The air throbbed thick and hot, threading around us with blatant need. “I don’t care. I’ll tell you anyway.” Licking my lips, I murmured, “I want you to fuck me, Jethro Hawk, so you can see that you may own my body, but you will never own my soul. By taking me, you’ll finally realize that I’m the strongest one here. That I can manipulate you into wanting me.”
Taking a huge risk and gambling with my life, I reached up to cup his cheek.
He flinched but didn’t move away. “The moment when you fill me, you’ll see. That moment when you douse me in your cum, you’ll be completely in my power. I’ll own you. A Weaver owning a pet Hawk.”
And when I’d collared and blinded him, I would use my bird of prey to hunt on my behalf. I would teach him to tear out the hearts of my enemies and obey my every whim. Because I was done being controlled. I was done being a girl.
I’m unconquerable.
Silence fell thick and cloying. We both didn’t move, our breathing ragged and torn.
Then Jethro released me, stepping back with unmeasured steps. “Confidence will only hurt you in the end.”
The back of my neck tingled from where he’d held me. “I guess we’ll see. Unless you plan never to sleep with me.”
Ignoring that, he snatched my wrist and dragged me toward the door. “Enough. I’m done with your games.”
I stumbled after him, following the muddy wake of his anger. “Where are we going?”
His voice dropped to a hiss. “First, you have a history lesson, and then...”
My heart fell into my toes as he wrenched open the door and tugged me into the corridor.
I couldn’t help myself. I had to ask. “Then?”
Smiling cruelly, he said, “Then it’s time for payment. Today is your First Debt, Ms. Weaver. The Debt Inheritance has begun.”
Chapter Ten
Jethro
FUCK IT ALL to hell.
It’d taken the longest session of my life to claw back my chilly shell. It’d taken more out of me than even the first lesson taught by my father.
But within ten minutes, Nila fucking Weaver had found the smallest of cracks and used a crowbar of words to snap it wider.
Too bad for her, I wasn’t giving in today. I had a job to do—a mandate to fulfil—and I would carry it out to the best of my ability. If I didn’t, everyone would see. And everyone would know that the firstborn son was weak.
I’d been watching Kestrel and his sneaky smiles. I’d been stalking Daniel and his maddening glares. They both wanted what I had. And I wouldn’t give my father any reason to think I couldn’t tame Nila like any self-respecting Hawk. Cameras around the house would report how I treated Nila to Cut and the Black Diamond brotherhood. Spies would be on the lookout, judging my final test to ensure the Hawk fortune was going to the right brother.
This was the ultimate test. The Debt Inheritance was more than history and payments—it was an important sequence of events that every firstborn Hawk had to complete in order to inherit his legacy.
If I failed...who knew if my father would let me live. A firstborn son didn’t necessarily inherit everything—not if death stole him too soon.
And judging by family records, there had been a few that hadn’t passed the examination.
I can’t afford to fuck it up.
Not if I wanted to keep Nila as mine.
Not if I wanted to keep my own life intact.
And not if I wanted to...protect...her from men who would undoubtedly be worse than me.
Protect.
What a strange, horrible word. It came layered with responsibility and commitment. Both were fucking vile on my tongue.
