Page 71 of Lock Up the Darkness

“Yes,” I basically hissed at him urging me to actually admit it.

“Interesting,” he mused, thinking on it for a moment, before he said, “An acceptable response.”

Bastard.

“Well, I’m so relieved it pleases your majesty,” I bit out with dripping sarcasm. I swept down into a deep curtsy.

Jonah snorted with amusement.

Asher was there in the next moment before I could rise back up, grasping my chin in a harsh grip with his thumb and forefinger.

God, that fucking touch of his.

It sent tingles through me, threatening to spiral into something far more uncontrollably intense and even more volatile. And that appetizing, all-masculine sandalwood smell of his wasn’t helping matters either.

I swallowed hard as his silver eyes held me in his spell, locking onto mine with the threat of never letting go.

“While it is technically protocol to curtsy to your king, in my kingdom, I prefer my subjects down on both knees.”

“In your dreams,” I somehow managed to get out steadily.

“No, little lamb, currently in my darkest and dirtiest fantasies.” He stroked the fingers of his free hand over my lips, teasing with the very obvious threat of pushing past them and sliding into my mouth.

I grabbed his hand and eased it down, taking away the temptation.

He allowed it, only to smirk and tighten his grasp on my jaw. “Why do you let me touch you like this?”

“What?” I answered in a daze at the intensity coming off him and bleeding into me.

“It’s a very submissive hold. Like a hand around your throat, which you allowed with Killian and Jonah.” A sadistic smile spread over his face. “I think a part of you enjoys being at our mercy, Aurora.”

“That sounds like a whole lot of wishful thinking to me.”

He went on undeterred, “It’s the thrill of not being in control, the freedom of it. Of letting go completely. But there’s conflict there because you can only accept it on your own terms. You can’t admit it, not even to yourself yet, because, like I said earlier, trust takes time. Especially that level of trust.”

I batted his hand away and rose to my feet. “It’s just me picking my battles.”

He stared at me for a moment. Or several long moments. That penetrating, invasively studious stare of his threatened to tear me open right where I stood.

But I didn’t allow it, standing firm, and actually giving it right back to him.

His lip curled, as though he knew what I was doing, then he stepped back and rubbed his hands together. “Speaking of battles, let’s get started.”

“Started on what exactly? Why did you bring me here?”

Jonah pushed off the wall and joined the conversation again, excitement sparking as he said, “To see what you’ve really got, firecracker.”

I frowned, looking between them.

Asher gestured at the ring.

Oh. “So, this wasn’t just the start of a roundabout tour then.”

“Why did you think I asked you to come in casual clothes?”

“To make me feel more comfortable, so I’d let down my guard.”

“Does sound like you, Asher,” Jonah said, with a grin.

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