“There now, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” he taunts.
Unable to stop myself, I spit in his face. Matias reels back but doesn’t lash out like I expect. He merely smirks at me. “You’re lucky I’m so fond of you, or I might have ripped your throat out with my teeth.”
“Go to hell,” I rasp.
Matias’s eyes blaze with fury and lust. Grabbing my hair, he crushes his mouth to mine in a brutal kiss.
I tear my mouth away, gasping for breath as Matias releases me from the punishing kiss. My lips feel bruised and swollen as I run my tongue over them.
“Enjoy the defiance while you can, little rabbit,” Matias rasps. “Soon, I’ll tear it from you, and you’ll beg me for more.”
I shake my head defiantly, even as my traitorous body thrums with unwanted arousal. “Never,” I spit. “I’ll never beg for you.”
Matias smirks, clearly unconvinced. “We’ll see.”
He rises from the bed, and I quickly scramble to my feet, smoothing my rumpled clothing with shaking hands. I can still feel the imprint of his hands on my body, and I desperately want to scrub every inch of my skin.
But I know it’s useless. What happened between us has left a mark on me that no amount of scrubbing will erase. Judging by the satisfied smirk on Matias’s face, he knows it, too.
“Let’s get you back to your cell, shall we?” He gestures toward the door. “Wouldn’t want to keep you from your friends.”
I glare at him but stalk past without a word. I can feel his eyes on me as I exit the room, no doubt enjoying the view. Bile rises in my throat, and I clench my fists, channeling my rage and disgust into each step.
Matias escorts me back to the dingy cell I share with my friends, his hand hovering above the small of my back. It’s not quite touching, but close enough to feel the heat radiating from his palm, reminding me that he’s a constant threat.
At the cell door, he leans in close. “Sweet dreams, little rabbit. I’ll see you very soon.”
His lips graze my cheek, and I jolt away, scrubbing at my skin with the back of my hand. Matias laughs.
“Don’t fight it, Kali,” he murmurs as he unlocks the cell. “You’ll only make it harder on yourself.”
I don’t respond, slipping inside the cell and moving to the far corner, as far from him as possible. Matias lingers in the doorway, blatantly objectifying me.
“Think about what happened today,” he says softly. “Think about how good it felt. You’ll be craving more in no time.”
With that chilling promise, he shuts the cell door, leaving me with my turbulent thoughts and the lingering feel of his hands on my body. I sink onto the hay bale, drawing my knees to my chest.
Closing my eyes, I make a silent vow. I will never beg Matias for anything. No matter what he does to me, no matter how my traitorous body responds, I will stay strong.
I am more than what he wants to make me. More than an object for his pleasure and amusement. I will not break.
2
MATIAS
My boots echo against the concrete as I stride into the cafeteria. The scent of grilled meat and spices hangs heavy in the air. My gaze sweeps across the room, instantly locking onto my brother Thiago seated at a table with Carlos and Andre. A smirk plays at the corners of my mouth as I approach.
Thiago’s dark eyes flick up to meet mine, a silent acknowledgment passing between us. We’re two sides of the same warped coin—bound by blood and brutality. Carlos and Andre shift in their seats, their laughter dying as I join them. Fear and respect mingle in their expressions. Smart men.
I slide into the chair opposite Thiago, leaning back in my chair. My gaze drifts over the trio, taking in every subtle shift and twitch. Sizing them up like the predator I am. Carlos clears his throat, his Adam’s apple bobbing nervously.
“Heard you got a new plaything, eh, Matias?” He forces a grin, but I can sense an undercurrent of unease rolling off him in waves.
My lips curl into a feral smile at the mention of Kali. The mere thought of her is enough to set my blood simmering. I can still taste the defiance of her on my lips. Feel the tremors of her body as I pinned her down. Hear the sharp intake of breath as I claimed her mouth with bruising force.
“She’s feisty,” I murmur, letting the words drip like honey from my tongue. “But they all break, eventually.”
Andre shifts uncomfortably, but Thiago arches a brow, his expression impassive. He knows my game—how I twist and manipulate them until they’re utterly mine, body and soul. However, Kali is different. I knew it the moment I saw her. She’s special.