Page 9 of Bred By the Barge

I want it. It makes no sense, but I long to be the one to tame him. To soothe him. To own him.

Fear wipes away the ridiculous longing as our eyes meet. His enlarged pupils make him look demonic. He’s terrifying.

His gaze dips to my lips. I swallow.

He snarls and stomps from the room.

Before my mind catches up to the fact that I’m alone, he returns with a large red box.

He drops the metal container on the counter beside me and lifts a bottle out before taking my wrist and holding my hand above the sink.

“This will burn. Breathe through it,” he warns before pouring a steady stream over my hand.

I scream as fire licks up my arm.

He pulls tweezers out of the box and meticulously extracts every shard of metal and wood from my hand. I hit, squirm, and kick, desperate to avoid more pain, but he ignores me and holds my wrist with just enough force to keep my hand still.

When he picks up the bottle again, I sob and push at his forearm.

“Please, no,” I beg.

Hazel eyes meet mine.

“I’m sorry, Pearl,” he says before dousing my hand in liquid fire.

By the time he turns on the faucet, I’m too exhausted to marvel over the clear, clean water rushing into the sink. Despite my chest heaving with sobs, I’m too dehydrated to make more tears. My head spins.

I just want to lie down and close my eyes.

When I list to the side, he catches me and guides my shoulders to lean back on the mirror. I grimace as my blood smears over my back.

A low, masculine murmur filters in through the pain and sneaks into my heart, and despite his grip on my other wrist, I don’t fight when he begins the process on my left hand.

Dark spots swim in my vision. Even with my eyes closed, I notice the difference.

“Drink,” he demands.

The cold rim of a cup presses against my lips. Like an obedient puppet, I swallow and nearly groan in pleasure as crisp, cool water slides down my abused throat.

If fear is the easiest way to make men cower, then certainly clean water is the easiest way to make an omega fall in love.

Because heaven settles into my stomach. Bliss seeps into my veins. Happiness settles into my bones.

Whether it be my utter lack of defenses or the delicious rumble leaking from his chest, it doesn’t matter why or how I got here.

I want more.

I want The Barge.

I want all of him.

Mine.

Chapter 4

Tide

As my tiny omega finishes a third glass of water, I fight the urge to replace the cup with my lips.

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