“I have to be sensible, Master.”
How could she make him understand without sharing her claustrophobia and revealing how fragile she was?If he knew the truth, not only might he mock her instability, but he might choose to wield the threat of the cell against her in a crueler act of punishment.That risk hung over her like a guillotine.She couldn’t tell him what truly troubled her.
“It is sensible that you stay and make your master happy.”His smile was suddenly menacing.“You remember all of my rules, I assume?”
“Yes, Master.”
After the footrest debacle, she doubted she could have forgotten his regulations if she’d tried.
“Then you’ll know to obey me.”His finger and thumb pinched her chin softly.“Just as you have told me the truth.”
She pulled in a breath, hoping her gaze didn’t reveal the secret she’d chosen to keep to herself.Either way, she sensed the discussion was a battle she wouldn’t win.If he wanted her to stay and she couldn’t even find a way out, what chance did she have?
“Can you at least see my point of view, Master?”She tried to reason with him one last time.“I had a life before you brought me here.”
“Hmmm.”His tone was unconvinced.“A shared house and a penchant for unworthy little boys who call themselves men.”He shook his head.“You can do better, Kristina.Youwilldo better.”
“I have friends.”She didn’t know why she was bothering to persevere.It was obvious he was going to have his way, and she had a horrible feeling that, in the end, she would welcome his direction.So long as she could avoid the dreaded white cell.“And my course, Master.I need to get back to my studies.”
“You have new studies now.”One of his arms slipped around her waist and drew her flush against him.“I am both your study and your savior.Purge all thoughts of the life you once knew.”
It’s not as easy as that.
She couldn’t bring herself to say those words, but she was certain they were there in her gaze.
“Do not look at me that way.”His voice shot her a warning.“I am trying, little one.”His huge hand splayed at her lower back.“Trying not to be spurned by your intention to flee and trying not to act in retaliation.”
“Thank you, Master.”
Her nipples grazed the soft hair on his vast chest as she considered his efforts.She was surprised, yet grateful, that he hadn’t lost his temper with her.Previously, her every word and action had been followed by a consequence from Kronos, but she much preferred the change in the giant.He appeared more reasonable, as though the time he’d enjoyed while she’d been asleep had given him a new perspective, and she noticed how just having him around had soothed her fraying nerves.
“I asked for your honesty, and I shall live with it, but I must reiterate, escape is impossible.”His hand slid lower over her ass.“Do not test me and discover why.”
“Because you’ll find me and punish me, Master?”Her eyes widened as she heard her own words.
Why had she asked that?She was only just recovering from the alarm of being trapped.The last thing she should have done was offer him a sarcastic retort, yet the riposte had slipped out before she’d even had time to think.
If it were possible, Kronos’ stare intensified, one of his dark eyebrows cocking at her impudence.“So, you are in the mood to test me?”
“No.”She regretted the quip, particularly in the face of his previously merciful mood.“I’m sorry, Master.”
“It seems my little one isn’t content unless there is some punitive measure against her.”His tone was wry, but there was an edge to it, a determination she hadn’t heard before.
He inched away, glancing down the length of her body, and right on cue, she lowered slowly toward the floor.She wriggled her toes as they contacted with the ground again, needing to crane her neck to continue to meet his eyes.Not knowing how he had controlled her that way was as infuriating as it was perturbing, but she was more concerned about whatpunitive measureshe had recklessly inspired.
“I’ll stop thinking about leaving.”
She heard herself make the vow, although she had no idea how such a feat was possible.Caught between the desire he created, her panic at being entombed in the white room, and her need to resume the life she’d been curating for herself, Kris didn’t know what to do.
“Yes, you will.”His expression was serious.“And because you are unable to comply without consequence, let me help you.”
Grabbing her wrist, he spun her to face the shimmering wall, capturing both of her hands and holding them at her lower back.The deed happened in a heartbeat, her gasp the only sign that she’d registered the rapid shift at all.Forced back against the wall, she winced when he eased her hands higher along her back and nudged her feet farther apart.
“Please, Master.”In less than a moment, she’d been whirled around and effectively disabled.While his ability no longer surprised her, the ease with which he achieved the change still did.Kronos wasn’t only strong, but he was breathtakingly fast.“There’s no need for this.”
“I shall decide what you need,” he told her, shifting his position behind her.“And right now, that is a reminder about who is in charge.”
She grimaced, suspecting she already knew what the outcome of the exchange would be.Bent forward at the hips and with her hands contained so effectively by his grasp, her ass was helplessly exposed again, making it the ideal target for his palm.
