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“Who says you can’t have both?” He leaned closer to me over the table, invading my personal space as usual. His hand slid to the back of my elbow where his fingers lightly touched me. He glanced at my lips before my eyes, his desire dancing on the surface of his eyes.
I pulled my arm away, getting away from his touch. “You could bed any woman you want. Don’t waste your time with me.”
“I don’t want any woman. I want you.”
I turned back to him, seeing the sincerity written around his muscular jaw. He wanted to kiss me again, this time not on the neck. He wanted to kiss me everywhere, to explore my body with his mouth. “Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why me?” I asked.
The corner of his mouth rose in a smile, like the question amused him. “Look at you.” His hand moved into my hair, his fingers lightly tucking the strands behind my ear. He was gentle with me, just like the last time he touched me. Unlike Egor, he didn’t possess evil cruelty. He glanced at my lips again. “Those soft lips. The sass that flies out of them.” His eyes moved to my right cheek. “These rose petal cheeks.” He dragged the backs of his fingers across my skin. “The little freckles I would love to kiss. Those brown eyes…like my hot coffee in the morning.” His hand moved to my neck next, gripping me delicately. “That thick hair I want to fist. You’re exquisite, Mia. Fucking exquisite.” His fingers moved to my chin, and he directed his gaze on me. “You’ve got a backbone made of steel. I don’t know anyone else who would jump out of a speeding car and run. I don’t know anyone else who would dare insult a man like me. I don’t know anyone else who could have endured what you have but still hold your head high. I’ll say it again…fucking exquisite.” He dropped his hand but kept his grip on me with his eyes. “Those scars on your back… I’m not going to lie. I like them. The idea of hurting you gets me hard. I know you can handle it, which makes me want you more.”
His touch aroused me, and I hated the way he could make me feel just by looking at me. Egor had done terrible things to me, and even though Carter admitted he wanted to hurt me, I knew the two men weren’t comparable. If Carter really were cruel, he would chain me up and do whatever he wanted. But he never crossed that line…always giving me the power to say yes or no.
Right now, he wanted me to say yes.
I respected him for giving me rights. In the cold world we lived in, any form of kindness was appreciated. My expectations of men had declined over the years. Despite the fact that Carter had bought me, he exceeded my expectations.
“Let me hurt you.” His eyes focused on my face, taking in my features with authority. He continued to give me a choice even though he didn’t want to. It was like he hated himself for giving me any kind of rights.
“You want to hurt me,” I whispered. “I want to be free. Let’s make an exchange.”
He sat back in his chair, withdrawing his heat. He cocked his head to the side slightly, prepared to listen to my pitch.
“I’ll be what you want me to be…if you let me go.”
He released a quiet breath with his nostrils flared.
“I’ll do what you want. I’ll let you do what you want. Whatever it is. If you let me go when you’re finished.” I didn’t want to be whipped until I bled. I didn’t want to be choked until I passed out. I didn’t want to be in pain anymore. But with Carter, it was a sacrifice I was willing to make…to be free.
He said nothing, his jaw clenched tightly.
“Carter.”
“I told you I would never let you go.”
“And I’m never going to fuck you…willingly.”
His eyebrows slowly furrowed, his anger filling the room. A shadow passed across the window, making it darker in the room. His rage was palpable. Like a king who had just been defied, he was planning the best execution.
“This is the only way you get what you want. Just let me go. You’re going to get bored with me eventually. I won’t tell anyone you bought me…if you’ll just let me be free.”
He shook his head slightly. “There is one other way.”
“What?” I asked, confused.
“If you try to escape. If you break your rule, I can break mine too.”
My heart started to race again.
“I’m not stupid, Mia. I know you’ll make your move eventually. Take this as a friendly warning. When you try, you won’t get away. I’ll be as cruel as your previous master. I will open those old wounds and drain you of all your blood. But if you take me now…I’ll be kind. I’ll be gentle. You’ll always have the power to ask me to stop, to ask me to be gentler. I’ll make you come—all night long. You will enjoy it as much as I do. You may be strong and smart…but you’ll never match me. I’m an opponent you can’t defeat. So, think about it…and make the right decision.”
