Page 33 of Bound

Every insatiably curious dirty corner of it.

“All right. So you are a prince with a fortress instead of a castle. You rule from a throne of pleasure instead of policy. How does that make you less deserving of long-term love than anyone else?”

A stunned stare finally did fly across the room. His.

“And how the hell did you swing this discussion around to that?”

She frowned, genuinely perplexed. “Does any of it not make sense?”

Brickham shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Not…entirely.”

“Then, respectfully speaking, answer my question, Sir.”

The man ditched his shock like a fleck of rust on his precious machine. “You going to keep taking the name of respect in vain, girl? Because if so…”

“Then what?” It tumbled out before she could help it. Or maybe not. Maybe she was being a royal priss, purposely calling out the man on his evasion. Or maybe she was diving headlong into this game because she already saw through his.

So. Clearly.

Did he think he could scare her off that easily? That she would crumble and cower just because of the dark things he liked doing to women? That she would think about the steps they had already danced of that tango and now want to tear up her dance card?

Then maybe he was the one who did not know her at all.

Two seconds’ worth of the thought led to one second’s worth of her upward lurch. She popped out a hip and mirrored his tough-guy stance, complete with pretzel-twisted arms.

“Another question you do not wish to answer, Mr. Brickham?” She tilted her head. “Respectfully speaking, of course.”

His composure went even more rigid. Though he dropped his arms, his muscles were still balls with pronounced veins. His thighs strained against his scrubs. His cheekbones fought with his flesh. His gaze crackled with silent but potent energy.

Oh…wow.

Her force of nature was back.

Her bloodstream responded with a thrill of desire.

Her insides churned with wild waves of trepidation.

“You seriously really want to go there, young lady?”

“I seriously really believe I do, Sir.”

“All right, then. Take off every thread of your clothes.”

She did not spare half a thought about it. She just moved, with trembling fingers and flimsy breaths, to obey his calm command. She had no idea what to expect. What plans he had for her. The feeling was like nothing she had ever experienced. She had no idea pure lust and raw fear were such an addicting amalgam.

Inwardly, she vowed to savor every precious second of it.

Chapter Six

“Move,” Brick growled when Jayd paused to close her eyes and pull in a long breath. Part of him was pissed, impatient that she might be considering a back-down at this point. The other part was desperately afraid of the same. If so, he’d have to honor her dissent—no matter how hellish it would be for the Dom she’d flickered in every cell of his blood.

Flickered? Oh, no.

She’d given him a full lick of the fire.

Now, goddammit, he wanted more. And intended to take it.

“Pixie, that was not a sweet little ask.”