Page 91 of Tainted Love

“Do I look okay?”

I smile at her. It’s a red dress that hugs the very best parts of her. The bottom swishes about just above her knees and anyone who wants to look can see the scar Marty left along her knee. I wonder if that’s intentional.

“You’re perfect,” I tell her.

Lucy turns around. “I’m not sure if that’s what I asked, but I’ll take it.”

Her hands fall to her sides and I don’t see a single tremor in her fingers. She’s not nervous at all. Her training drives her forward, leaving behind any ounce of fear or doubt she may have inside.

“Come here,” I say, luring her in with my eyes.

She steps forward, her gaze locked on mine. “What?” she asks, her cheeks turning as red as her dress.

I take her face in my hands and I press my lips against hers. Her breath tingles my face, warm desire exhaling from her lungs as I move my hands down her body.

“Dante—” She tries to pull away, but I kiss her even harder, drawing her in so her body betrays her thoughts. “We have to go soon.”

“There’s plenty of time.”

I let a grunt slip from my throat. I push my hips against hers so she can feel my hard bulge begging to be inside of her. She falls back on the bed, pulling me down with her, believing that she’s in control. I fight the burning urge to fuck her right here and now.

I take hold of her little body and push her closer to the headboard, aligning our bodies to keep her pinned where I want her to be. A moan slips over her tongue and stabs me in the heart as I slide my hands up her body. I guide her arms above her head, pushing past her fingers to take hold of the hard, metal ring hanging near the bottom of the headboard.

The cuff clicks into place, secured tightly around her left wrist.

Her eyes fly open. “Dante, what—”

I push off the bed. “I’m sorry, Lucy.”

“No!” She sits up and tugs, but the handcuff is far too tight. Panic crosses her eyes followed closely with blinding anger. “Don’t do this!”

“It’s for the best.”

“Let me go!”

I put my back to her, unable to even look into her twisted, betrayed eyes. The metal hammers against the iron bars, growing louder and louder with each bang of her wrist.

“I’ll be back in a few hours to let you out.”

“Don’t take this from me, you bastard!”

I step out into the hall and close the door behind me, shutting her inside as someone quickly ascends the staircase.

Lilah reaches the top and stares daggers at me as I walk around her. “Yeah, because this will totally end well.”

“Don’t start, Lilah. We’re leaving now.”

She heaves an annoyed breath but follows me down the stairs without another argument. Elijah lingers near the bottom with his arms crossed. He also says nothing as I pass by him, but his eyes say everything I already know.

I’m an asshole.

The bed knocks louder against the wall above our heads. Lucy’s harsh voice carries down the stairs, shouting obscenities and promises of retribution. Each word burns a hole in me. Each step away from her tears me apart, but I know I’m right.

She’ll forgive me someday.

Even if she doesn’t, at least, I know that I finally did something right in this world.

Chapter 30

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