Page 27 of Suspicion

“The water.” Her attention fixed on the cup as if she couldn’t decide if she wanted to drain the contents or never see it again.

“Of course, it’s clean.” He couldn’t believe what a brat she was being. Even given that she was Alexander Bennett’s daughter, he might have expected a ‘thank you’ for catering to her needs. “I drink this water every day.”

Her gaze shot to him, searching his face for any signs of duplicity.

“I’m not trying to poison you, Ella.” He sighed, his grip tightening on the cup as his irritation flared. “I’m trying to help you.”

“By keeping me tied up like this?” She stamped her foot against the floor, inadvertently creating a tremor that raced up her delectable body.

“Actually, yes.”

Was she so self-indulged that she’d forgotten what had happened when she’d dashed out into the trees? Ella had fallen flat on her face in the dirt, primarily because she’d left without so much as a flashlight. She was fortunate not to have seriously hurt herself.

How long was she likely to last out there without Tucker? She was undoubtedly much safer restrained in his barn than loose in the wild.

“Oh, fuck you!” There was venom in her voice, her gaze narrowed as she spat the insult.

“Really?” He straightened at the affront, acknowledging how he was triggered.

A naughty mouth like Ella’s warranted punishment, and Tucker could think of a few interesting ways to enact penances, but he wasn’t a fool. He accepted that his new guest was pissed off, and he understood why. The irony was that the whole reason she was tethered before him in the first place was her smart mouth and lack of boundaries. If she could just learn some basic respect, he was sure they could get along just fine.

Though I accept what I deem to be ‘fine’ might be a relative concept…

Either she tried to do as she was told, or she was going to hate every moment of their time together. That choice was all hers.

“Are you sure you don’t want to apologize and try again?” He hovered the cup in front of her, taunting her with the drink he knew she yearned for. “I’m offering you what you want.”

“What I want?” Her voice rose. “Seriously?”

Had the ropes not been confining her, Tucker wondered if she might have flown at him. Yanking at her binds, she lurched forward, and there was no mistaking the revulsion in her eyes.

“I’m not fucking apologizing for this.” She signaled north to where the ropes held her, then down to her boots.

He noticed how the tension in the ropes had pulled her up to the balls of her feet. It was an unexpected benefit of her new position. If he could get her out of those joggers, he imagined how much the stance would accentuate her no doubt slender legs.

“I’m not apologizing for any of this! This is all you and my odious asshole of a father.”

“You should drink, Ella.” He sensed his fury growing as he thrust the cup at her. “It will be some time before you get another chance.”

“Wh—” Whatever she was about to say was stopped short by the cup as it pressed against her lips.

“Drink.” His voice was a snarl as he tipped the vessel, forcing the cold water into her mouth.

He knew he was pouring the water so fast, her labored gulps couldn’t keep up. That much was obvious from her gasping breaths and fraught mewls, but still, he continued. The truth was he reveled in the power, in the knowledge that he would decide when she drank and when she didn’t, just as he would decide when and if she was released from the rafters.

He smirked as the first of the water trailed down her chin, along her neckline, and soaked her sweater.

“Stop!” Recoiling from the cup, she shook her head in an attempt to compose herself. “What are you doing?”

“Helping you.” God help him, but he was relishing the moment. Pausing the flow of the liquid, he took in the shocked look on her face. Her stunned expression was priceless. “You said you wanted water, so here you go.”

“Not like this!” Outrage echoed in her voice. “You’re soaking me.”

“Not yet.” He frowned. “Your sweater’s still virtually dry. Look…” Putting down the cup on the ground, he walked toward her and yanked the hem of her olive-colored sweater up and over her head. Trapped behind her neck, the jumper revealed a sincerely shell-shocked Ella.

“Put that back!” Obviously, she couldn’t believe he’d seen fit to remove a layer, although he’d already exposed her delicious ass in the woods. The gesture was intended to remind her in no uncertain terms that she was helpless and that he held all the power.

He hoped she got the message.

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