Page 103 of Trapped By the Blood Ruby

I didn’t let myself think about it as I laced my fingers through his, pulling his arm tighter against me. He responded, burying his face deeper into my hair, running his nose along my throat. His breathing had stopped but he sighed.

I let the minutes tick by before I said, “The demon that came for me, the one Vittorio locked up below, he said he was collecting me for his master. I didn’t get a chance to question him further. Maybe we can go down and get some answers?”

Laurent stiffened. “I don’t want you anywhere near that thing,” he snarled into my hair. “Besides, I doubt I’ll get much from it.”

“Why?”

“Because I have plans for it, little flower.”

A lump formed in my throat. “Laurie,” I warned.

“It tried to take you from me.” His hold on me tightened. “It hurt you.”

“Laurie,” I said again.

“What?” he snapped. Weeks ago, even mere days ago, the sound of it would have sent me scurrying away. Now it made me fight back.

“I want answers, Laurent. I plan to get them. Before you…have your way with it.”

“I’m not letting you⁠—“

“Be very careful about what you say next,” I warned. His throat bobbed against the back of my neck as he swallowed. “You’re not letting me do anything, because I will do as I wish. I will speak with it first. After that, you can have it. It was here for me, remember?”

“You are mine to protect,” he rasped. “Mine.”

The word was spoken like a vow. Sacred. One I wasn’t sure he’d ever made to another.

Perhaps that was why I didn’t protest his overprotective tone. The declaration that might make others feel objectified, but my heart cracked wide open, liquid heat spilling out before I could patch it up. It was dangerous, this feeling. Reckless, even. Laurent could hurt me again, and yet that word was claiming in a way no one had ever claimed me. “No one has ever wanted to keep me for themselves,” I whispered.

“I know,” he whispered back. “That’s on them. I don’t intend to make the same mistake.” One of his arms loosened, only to wrap around my throat, gently holding me to him. Tingles spread through me, quickly morphing into arousal.

My breaths came faster and I gulped, trying to distract myself. “Will you take me down to the cells?”

His hand tightened. “No. Not tonight. I want you to get some sleep. We can deal with it in the morning.”

“Laurie,” I warned. “If you’re saying that to keep me away⁠—“

“I will do nothing until you’ve had your time with it,” he snapped, clearly in a mood. I didn’t take it personally.

“Someone is pissy tonight,” I tsked. “Maybe you need some sleep, too.”

“I don’t sleep.” Short, clipped words.

“At all?”

“There’s no need.”

“No wonder you’re always pissed off,” I muttered.

“Careful,” he growled, this time against the shell of my ear. I squirmed on his lap, only for his forearm to tighten and pin me against his chest.

“You should sleep,” I said again.

“I’ve got other, more pressing matters. I need to give Bastian a call. Let him know what Zola discovered about the amulet.”

“I’m pretty sure Bastian is busy sleeping.”

There was a long hesitation before teeth nipped at my ear. “Little flower, you are being such a thorn right now.”