“Not at the moment,” I mutter. “There’s still time.”
“Right.”
“What if I just want to join his company, work at Sanguine?”
“You can work here at VMR,” he says.
“Can I? I don’t want to be an assistant. I never did.”
“Understood. We can find a place for you in whatever department you want.”
As much as I’m trying to hold on to my anger at Lucian for what he did to me, it’s slipping away. He makes it too hard to hate him.
“But what if Iwantto work with Santiago?” I ask, just pressing my luck at this point.
“You’re not for him.” His words are solid granite.
“Jealous?” I say, pushing.
He shrugs. “You’re mine, my responsibility, and unlike my master, I’ll never abandon that responsibility.” Suddenly he’s right there in front of me, and he snatches Santiago’s card out of my hand and crumples it. My body goes into meltdown, everything throbbing like a pulse. “But yes, Monty. I’d be jealous if you chose anyone over me. Is that what you want to hear?”
Discarding the useless paper, he then slides his fingers under my choker, the diamonds ridiculous with this dress, and yet…
I like it.
I like that feeling of being owned, even as I despise it and I want to fightit all.
His blue eyes glint as he drops his gaze to my mouth, the light in the room shadowing under his high cheekbones as he feathers a kiss over my lips.
Lucian sees it all, and it unravels things within.
“I don’t mind it,” I whisper.
He smiles and then nods for me to follow him. Turning, he walks away, and I trail after him.
“Where are you going?”
But he doesn’t answer as we enter his bedroom. He goes to the walk-in closet and takes out a black bag. “Do you remember when you said to me last night that I’ve been omitting the truth from you?”
I nod.
“I want to change that, but there is a time and a place for everything and sometimes patience is needed.”
I don’t like where this is going.
He takes a long time to consider. “Sometimes questions can’t be answered immediately.”
“What does that mean?”
“Just that.” He opens the bag and pulls out a red rope, very similar to the one he’d used at the vampire sex club. Those memories flood me and excitement burns flame-bright in my veins. “I’m going to start by telling you that I’ve been thinking about tying you up ever since our first visit to the club. And I’ve been patiently waiting until I could do it again.”
“I…I don’t…” My breathing picks up. “I don’t understand.”
Like it or not, Lucian is as delicious and addictive as blood.
The merest smile touches his mouth. “Take off your clothes.”
I don’t move. Not because I’m horrified by his words, but because Iwantto do it. With the kind of desperation that’s carnal and feral.
