Page 68 of Vega

“I don’t have hobbies.”

“I would consider home invasion and abduction fairly time-consuming interests.”

I leaned one hand against the desk, and Sonnet looked up at me through her glasses. That view of her eyes framed by the lenses stiffened my dick rock hard in seconds as filthy thoughts flooded in. I craved yanking her up by the hair to manhandle every inch of her. I imagined my fingers clamped tight around her neck to choke the air from her while I rammed my dick balls-deep into her pussy with brutal slams, owning her completely.

“So, no woman?” she asked again.

“No woman.”

Her fingers stopped over the puzzle pieces. “Why?”

“I don’t need one.”

“That sounds emotionally unhealthy.”

“You’re analyzing me now?”

“I have limited entertainment options.”

“I just brought you six puzzles and a laptop.”

“And yet you remain the biggest problem to solve in the room.”

I moved closer, and her lips parted slightly, though her chin lifted as if she refused to retreat.

I wanted that mouth. Every smart comment made me imagine better ways to make it move. Every time she challenged me, my body responded like her disrespect had been created specifically to test my control.

But I wasn’t touching her while she remained locked in my house. Even if she initiated it, I would never know whether she wanted me or believed affection might earn her freedom. Fear could make people offer things they didn’t truly want to give. I refused to become the type of man who accepted consent from a woman without any power to safely say no. When I touched Sonnet, it would be because she could leave and chose to come closer. Until then, I’d hold back for both our sakes.

She studied the mask, asking, “Are you ugly or something?”

I chuckled. “Huh?”

“Do you keep that mask on because you’re hiding the fact that you’re ugly?”

I almost laughed. “The fuck?”

“It would explain the secrecy and why you don’t have a woman.”

I stepped into the space between her knees and the desk. Sonnet’s back straightened. I leaned close enough that my chest nearly touched hers. Her breathing changed, though she tried to disguise it by pressing her lips together.

I lowered my voice. “Ugly isn’t a problem I’ve ever had.” Her eyes held mine as I told her, “So, you’re wondering what I look like beneath this mask.”

“No.”

“You are.”

She rolled her eyes, but I saw the hint of a smile in them. “Your confidence is excessive.”

“Your curiosity is obvious.”

Her gaze dropped to the lower half of my mask for one second before returning to my eyes. A pulse moved quickly in her throat, and the scent of her skin reached me when she inhaled. Her body had reacted to the warning even while her mind searched for another argument.

I could’ve closed the remaining distance. I could’ve put my hand around her throat without applying pressure, lowered my face to hers, and watched how far that attraction went.

Instead, I stepped away.

Sonnet began to blink rapidly. Confusion flowed through her expression, followed by something that looked close to disappointment.