I’m shifting in place, subtly backing toward the en suite as The Ivory pulls out his key and opens the cell, stalking inside. Hedoesn’t stop there, though. He walks right up to me, reaching out like he wants to touch my face or my hair.
I jerk away, and he frowns.
“Qué te pasa?” His voice rumbles.
Hearing it, while standing so close, trapped under his black gaze, reminds me of the last time we were alone in here together…
The major lapse in judgment I’ve been obsessing over since.
“Nada…” I mumble, going for unaffected, though it comes out petulant.
The strangest thing happens… It makes himsmile.
Not a huge one, but a small slope to those puffy pink lips. Like a real smile, not one of his cocksure smirks. It lookswaytoo good… I have to look away.
No one should look that pretty when they smile.
“Little bird,” he hums, stepping closer. Tentatively, almost hesitantly, which is odd. “Lo siento… Are you upset with me?”
Gee, ya think??
I must be making a face, because he huffs. “I’m sorry, baby love. I’ve been desperate to see you, but work took over and I couldn’t get away. You understand, don’t you?”
“No, not really,” I grunt. Again, like a stubborn child.
“Mi Angelito, I thought you’d be happy to see me.” He pouts, and now I’m about to damn lose my damn mind.
“That…” I whisper, up close to his face, “is pure horse shit.”
His expression shifts, and he folds his arms across his chest. “Well, mira. You seem to have something you’d like to say to me, pajarito, so by all means. Air your grievances. Clearly, you have many.”
His tone is nonchalant, resembling his usual icy self. But the way he’s staring at me, hard, obsidian in his irises sort of glittering. A controlled rage that’s visible and palpable.
And I might have serious issues, because itenlivensme.
“Grievances…” I tilt my head, allowing my frustrations to fuel me. “Yea, I havegrievances, Diablo. It’s called being locked up in a goddamn cage all day every day, with no one to speak to but the birds! Oh, right, who could forgetKentthe butler! He does come by for five seconds to drop off food, but I’m sorry to say, he’s not exactly a gold-medal conversationalist.”
He chuckles, dropping his arms to his sides. I’m glaring at him, but he simply peeks at me and cocks a brow. “Continuas, por favor.”
“You’re an asshole, Ivory,” I snap. “You know I actually believed you when you said you’d be back?” I scoff incredulously. “How fuckingnaïve. I mean, just be honest, Diablo. I can’t handle it. Just say you want a plaything ready and waiting whenever you’re in the mood.”
In a flash, the amusement is gone. Now he’s really eyeing me, the black in his gaze hardening like I struck a nerve.
“I just said I wanted to come back,” he growls, as if he’s clinging desperately to his control. “Do you have any idea what’s happening on this island right now, Angel?”
The way he says my name, with a bite, no nickname or pet name… It feels threatening.
“Uh,no,” I clap back, truly sick and tired of his shit. “How would I?? You have me locked in a cage, pendejo!”
A flicker of amusement flashes in his eyes, as if some part of him really enjoys when we argue. But he holds it back.
“Bastante, pajarito,” he teems. “I’m hanging on by a thread here…”
“Great.” I roll my eyes. “Then either kill me, or set me free and make it a fair fight.” I hiss up at him. “Because I’m not going to sit in this cage forev—”
“Perdóneme?” He barks. “You said youarenotgoing to??” He cages me in. “I must have missed the part where I asked for yourpermissionto tend to you how I see fit.”
A chill washes over me. “Tendto me…?” I croaked. “How you… see fit… Whatexactlydoes that mean, Diablo?”
