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I shifted my weight off her, expecting her to lash out at any moment. By the time I got to my feet, towering over where she lay on the bed, she hadn’t moved. Her eyes were closed, and her stillness might have convinced me she was asleep. But her brow was creased, and I noted a fine tremor in her fingers where they rested on the pillows.
Something squeezed at the center of my chest, and my stomach turned.
Fuck. Maybe I’d pushed too far. Did she really think I would rape her?
I supposed she had no reason to believe me when I told her that I didn’t intend to force myself on her. Her most significant experience with me was my betrayal after I’d seduced her all those years ago.
She’d been right when she said neither of us lived by a code of honor. I wasn’t above manipulation and deceit, but I would never truly harm Carmen.
She clearly didn’t understand that, and I’d fucked up our fun.
I blew out a long sigh, irritated with myself for misreading the situation. I took great pride in being able to read everyone around me, so I could maneuver them where I wanted them.
Except Carmen. It seemed that she was even more of a challenge than I’d expected.
That thought lightened my mood. This particular interaction had taken an unfortunate turn, but it indicated that my games with her would be much more delightfully unpredictable than I’d imagined.
I didn’t have to physically overpower her to get her to submit. There were plenty of other, more deviant ways of coaxing out her surrender. The next time Carmen whimpered and trembled for me, it wouldn’t be because she was frightened.
Formulating a plan should have further eased the strange tension in my chest, but my decisive moment was fleeting. I stared down at her prone form, uncharacteristically uncertain. Leaving her alone like this seemed like a poor choice. She would stew in her fear and anger, building up toxic emotions toward me in my absence.
That would set me further back rather than advancing my agenda for her.
Seeing her so still set my teeth on edge. My body moved toward hers before my mind finished reasoning through my next action.
I sat on the bed, reaching out to stroke her glossy, raven hair back from her face. She cringed at the lightest contact, but she didn’t try to fight me off.
I definitely didn’t like that response.
Ignoring the way she shuddered at my touch, I wrapped my arms around her and settled her in my lap. Her skin was too cool beneath my hands, devoid of her usual warmth. She tucked her chin close to her chest, hugging her arms around herself, as though protecting the most vulnerable parts of her body from me.
I’d never realized how fragile she was. Carmen was a slender woman, but the way she usually carried herself gave the impression that she was all sharp edges. For so long, I’d admired her dangerously cunning mind and powerful bearing. In all of my fantasies about bending her to my will, I’d never once considered the fact that she might be breakable.
“Carmen.” Her name left my throat on a strange rasp. I curled two fingers beneath her tucked chin, urging her to lift her face. “Look at me.”
She peeked up at me, opening her eyes cautiously. I was accustomed to her steely glare, but she looked…lost.
“Stefano?” she breathed my name, uncertain.
Fuck, I really had scared her.
I stroked my thumb over her cheekbone, as though I could draw the bronze glow back to her cheeks with my touch. Her ashen appearance was unsettling. I felt oddly queasy, like on the rare occasions when I woke up with a hangover.
I continued stroking her, my fingers sliding over her silken hair. I discovered that I liked the smooth glide of the glossy strands beneath my callouses. Some of the disconcerting sickness eased.
“I’m not going to hurt you, Carmen,” I swore. “I understand that you don’t trust me, and I won’t insult you by asking you to. Only a fool would believe everything I say, and you’re definitely not foolish. But allow me to convince you.”
Carmen was shrewd, and she would respond to reason far more strongly than empty promises or platitudes.
A little furrow appeared between her brows, her eyes regaining a glint of their usual steel. “You will never convince me to be compliant with your plans to tame me.”
There was enough spite in the words to loosen the knot in the center of my chest.
“Yes, I want to tame you. Not break you. I will never rape you, because then I wouldn’t get what I want. Now, do you believe me?”
Her full lips pressed together in a furious line, her eyes narrowing. The irate expression drew a smile to my own lips.
