“I really don’t.”
“Don’t play games with me,” he snarls, flexing his grip on the knife’s hilt. “It’s do or die time, sweetheart. Why did you say his name?”
Again, I twist against my restraints, but the ropes only tighten.
“Whose name?” I blurt out. “I seriously have no idea what you’re talking about.”
His lips tighten. “Damon Vale, sweetheart.Damon Vale.”
I freeze, not because of the cold but because of that man’s name coming out of this man’s mouth. I must have whispered it while I was out cold. Does he work for him? After all that effort to escape, was I then “rescued” by a man on the payroll of my owner-to-be?
Well, there’s no use in lying. Not while I’m tied up.
“I was running from Damon Vale. My father sold me to him to cover his gambling debts.”
In a flash, my captor is an inch from my face. So close I can smell his pheromones. And they’re delicious.
“Don’t you lie to me!” he growls. “Damon sent you here to kill me, didn’t he?”
“No! What? Do I look like a killer to you? You’re crazy!”
He stares at me for a long moment, then slowly, his face relaxes. The edge of his mouth twists into a half-smile. “No, you don’t. You look like an angel to me.”
And like that, he leans in and slices the ropes at my wrists and ankles, freeing me. Instantly, I bolt for the door. Maybe I’m naked and there’s a blizzard outside, but I can’t stay here.
The thunderous sound of footsteps behind me causes me to whirl just as I reach the door. The blanket covering me falls to the floor as I leap for the handle. He snatches me by the shoulders and spins me, pinning me against the wall. His eyesstare hungrily at me, but to my surprise, he doesn’t look past my chest.
I scream, causing him to scoff. “We’re in the middle of nowhere, princess. Nobody will hear you.”
“So what now? You use that knife on me?”
“Are you one of Damon Vale’s spies?”
This time, it’s me who scoffs. “I already told you I’m not!”
He nods. “Then why would I hurt you?” There’s a hint of kindness in his voice I haven’t heard before. “In fact, sweet thing, I’m going to keep you here, warm you up, and make sure that cut on your shoulder doesn’t get infected.”
“Cut…?”
And then I remember. The crash, the glass, the blood dripping down.
“You opened it up again trying to run from me. Let’s go get it patched up.”
“Fine. But give me some clothes.”
He laughs, a low, rough grunt that shakes his shoulders. His muscled chest expands, causing my body to tremble in a titillating way. There’s something so raw and masculine about him, like he doesn’t care what I want, but at the same time would give it all to protect me. It’s like running into a man from a different age. A Spartan, a Viking.
“You think I just keep women’s clothes up here?” He nods to the fur on the floor. “That’s all you’re getting for now.”
I eye the blanket, then glare back at him. “You think I’m going to wearthat?”
He shrugs. “It’s either that or walk around in your birthday suit.”
I close my eyes and sigh. He’s right. There’s no other option. Reaching down, I grab the fur and drape it over my body, hiding my nakedness from him.
“Fine. Just keep your hands off me, understand?” I mutter.
The man chuckles again and cracks the knuckles on his massive hands. “Oh, angel. I’ll have to touch you to take care of that wound. And soon, you’ll bebegging mefor more.”
