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I hit the mattress, bounced once, and then immediately tried to get up. His hand shot out and wrapped around my throat, forcing me backward until I was flat on my back. His grip wasn’t tight enough to hurt but strong enough to make my body do his bidding.
“Now, Lilith,” he reprimanded in a mockingly stern voice, towering above me. “This is just one of the many reasons you’re not allowed to leave. You see how easy it would be for a man to take advantage of you?”
“This is only happening because it’s you,” I retorted.
“Are you sure about that?”
He leaned down, positioning his body on top of mine. His face hovering a hair’s breadth away, our lips skimmed.
“You always liked it like this. You get off knowing that I could kill you at any second.”
He placed a soft kiss on my forehead before rising enough to see my face. I swallowed, wondering if he could feel the way my pulse was racing against his palms. I should’ve pushed him away, but I really wanted to pull him close.
“Is there a point to any of this?”
“What do you think I’m proving right now? Look at the position you’re in. If not me, who could keep you safe?”
“Myself.” I grabbed hold of one of his offending wrists and tried to turn my head.
“You remember Francis?”
I winced as his grip grew tighter, trapping me beneath his heavy gaze. I knew he was taunting me. I wetted my lips, cognizant of him watching my every little move. Like a predator studying its prey.
“How could I forget?” I rasped.
To be honest, I hadn’t thought about that in a while.
That incident didn’t cause as big an uproar as it should’ve. And no one had ever suspected Samael. Then again, at that time he was still considered a sickly boy that couldn’t leave the house. What a load of crap that ‘sickness’ had turned out to be.
Regardless, the point he was trying to make was moot. There was no way in hell I’d simply lie there and take whatever happened to me. He was the only one I’d ever let touch me since the Francis incident.
He chuckled and drew back some, leaving his hand where it was.
“Seems I was getting worried for nothing. You’re still the same.”
Heart beating erratically, I stared up at him, struggling against the lecherous desire trying to snatch away my common sense. His words, his touch. They evoked a flurry of emotions within me.
Samael had me since before I was old enough to understand I was in love with my best friend. Before I realized how terrifying it was to fall for someone of his caliber.
“Don’t move,” he ordered calmly. His hands fell away, going straight to the hem of his shirt.
Mind swirling, I remained quiet, rubbing my neck to alleviate the sensation his touch left behind.
When he finally removed the one piece of clothing that was blocking my view of his amazing torso, my hand froze. My eyes eagerly devoured every line framing his eight-pack.
Sweeping upward, I took in the massive tattoo that expanded across his toned chest. When I met his stare, I was rewarded with another smile.
“Should I drop my pants, too? I promise the view’s still just as good.”
I bit my lip to stifle a laugh, eyes dipping back to his chest. The sinister gaze of a stag collided with mine. Its large antlers extended to each of his pecs.
“Does it bother you?”
I wasn’t entirely sure what he was asking, but his demeanor went from playful to somber before I could bat an eye. Did he really think a tattoo changed how I felt about him? Regardless of what the symbols on our bodies represented, I only saw him.
Drawing in a breath to steady my nerves, I extended my hand to him. He accepted it and let me pull him closer. I scooted over so he had room to sit beside me.
“Nothing about who you are or what you’ve accomplished bothers me.”
“Nothing, huh?” he questioned, sinking down.
“Nope.” I laid my head on his solid shoulder. “You’ve done amazingly well. I’m proud of you.”
He pulled his hand from mine and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me onto his chest when he leaned back. Good thing that I had a queen-sized bed, or this never would’ve worked.
“You’re proud of me?”
I wasn’t liking the doubt I heard in his tone. “Why shouldn’t I be?”
“I’ve never heard you say that until now. I thought…” he trailed off, leaving the sentence unfinished.
His voice had reverted back to its default setting: flat and emotionless.
I turned back time inside my mind. I was positive I’d told him this before, but there wasn’t any specific memory to prove it.
Had I never said that to him until now? A dullness spread through my already aching chest. Everything I wanted to say was swallowed back down.
