My lashes flashed apart, and I glared in disbelief at Nitro, pure rage flooding my veins. I must have been out of my mind for entertaining, even for a damn second, the idea that this psycho was someone worth marking and mating.What was I thinking?
"Whoops,” Nitro covered his mouth with one hand, feigning surprise. “An inch to the right and that would have done some real damage.”
“You’re a psychopath,” I snapped.
“A psychopath that got you oh-so-wet, Lucy-Loo.” He lifted his hand, pushed two fingers into his mouth, and winked. The bastard had the nerve to wink!
My heartbeat seemed to echo the pounding in my head, frantic thoughts slamming against my skull.How could this be happening?I’d fought tooth and nail to reclaim my health and my agency. Yet, here I was bound to this grotesque wooden target, a plaything for an Alpha’s perverse amusement. I hated that I could still feel the heat of his grip lingering on my skin. I hated how my body was still slick from his touch. This awful man shouldn’t be able to ignite my deeper desires. He didn’t deserve to be anywhere near me.
“Fuck you,” I spat, my voice trembling. Why couldn’t I keep my words steady? Why did I have to sound so damn pathetic?
He crossed his arms; the evil smile still plastered across his face. “Might be a little hard while you’re strapped down.” His eyes roved the length of my body, gaze darkening. “Target practice first, fucking later.”
I wasn’t sure what emotions were assaulting me—the burning in my belly felt like anger and arousal mashed together, the din in my head smacked of confusion and doubt, the space directly over my heart felt like a tiny seed of certainty desperate to grow. I latched onto the rage; it was the easiest feeling to face.
“Just wait until I get out of here,” I challenged, gritting my teeth against the leather digging into my skin. “I’ll make you regret this.”
A dark chuckle, low and dangerous, rumbled from him. He dropped his arms and moved towards me. He didn’t stop walking until he was inches from my body. Then he reached toward me. Despite my best efforts, I winced. And he fucking enjoyed that, the awful grin stretching wider.
His fingers wrapped around the blade he’d thrown. He pulled it out with a quick jerk. Then he pushed the flat side of the blade under my chin, tip pointing dangerously towards my throat. “Let me let you in on a little Nitro secret, Lucy. The more you fight, the more I enjoy it. Foreplay at its goddamn finest.”
“You’re sick.” My voice sounded feeble.I really was pathetic. I really was the perfect target.
“And you, lovely Lucy,” his other hand reached out, fingers slipping just beneath my heated, vulnerable place. He pushed upward, against the thin sweatpants. Through the cloth, he parted my lips. I gushed for him, fresh waves of desire pulsing from my body. “Are still slick for me.”
He was right.
I wanted him, even though I shouldn’t.
So, who was the real psycho?
43
LUCY
{The next day}
I was bone-deep tired. Yet, I felt more alive than ever. There was something about laboring the day away, instead of dying the day away, that gave me an unexpected high. Even with the Alphas riding me like a dog, yanking the necklace—that might as well be an actual collar—and ordering me around, I still felt a strange sort of ease.
Ease that was punctuated by fear, desire, and anger.
Leaving the bucket of cleaning supplies in the utility closet near the garage door, I walked slowly, taking deep breaths. My lungs felt tight and heavy. The new cleaning supplies that mysteriously replaced the natural ones I’d been using were horribly noxious. They stung my eyes and left rashes on my hands. I’d had more than one coughing fit today from the fumes too.
The house was beautifully quiet. The pack had left a few hours ago for a performance somewhere called SkidMarkzzz. They didn’t have to worry about me running away. They’d set the alarm and I didn’t know how to disarm it. Oh, I’d thought aboutopening the door anyways and making a run for it. But the pack’s departing comments were enough to hold me back.
“The minute that alarm goes off, the security company sends out a text alert to all five of us,” his rich brown eyes held no warmth. “If it’s not remotely disarmed by one of us in five minutes, then patrol cars are sent out. Though,” Xander glanced around at his brothers, raising his eyebrows. “The cops won’t get here before we do.”
The threat was obvious. They’d get to me first.
“Besides,” Xander shrugged, crossing his overly muscled arms, “You might make it out the front door, but then there’s the gate. And that only opens with our code.”
“She could climb it.” Fallon looked thoughtful. “I believe she has enough upper body strength to make it—” he paused, looking me up and down with that patented Fallon expression that meant he was adding my parts up and finding the total wanting— “possibly make it,” he finally amended.
“Might struggle with the razor wire. Though she’s proven she can handle sharp edges.” Nitro walked over, tracing the edge of a blade down my bare arm.
So, there was no escaping for me. Not right now.
When I stepped into my naked bedroom, I didn’t bother to flick on the light. It was nearing dusk, so the room was dim. But the shadows felt safer.
