Page 44 of Coal Hearts

“Twisted?” Victor shrugged. “I prefer to think of myself as enlightened.”

“You are the exact opposite of enlightened.” Ily fisted her hands so hard her knuckles popped. “You dwell in shadows and think you see the fucking light.”

“I do see the light.” Victor chuckled. “Each time I climax in a pretty jewel like yourself, I touch nirvana. You’ll see. You sit there and judge me, but soon you’ll be above all that. You think you won’t come too? That you won’t feel pleasure? That you won’t beg to be fucked? I hate to tell you, but your body will betray you well before your mind, but your mind will soon follow. And once that happens, your heart will give in too. You’ll find peace in submission. Joy in service. My jewels exist in a state of permanent arousal because they’re no longer trapped by fear. You don’t have to work for a wage, worry about rent, or lie and cheat to get ahead. You will revert to what you truly are: prey. Prey whose only purpose is to please the predator who owns you.”

Ily opened her mouth to say things I had no doubt would get her hurt.

I moved before I fully thought about the consequences.

Grabbing her wrist, I yanked her hand into my lap and pressed it against my never-deflating hard-on.

Her wide eyes flew to mine. She fought to get free. I merely held her tighter. “He’s right, you know.” I rocked my hips into her unwilling palm, shuddering at how good it felt to take rather than ask. “I felt it myself. You were wet. You clenched around my finger like a greedy little—”

“Fuck. You!” She fought, but I didn’t let her go.

I leaned into her, fighting the devil inside me. “I think you’ll find I’ll be the one doing that.”

Roland laughed. “And I can’t wait to watch.”

“I’ll stab your eyes out with a fork before I let that happen,” Ily snapped.

“Now, now.” Roland held up his hands in mock surrender. “Don’t make threats you can’t deliver on, pet. It’s a personal joy of mine to prove them empty.” His gaze shot to Victor, his voice lowering with need. “Victor, sir, I know you’ve given her initiation to Henri, but can I request second breaking?” He shifted in his chair, his trousers tenting. “I’m open to being one of her teachers.”

Teachers?

Merde, what did that mean?

My hand clenched around her fragile fingers still pressed against my cock.

I’d reached for her to protect her—to stop her from making shit worse—yet I couldn’t deny what Victor said wriggled into my brain and made all of this seem...inevitable.

She was prey.

I was a predator.

I’d always known that.

Always felt it.

Always been aware of the throbbing in my bones, the blistering in my blood, and the unnatural sensation of a beast prowling in my veins. A monster far wilder, far crueller, far more primal than I’d ever let myself become.

I felt it now.

Growling at the other men.

Claiming this one as mine.

Blocking out the two bastards, I locked eyes with Ily. I played the role I was supposed to play, never admitting it fit me far too snugly. “You’re on a plane, sunshine. You can’t escape this. Your freedom is what I say it is because your life is mine now.” I wedged her hand harder against my pounding flesh, and I was so close, so fucking close to losing my mind. “I suggest you accept it so we can all move on.”

Breathing hard, I let her go.

Ily snatched her hand back and rubbed it along her skirt as if wiping away the heat of my erection. I expected rage but flinched when tears glittered in her golden stare, looking like fractures of a thousand sunrays.

The term of endearment had slipped from me.

Her eyes truly reminded me of a hazy summer’s day.

But they were harsher too. Like the eyes of a lynx or—