Moving to stand behind me, his nose came next, nuzzling the length of my throat.
And I let him.
“Do you really believe that if I run, the price would just simply disappear? You really have no idea how things work, do you? It’s almost sad. Pathetic, even.”
His words hit me like ice water, and I went to shove away, but he pulled me tight against him.
“You’re adorable when you’re angry,” he whispered, and I despised the way my body betrayed me, melting under the weight of his voice. “It almost makes me sorry.”
I frowned, confusion flickering through the haze of adrenaline. “Sorry for what?”
Something cold and sharp pressed against my face, a cloth smelling faintly chemical.
I jerked back, but his grip only tightened, holding me still as the scent filled my lungs.
“For this.”
Chapter 35
Violet
I couldn’t move. The haze of sleep gave way to pain as my arms were pulled tightly behind me. “What… what are you doing?” My voice cracked as I blinked up at Ryder, forcing my heavy eyes to focus, to glare at him even as the last of my drowsiness clung like a fog.
He gave the rope a sharp tug, the fibres biting tighter into my skin before something weighted and cold was pressed against my palm. “What does it look like?”
Dropping into the chair opposite me, he tipped it onto the two back legs.
“Sorry, blondie,” he said casually, his gaze raking over me as if studying each knot. “It’s been fun, but you’re worth far too much money.”
I blinked hard, the world still sluggish as he leaned back in the chair, polishing a red apple against his shirt. He sank his teeth into it with a crunch, the juice glistening on his lips.
“Don’t worry,” he said around the mouthful, his tone infuriatingly calm. “This isn’t my first rodeo.”
“So you’ve kidnapped someone before?” I growled, the ropes cutting into my wrists as I struggled.
He chuckled, low, dark, and clearly amused with himself. “I know, right? Naughty me. Maybe I should slaphuman traffickeron my résumé. Looks good between ‘world-class thief’ and ‘exceptional in bed’.”
I scoffed. “Mediocre.”
Ryder had the audacity to look offended.
I tried to rock the chair, but my legs were restrained too. Although they weren’t as tight. “Ugh, I should never have asked you for help!”
“You’re right, that was a terrible decision on your part.”
“Ryder…” I said, trying to sound calmer than I felt, “please don’t do this.”
He smirked around the apple, chewing slowly before he set it aside on the wooden crate to his right. Reaching for a bottle of water, he stood. “What will you give me in return?” he drawled.
Twisting the cap loose, Ryder tilted his head back for a long gulp that left a droplet gliding down his skin. I tried to recoil, to do anything, but I couldn’t move as he reached down to pinch my jaw open. Leaning over, he poured the water into my mouth, straight from his lips.
I gagged, the water catching in my throat, burning as I forced it back against my tongue.
“You’ve already given me your cunt,” he reminded me.
I spat the water straight into his face, angry tears finally breaking loose and burning down my cheeks.
“There she is,” he laughed, his voice like rough velvet. “There’s my girl.”
