Reprimanding herself for her lack of control, she looked away.
Caspian stepped closer once more, placing a finger under her chin and turning her face back to his.
He gazed at her as if memorizing every feature—every pore, every fleck of colour in her eyes, the shade and position of every strand of her hair. As if he wanted to capture the sight of her and keep it with him forever.
This was not how she had expected the evening to go. She asked weakly, “I thought you wanted my blood?”
Candlelight and shadows danced across his features as he said darkly, “I want your everything.”
She stared, speechless.
He still frightened her, but he couldn’t justsaysomething like that.
He kissed her possessively, holding her as if he wanted nothing more than to claim her and make her his. His kiss was all-consuming, leaving her breathless.
But unable to stop the frustratingly rational part of her mind, she drew back and asked, “Do you—do you have any other mistresses?”
She had no claim to him, but still the answer mattered.
His gaze turned heavy-lidded. “Right now, only you.”
“Oh.” She wished she could say something charming, something funny and interesting, but her usually racing mind was drawing a blank.
He traced her bottom lip with his thumb, and she had to remind herself he was a monster. She had no business wanting a monster. She looked away.
“Lady. Elizabeth. Ashcroft,” he said darkly, as if there were nothing that turned him on as much as the sound of her name upon his lips. “I would worship you as none other has before.”
She bit her lip, debating.
He made a show of dragging his gaze over every inch of her. Waiting for her to say something. “Is that a no, then?” he asked her pointedly.
She didn’t want to say yes, didn’t want to say no, so she stood there like a simpleton trying to formulate words.
“Do you not want me, sweet Elizabeth?”
“I do not,” she lied.
“I see.” Caspian sat on the edge of the bed and leaned back, extending a hand. “Come here, and show me how utterly repulsed by me you are, then.”
“Why not just take blood from me, and leave?” she asked stubbornly, crossing her arms.
He was not here to share her bed.
He was here to bleed her, to hurt her.
She narrowed her gaze and glanced between his face and his waiting outstretched hand.
He raised his dark brows. “Do you really need an answer to everything?”
She considered for a moment. “Yes. I believe I do.”
He surveyed her and lowered his hand. “Can pleasure and pain not be intertwined?”
She blinked, a look of revulsion crossing her features. “Not in my world.”
“Then let us enjoy what we will, and then I will answer your questions afterwards.”
She looked at him in suspicion, mind working furiously to try and figure out exactly how he was going to hurt her.
