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Each dark promise bore down on me, pressing heavily on my lungs until I could scarcely breathe. He didn’t need to choke me to steal my air supply. His deviant words controlled my body even more profoundly than his strong hands.
“But don’t worry, kitten,” he cooed, dropping a reassuring kiss on my motionless lips. “I’ll put you back together. And every time I do, you’ll crave to be shattered again. You were made for this. You were made for me.”
I trembled in his hold, so weakened by his shocking declarations that the notion of fighting him off was a distant memory. “I’m not made for you. I don’t want to be with you.”
His cheek skimmed against mine, his designer stubble lightly scraping my delicate skin. He nipped at my ear, drawing an involuntary gasp from my chest as my core throbbed in response to the little bite of pain. He’d reawakened my erotic triggers, reminding me that pleasure and pain were inextricably linked.
“Then I’ll remake you,” he vowed. “One way or another, you’re mine, Carmen. Your stubborn defiance won’t change that. It will only make owning you that much sweeter.”
“Stop,” I pleaded, reduced to begging. Despite the lustful heat at my core, my skin pebbled, a chill sinking into my bones. I wouldn’t be owned by any man. Never again.
He drew back slightly, so his onyx eyes fixed on my face. I couldn’t read his emotions in their bottomless depths; perhaps he had none. His sociopathic nature only allowed him to experience sadistic pleasure when he was controlling others. When he was tormenting me.
“Poor little pet,” he said gently, stroking my hair back from my face. “I’ve frightened you. Don’t be scared. I’m going to take good care of you.”
“I’m not scared of you,” I lied on a tremulous whisper.
“Yes, you are.” He continued to run his fingers through my hair, petting me. “But I don’t want your fear. I want your respect. There’s a difference.”
My lips parted, but I didn’t have a response. He’d ignored all of my defiant assertions, and I had no more to offer.
He made a low humming sound and trailed his fingertips over my cheek. “You’re pale. I need to feed you. Did you eat your lunch?”
I dimly recalled the sandwich that Marisol had delivered to me this afternoon. I’d eaten it to keep my strength up, so that I had the energy to continue fighting Stefano. That plan seemed laughable now, but I didn’t feel like giggling. Instead, I nodded mutely.
He dropped a doting kiss on my forehead. “Good girl.”
His weight finally withdrew from my chest, and he released my arms. I didn’t so much as twitch a muscle as he retrieved a key from his pocket and unlocked the cuff around my ankle.
“I’m sure you’ll want to get cleaned up before dinner. He tapped the top of my foot, but I couldn’t feel the contact through the thick bandage. “We’ll change these before bed, but you shouldn’t get them wet. I’ll help you bathe.”
“No.” I managed to raise my voice above a whisper, but there was no force behind the refusal.
He clicked his tongue at me and scooped me up in his arms. I allowed him to carry me, an odd numbness setting in and dulling my thoughts.
When we reached the closet door, he shifted his hold on me so that he could open it.
His thumb stroked my arm, testing the chill on my pebbled flesh. “Don’t worry, kitten. I’ll get you warmed up.”
Even though he’d been the one to terrify me, he kept murmuring reassurances, as though he was taking responsibility for my well-being. He completely disregarded the disturbing truth that he had been the one to elicit these physiological signs of distress.
He carried me though the enormous walk-in closet and out the other side, which opened into an opulent master bathroom. The glass-fronted shower stall was more than big enough for two people, and the massive jacuzzi tub had definitely been built with more than one person in mind.
He set me down on the counter, in between two sinks. His hands bracketed my hips for a second, squeezing to reinforce his control. “Stay. I don’t want you putting any weight on your feet. I can see a bit of blood on the bandages. You did too much walking already today, naughty girl.”
I cut my eyes away from his handsome face, the beautiful mask that concealed the monster inside. He’d already choked me and stolen a kiss in retribution for my vicious bite to his neck. He’d promised that he would punish me if I damaged my feet while he was gone. I’d tried to limit the time I’d spent exploring my prison, but what if I’d pushed too far?
I wasn’t certain what Stefano would do to me if I defied him by attempting to run now. There was nowhere to escape to, anyway.
