Page 11 of Lock Up the Darkness

“You couldn’t show how you felt in front of any of them, couldn’t even react the way you wanted to. You just had to stand there and smile, heaping on the fake.”

His lip twitched, making his pretty boy face twist, warning of a demon lurking right beneath the surface just itching to scratch its way out.

He released my jaw, but didn’t back off, still one hand pressed beside my head on the wall.

And then his other slid into my hair, sending a tremble of awareness through me that caught me off guard.

I swallowed it down where I put a whole lot of things I pretended hadn’t happened, things that I wouldn’t allow to impact me in the here and now. Compartmentalization at its finest—something else I’d learned well from my dad.

“You’re a mouthy little thing, aren’t you?” He twirled a lock of my hair around his finger. “I do love myself a fighter. You might’ve noticed we’re fresh out around here, so that makes you a hot commodity. A whole lot of fun for us, really fucking dangerous for you.”

“Warning appreciated,” I grunted back at him.

He slid his hand down the column of my throat, his palm feeling like it was literally burning into my skin. “You might want to check this attitude at the door and make your apologies. I’m the nice one. Ash and J wouldn’t be so lenient. Keep that in mind.”

“I guess I have no choice.” The hell, I didn’t.

A sadistic smile crept across his face. He stroked my pulse point with his thumb in such an erotic way it had my core clenching. “Glad you’re catching on. Shame it won’t save you, though. Punishment is already warranted now.”

His fingers slid from my throat, trailing down my clavicle, searing heat following in its wake.

Fuck.

I tried to ignore it, but I couldn’t.

I bucked against the wall, and he chuckled darkly.

I reacted, shooting out my hand and grabbing his, my nails digging in harshly.

He hissed, his eyes flaming. “You like a little danger and manhandling, little fighter?”

“None of your fucking business,” I bit back.

“Still with the disrespect. You’re really not getting off on the right foot here, are you?”

Wrong.

He hooked the back of my right leg, ripping it out from under me.

I landed hard on one knee with a grunt, my boots absorbing some of the impact.

He fisted his hand in my hair and jerked my head back, forcing me to look up at him and meet his fiery gaze. “That’s rule number one. Bend the knee.”

My head was level with his crotch, the bulge pushing against his jeans unmistakable.

Oh no. I should hate it, it should be clear cut revulsion. But instead I just fucking well stared.

“Salivating for my cock, dirty girl?”

I blinked hard and averted my eyes, looking up at him.

“I should make you open wide and choke on it, then paint a pretty picture all over your face with my hot cum.” He yanked on my hair. “Shame you’re due for punishment, not pleasure. And having the honor of tasting my cum absolutely qualifies as pleasure.”

“Then maybe you should release me and save all of that for somebody who will appreciate it much more than me.”

“The friend you’ve made.” He ran his thumb along my bottom lip, exerting enough pressure to make it bruise. “The only friend you’ll make now after your mistake earlier of challenging me. My fan club saw me giving you extra attention—yeah, they don’t care if it’s good or bad—and they won’t take kindly to that. They’ll ice you now. Maybe worse. But don’t worry, Liza will stay put. She’s loyal like a fucking dog.”

“You piece of—”

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