Page 80 of Coal Hearts

A twisting in my gut.

A snarling in my soul.

I loosened my hold on her just a little. I’d kill her if I didn’t. I’d crush her. Suffocate her with how much I wanted to save her.

Gritting her teeth, she raised her head and embraced the fight that would be my fucking downfall.

Her tear-twinkling stare locked on Victor’s. “I know how I’m going to kill you now. I’m going to electrify you until you choke on your own tongue.”

“Charming,” Victor drawled. “I appreciate your strength, my pet, but I’m unimpressed by your intelligence. I’ve gone over the rules with you. The time to test them is never.”

“Rules?” I asked as Ily slowly removed herself from my hold and crawled away. She didn’t stop until the leash stretched to its limit, tugging on my fingers, stopping her from going any farther.

She shot me a glower, unable to hide what truly lurked within her.

Fear.

Christ, I could smell it from here.

It tickled the back of my nose.

It soaked into the marrow of my bones.

It fucked me off that she gave such terror away to everyone watching. I wanted to hoard it. To draw out her horror just for me.

Merde, stop.

You’ve been fighting this your entire life.

Do. Not. Give. In.

I fisted the leash, sending vibrations to her collar.

Her golden eyes met mine. They narrowed. They burned.

I might not have done anything to earn her fear yet, but I had earned her loathing.

And it turned me on and scrambled me up because despite her hatred of me, I’d made her wet. She’d been wet as I strapped her down on that table, spread her legs, and—

God’s sake, stop!

I choked on a groan as I drank her in.

Desperation soaked into obsession; I turned into something unhinged.

My eyes kept wandering, taking liberties, stealing all her secrets.

I jolted as she shifted, unintentionally flashing me.

Just a strip of hair.

A single strip showing me exactly where to lick.

Motherfucking Christ—

“The rules of my home,” Victor said, dragging me back to a conversation I’d utterly forgotten about. “The rules all my jewels follow. They soon learn that I can be magnanimous if they treat me with respect.” He sighed as if their behaviour truly wasn’t because of him and it pained him to chastise them. “All I ask is that they willingly entertain my treasured guests, stay healthy and clean, refrain from self-pleasure so my friends can attend to them, and present themselves as quietly and as demurely as possible. That’s all.” His calculating eyes met mine. “That’s not too much to ask, is it?”

“Not if you’re the one on top of the food chain, it’s not.” I stood on slightly shaky legs and returned to my chair. “But I can imagine it takes time for those at the bottom to accept their new place.”