Page 71 of The Villain

I nod once with a smile. It’s a very slim baseline but it helps me a lot.

Tera starts giggling, probably realizing my game.

“Good Statue.”

His nostrils flare as he reads. The dilation of his pupils when he meets my eyes makes me smirk. Someone likes to be praised. A hard man like this? Sure he has his vulnerabilities, but he hides them so well no one would ever know. I wonder what I could get him to do for me if I praised him enough?

I just got another secret glimpse and I’m enjoying it thoroughly. I need to know more. What it would take to keep him without kidnapping.

“Polyamory?”

His gaze shutters. “What about it?”

I shake my head while I type. “What did you get from it?”

He slides the phone out of my hand to respond. His pulse is getting heavier and his lip is twitching slightly. It’s all so subtle and easily missed. I’ve been misreading him for the majority of our interactions. How many secrets have I missed out on? Subtle clues that I could have used to realize what he is behind his mask.

“More attention.”

His lips are flat when I read it. I absently stroke my fingers over his cheek to relax him. That’s all this monster wants? Some attention?

It makes a lot of sense, of course.

I’m happy to provide.

“Did you get what you needed?”

“No,” his reply is flat and instant.

I nod as my expression turns thoughtful. I wouldn’t be sitting in his lap right now if he had. My aggressive stance against the assholes behind me is abruptly worse now. They’re a nuisance that needs to go.

“What else do you need?”

“Just that,” he utters. “It wasn’t what I thought it would be.”

“Shade? Is everything ok?” Melissa asks in a concerned tone. It sounds fake to me. Shade doesn’t respond to her, keeping his focus on me.

“Have you ever done it?” He asks me with narrowed eyes.

I shake my head. I’ve never thought about it before I came to this town and witnessed how well it works for Tera. But that’s Tera, not me. If it works, good for her, but I don’t want it.

“No. Too possessive.” Let him get the truth now. He’ll have to get used to it.

“Good,” he says in a grim tone.

I raise an eyebrow. That wasn’t the expected response.

“Do you get jealous, baby?” His voice slides into a taunt as he smiles smugly.

Not exactly. I can’t define what I go through when I think of something that’s mine walking away. Or being taken away.

My thoughtful look is its own answer for him.

“How bad do you get?” He laughs lightly.

I think about all of the things I’m capable of. The limits I’m willing to go to if someone I consider mine is even slightly inconvenienced. I can’t tell him any of that. It would take a lot of texting.

“How bad will you let me be?”

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