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He let out a low hum of satisfaction. “I do like when you tremble for me, pet, but I expect a verbal response. Don’t touch yourself while I’m gone. And don’t even think about taking that toy out of your hot little pussy. Understand?”
My first attempt at speech was no more than a strangled whimper. I licked my lips and tried again. “Yes.”
He reached out and petted my hair, and I leaned into his touch, hungry for more of his attention.
“Good girl. I hope you’re still this sweet when I return. I suspect you might be in a slightly sourer mood.” He chuckled. “But you’ll still be happy to see me. Because the only way you get an orgasm is if I allow it.” He rested his palm on my ankle. “That devious little toy has the added benefit of deterring you from walking around. I think you’ll find the sensation quite unbearable if you can’t attain release. I have to make sure you heal up properly, sweet pet. I’ll always take good care of you.”
Unease stirred in the depths of my consciousness. My mind churned, struggling for coherent thought through the sapping weight of his sensual control.
He leaned in for one last deep, breathtaking kiss, sending my budding thoughts scattering.
“I’ll see you later, kitten.” The words were a dark promise.
I watched him turn and walk away, my body on fire and my mind frozen.
Chapter 12
Stefano
“No! Bad kitty.” Carmen’s loud, exasperated tone captured my attention as soon as I stepped into my penthouse. The bedroom was far enough away that she wouldn’t be able to see me, but I could easily hear her words at the elevated volume.
“We are not friends!” she groaned. “No. No. I don’t want to cuddle with you, you cute little asshole. For fuck’s sake, you do not give up, do you? Are you taking notes from Stefano? I bet you are, you fluffy psycho. Yes, you are.” Her voice lilted to a higher pitch as she spoke, until she was practically cooing at Bandit like a baby.
Grinning, I made my way toward the bedroom by a roundabout path, ensuring that she wouldn’t notice my approach. I’d anticipated returning to find Carmen huddled on my bed in a quivering, needy mess. Her heart rate had ticked up a few times throughout the course of the day, but not enough that I suspected her of disobedience.
But instead of her greeting me with pleas for release, I’d walked in on her having a rather adorable argument with my cat.
I paused just outside the threshold to the bedroom, leaning against the wall to remain out of sight while I indulged in their private conversation. Something warmed in the center of my chest as she fawned over Bandit, revealing a softer side of herself that she’d never shown me.
“Okay, you can snuggle with me,” she capitulated. “But only until Stefano comes back,” she added sternly. “He can’t know that I like you, or he might hurt you. I won’t be responsible for that. You’re too sweet for the bad man to hurt you.” She finished at the higher-pitched, baby voice, but I didn’t find it cute anymore.
Something dark and ugly sank its claws into my insides. My features twisted in a grimace, and I no longer felt like hiding my presence from Carmen.
“Why would you say something like that?” I snapped, forcing myself to remain a careful distance away from them. If Carmen already thought I was capable of harming my cat out of malice—if she was secretly so fearful of me—storming toward her and extracting answers would only drive her further away.
She jolted and pushed Bandit aside. My watch beeped, alerting me that her heartrate had become elevated.
My teeth clenched hard enough to crack. I’d relished having a means of monitoring her physiological responses at all times, but the knowledge that she feared me so much was a gut punch.
“How long have you been standing there?” she asked, her demand weakened by a tremor.
“Long enough to know that you think I would hurt Bandit.” The growled words left an acidic burn on my tongue. “Do you really believe I’m capable of doing something like that?”
She lifted her chin, her posture defiant despite her pale complexion. “You are capable of chaining me to your bed and playing sick, perverted games with me for your own amusement. Why would I possibly underestimate what you’re capable of? This is how you’re treating me when you’re in a good mood. I don’t think I could fathom what your twisted mind might devise if you’re in a bad one.”
“I don’t torture small animals for fun,” I snapped. “I’m not a sadist. I don’t take pleasure in causing pain.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I’ve seen the aftermath of your retribution. You butcher people, and you don’t feel a shred of remorse.”
