I slammed my fists into his chest, pushing him with everything I had.
Yet he was the one who decided when the kiss would be over. His look of disappointment was followed by a short sigh as he took a step away.
“Undress.”
As soon as I started to say something, he cocked his head. The darkness in his eyes was real, but there was something oddly redeemable about him. The attraction remained even as his demand began to settle in. Perhaps he was trying to guide me through the nightmare, but to what end?
He walked toward the cabinet and my pulse skyrocketed. He was going to punish me. I turned in a full circle, trying to catch my breath.
“Don’t test my good will, Star. As you might imagine, I am eager to enjoy my win in my own private space. Please don’t make me regret my decision.”
Was that a signal? Or was he simply asserting some crazed sense of authority over me because he believed he owned me?
Still sick, I turned away from the mirror, fighting every sense of decency I had to try to just get through this. The rage and indignation I’d felt remained but was slowly being crowded out by reality.
With my fingers numb, I slowly pulled the dress over my shoulders, fighting the wave of nausea. I hadn’t been allowed to wear anything underneath. Now I was standing in high heels and nothing else. He selected some piece of leather, even testing it with a hard crack of his wrist.
I was instantly mortified, slowly moving toward the chair so I could grip something to keep from falling. As soon as heturned, he placed the flogger on one of the tables. With his gaze concentrated, he peeled off his jacket, taking the time to unbutton and roll up his sleeves.
My eyes were drawn to his forearms. They were muscular creations of beauty, perfectly carved. Even his long fingers appeared strong. Just looking at them had me rubbing my neck where he’d touched me. The dim light of the room highlighted his inked sleeve, which made him seem that much more dangerous. The colorful designs seemed out of place in comparison to the elegance of his tailored suit.
Yet the intricate design gave way to lurid thoughts about the stories associated with every colorful creation. I envisioned something rough and undeniably sexy, which prompted my mind to envision dragging my tongue along the black lines and curves.
Shaking the thought away, all I needed was a quick toss of my head over my shoulder as a reminder this wasn’t an episode of a fantasy show. This was a sick reality spectacle where rich and powerful men believed it was their right to kidnap and sell women for their pleasure.
Anger tore through me as I realized even with the reality hitting me hard, my attraction remained the same. And the kiss… Well, the kiss had only increased the longing. This was maddening. The flutter in my stomach from just looking at him was unexpected. The nausea was gone, replaced by some crazy sense of excitement.
And I hated myself for what I was feeling, a longing that had been swept away a very long time ago.
When I’d considered myself innocent and eager, a woman hopeful of finding her prince and living happily ever after.
Not like this.
And not with him.
He was no hero. He was the devil in disguise.
CHAPTER 8
Reese
Desire.
I knew just how dangerous it could be. I’d lived to tell the tale.
A twisted moment in history that had stolen my innocence.
Every nightmare I’d had seemed to be rolling forward at the speed of a freight train.
As soon as Hunter walked closer, another wave of embarrassment rocked through me. Maybe he was trying to quell my nerves or say silently that he wasn’t a monster, but as soon as the rough pads of his fingers tickled the skin of my cheek, I shuddered audibly. His touch was as electrifying as he was, pushing me into a few ridiculously lurid images that were so uncalled for that another rush of anger rolled through me.
This time at myself.
He studied me so intently I could almost read his mind, a look of desire replacing the earlier sense of dispassion. I continuedto wonder who he was even as he rubbed his thumb across my bottom lip. When he pulled it down, parting my lips, a whimper escaped.
The moment he shoved his thumb into my mouth, he took a deep breath. He didn’t need to command me. I knew what he expected. So I sucked the thick digit, delicately swirling my tongue across his heated skin.
Another shiver skated down my spine, not only from his touch, but the way he was looking at me. Only once had I experienced a man who’d wore an expression of extreme hunger, something I’d never forget. But this was entirely different. Hunter’s was explosive. Seemingly satisfied, he pulled his thumb free, smiling as if pleased.
