Still, he doesn’t terrify me.
Finally, he removes his fingers from my face and pulls away. “Get dressed and go to bed. Don’t try anything stupid,” he says, and then he turns around to leave.
This conversation isn’t finished. I can’t let him walk away without giving me the answer I need. I can’t let him think I’m happy to remain his prisoner for as long as he wants to keep me.
“I had a life before all of this,” I yell after him, desperate for him to hear me out. “Keeping me here means stealing me from my life. My friends. My family.”
“We’re done talking,” he says over his shoulder. He doesn’t look back.
“You can’t do this. Please, Leonid.” I pause for a moment to catch my breath. “I swear I didn’t see anything. I don’t know anything, either. It’s unfair to keep me locked away when I’m innocent.”
“I’ll decide whether you’re innocent or not.”
I grab the back of his shirt, forcing him to stop walking. “You don’t have the right to do that. It’s my life, and I refuse to spend any minute longer locked in here.”
His eyes meet mine. They’re dark, soulless, and there isn’t even glint of sympathy in them. “I have the right to. And my word is final. Take your hands off my clothes.”
“No.”
He doesn’t react for a moment, but then he jerks his shirt out of my hold and continues to walk away, faster this time. I run after him in a bid to escape the surge of emotions rippling inside me.
I’m mad as fuck that I don’t get a say in regaining my freedom. But that rage is nothing compared to how I feel about remaining Leonid’s prisoner. I fucking hate myself because I should hate this, but I don’t.
No sane person thinks of their captor kissing them. I’m fucked in the head, and I’m afraid my sanity will only go more off the rails if I don’t leave this place.
I need to get out of here.
Reeling with emotions, I rush after him, hoping to get his attention. But I’m careless. My foot slips, and before I know it, I’m falling backward.
A scream tears out of me, my hands flailing.
I don’t make it to the ground. Warm, strong arms lock around my waist and haul me firmly against his body.
When I open my eyes, Leonid’s face is only inches away from mine, and it’s etched with concern as he holds me up. I instinctively clutch his shoulders, my heart hammering againstmy ribcage as he steadies me, and for a few breathless seconds, neither of us move.
We’re both trapped in the heat and shock of how suddenly close we are to each other. I wonder if his heart is beating as fast as mine.
I’m still clinging to him when I feel cold air against my damp skin. Leonid’s warmth burns directly into my skin. Confused, I glance down, and the air drains from my lungs when I see the towel lying on the floor.
Fuck.
My naked boobs are pressed directly against Leonid’s chest. Given the position of his hand on my waist, he could touch my ass if he moves even slightly. A pool of heat forms between my legs at the thought of him actually lowering his hand to squeeze my ass.
My breath stutters and liquid fire coats my veins as I press myself into him. I’m not sure if I’m doing this to hide my body or just to feel the hardness of him against me. I’m completely shameless.
God, I’m a mess.
I snap my eyes back up to find him watching me. Heat rushes to my face, but his grip on my waist only tightens. His gaze is fixed on me with an intensity that sends another wave of awareness crashing through my already unsteady body.
My stomach flips and heat rushes up my spine when I feel his fingers press harder into my skin.
This shouldn’t be happening. It’s wrong.
I should be afraid of this man and despise him for kidnapping me, and instead I’m naked in his arms and melting into his touch.
It’s insanity.
I pull away, snatch my towel off the floor, and wrap it tightly around myself. “I’m sorry.”
