Page 59 of Cruel Dominion

She took a deep breath and obeyed, but not before cutting me a sharp glare.

I rubbed my thumb over her knee in soft, comforting circles and this time she didn’t pull away.

“I know you’re going to anyway, but please don’t,” she whispered.

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t lecture me about trusting Jaden. I already feel like enough of an idiot without you?—”

“You weren’t an idiot.”

I surged up onto the couch and pulled her into my lap, wrapping my arms around her. She sunk into my embrace, tucking her face into the crook of my arm.

She sobbed silently, soaking the fabric of my shirt.

“You weren’t an idiot,” I repeated firmly. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“But I always do this. I trust the wrong people, and they take advantage,” her voice was so low, I could barely hear it. “And it’s your fault.”

I hugged her tighter to me and she sniffed, digging her fingernails into my arm like she wasn’t sure if she wanted to pull me closer or hurt me. I was fine with either as long as she didn’t leave.

She sniffed. “It all started with you.”

Something in my stomach tightened because I knew she could be right. I broke her heart just like I was told to and then she went off trying to fill the void I left behind with anyone who could put a temporary bandage on the pain.

I did this.

“I’m sorry,” I muttered into her hair. “I’m sorry, Anna.”

I should have known that her reaction was about more than just the photographer. She was still processing memories of the asshole who abused her.

I felt in awe of the woman in my arms. She was so goddamn brave, trying to rebuild her own life after what she’d been through. Strong enough to put herself back in the cage she left knowing she could leave again when she needed to.

A week ago, I watched with fury as she crawled back to her father, letting him parade her around, lie about where she’d been, try to marry her off to men who were pathetically unworthy of her.

Now, I knew how much she needed me. I would protect her from everything.

I held Anna tight until her tears stopped flowing. Her breaths slowed, and her body relaxed against mine. Even after she stopped crying, she made no attempt to move.

“How are you feeling?” I asked.

“Better,” she said, sighing as he pulled out of my embrace. “But I’m not going to thank you. Not after you threw me in your trunk. I can’t believe you did that.”

Then she really wasn’t going to believe this.

“I’m glad you’re feeling better,” I echoed. “Because I’m going to need to punish you for that little stunt this morning.”

Her whole body stiffened.

“I’m not punishing you for trusting Jaden,” I said, stroking her hair. “But I will have to punish you for evading your bodyguards. For going off on your own after I warned you that you needed protecting.”

“Punish me?” Her eyes narrowed and when I didn’t balk, they widened. “You’re serious.”

“Yes, Anna.”

Her throat bobbed and she worried the edge of her dress between her fingers.

She wasn’t refusing, I realized with a lick of electricity flicking down my spine, a column of white fire that went straight to my greedy cock.

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