Page 12 of Plug and Claim

“I will never want that,” she spat, only seconds away from transforming into her wolf form so she could tear him a new one.

Nathaniel smiled, and it was the first wide smile he’d given her. He had a nice smile, which might have been pleasant if he wasn’t so damn smug. Her attention snapped to the long, curved canines that glinted in the lamplight. “Well…we shall see.”

Kira bit back the urge to scream at him again. “What’s your name?”

“Nathaniel,” he said, pausing as if to gauge her reaction.

Kira had no idea who that was, but he seemed to think he was someone special.

“Is that so?” she asked in mock-astonishment, crossing her arms. “Well, you can fuck right off, Nathaniel.”

The bastard still hadn’t removed the collar.

Chapter 6

The Capital

Nathaniel

“You didn’t remove the collar,” Kira said. Her tone was accusatory, implying he’d promised to do so.

But he had made no such promise.

“I said I would remove the gag,” Nathaniel said, pouring himself a glass of wine, “and I did.”

“Bastard.” She reached up behind her neck.

“Ah, ah, ah,” he warned, holding up a finger. “I wouldn’t do that, if I were you, or the next toy I use won’t be in your mouth.”

Kira froze, watching him as if to gauge if he was serious. Nathaniel held her stare, even though secretly it was an empty threat. He’d only brought the collar, but she didn’t know that. He could improvise if he had to—the wine bottle would do.

Slowly, Kira lowered her hands to rest in her lap. “How much longer do I have to wear this thing?”

“Until I say,” he said, plucking a grape from the tray and biting through the juicy flesh.

“How much longer?” she repeated.

There was a desperate edge to her voice, and after a moment of consideration, he conceded. “Just until we arrive.”

Kira gave a tiny nod. She refused the food and wine he offered her but drank a glass of water thirstily.

He focused his attention on the platter of cheese and fruit, simply for the purpose of staring at something other than Kira; she had earned a moment of respite.

With the tension dispelled, her boldness soon returned.

“I thought vampires only drank blood,” she said, nodding at the biscuit he was eating.

“I can subsist on food just fine.”

“So, you’re not going to bite me?”

“Bite you?”

“Yes, bite me. Feed off me. Isn’t that what your kind do?”

His lips curled. “I hadn’t planned to. However, if you are offering…”

“I am not offering!”