Page 43 of Suspicion

“It’s cute.” His gaze scanned her. “Like you.”

“Oh.” For fuck’s sake. What was she supposed to say to that?

“In fact, I think I’ll use it from now on.” His grin reemerged.

“What?” She wanted to scratch his self-satisfied smirk from his face. How could she ever have thought he was even vaguely attractive?

“I’ll call you little girl.” His gaze was knowing. “I think you’ll grow to love it.”

“I won’t.” Her gaze shifted to the window. Pale light flooded the room, although since she never wore a watch, she had no idea what time it was.

My phone used to tell me the time.

Not for the first time she missed her trusty device. It was the longest they’d ever been parted.

“Then we’ll agree to disagree.” He leaned back as if he had the right to summarily decide what her name was. She was Ella Bennett—simple as that. She didn’t require some brute to come along and offer her a new identity. “And while we’re on the subject, little girl, I propose a new name for me, as well.”

“Oh?” She definitely had a few suggestions for what that could be, though he probably wouldn’t approve of them. “You told me to call you Tucker.”

“I don’t usually go for formalities,” he concurred. “But for you, I’m prepared to make an exception.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” She sensed where this was going and how little she was going to enjoy it.

“It means you’ll call me whatever I tell you to if you want to stay out of the barn.” His lips twisted into an ugly sneer. “The ropes are still hanging in there, you know. I’ll be happy to remind you how much you enjoyed them.”

“You wouldn’t!”

Though even as she spoke, she realized that he would. Tucker still held all the cards, and aside from the relative comfort of his bed and a few furtive details about her plight, she hadn’t made any progress at all.

“‘Fraid so.” He arched an eyebrow as if he was daring her to defy him.

“So?” Her heart was beating so loudly, she was surprised he couldn’t hear it. “What am I supposed to call you?” Asshole? She pressed her lips into a line to prevent the smile that wanted to rise at her unspoken jibe.

“I think sir will suffice for the time being.” The way he ran his tongue over his teeth suggested he thought there was something sexy about the proposal.

“What?” Anger exploded inside of her, making it impossible to think. The fact that she was tired, starving, and still bound was lost on her as adrenaline whipped through her bloodstream. Tucker was a jerk-off, and if he didn’t know, she was happy to be the one to tell him. “I’m not fucking calling you sir!”

She didn’t call anyone sir.

Ella didn’t defer.

“You’re not hungry, then?” He turned to the enormous pot hanging over the fire. “Because if you don’t cooperate, then you don’t eat.”

“That’s just cruel.” Brow furrowing, she shook her head at his mean approach. “You said this didn’t have to be vicious.” The image of him telling her while she dangled in the ropes next door reran in her head. She hadn’t been able to answer him that time. Now, finally, she had the right to reply.

“It doesn’t.” He leaned closer, abruptly closing the space between them. Backing against his pillow, she nearly lost her balance and tumbled to the floorboards below. “All you have to do is be compliant and do this thing for me.”

This thing? His soothing tone made his outrageous request sound almost reasonable.

“Why?” she demanded. “Why should I call you that?” She couldn’t even bring herself to say the word. He had to be fucking joking.

“Because while you’re here, I’m your superior.” His blue eyes lit up at the sick idea. “I thought we could get along without such conventions, but I guess I was wrong.” His brow rose. “You don’t want to cooperate. Maybe you’ll do better with the reminder.”

“What the fuck?” Her fight-or-flight responses were pulsing so hard, she was struggling to catch her breath. Her gaze flitted from him to the door, then to the window.

Was there any way she could get out, get past him, and get away? Of course, her wrists were still wrapped in unyielding rope, but there didn’t seem to be much she could do about that for the time being. Maybe if she kept working on the ropes, she’d encourage some slack in them, or perhaps she’d find something sharp to work through the fibers. Either way, she’d have to cope with the binds until a solution presented itself.

“You already had your warning.” His voice was a snarl as he reached forward and grasped her bound wrists.

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