as if I’d burned him. His eyes danced to mine, wide with surprise, but then his heartless composure slammed back into place like a well-worn mask.
“Stop wasting time.” Turning both arms upward, so each wrist faced me, he glowered at the small holes in the silver cuffs. “Attach the drains.”
