Page 23 of Ruin Me, Daddy

Being talked about like she was nothing more than a thing to be bought and used twisted her stomach into knots—and they weren’t all bad. If it had been anyone but Ice talking about her like that, she would have thrown her drink in their face and walked away, auction be damned.

But it wasn’t just anyone. It was Ice. And the thought of being used by him, of being treated like his personal toy was everything she hadn’t dared to want for so long.

Not that she was about to let him see how he’d affected her with this little charade. It was an asshole move, making her think he didn’t want her, and she had every intention of making him pay for it. “I see.”

Fire flashed in Ice’s eyes. “You don’t. But you will.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

The men across from her shared a look before Ice leaned across the table. “It means I promised you that if I saw you up on that auction block, you would regret it. And you’re about to learn the hard way that a Daddy always keeps his promises.”

Ice

Watching Silver’s eyes widen with shock never failed to please him. Especially in moments like this, when that shock was accompanied by her squirming in her seat, her mouth falling open to allow for her breath to come in short, sharp pants.

“You wouldn’t.” The words were breathless, letting him know that at least some part of her secretly hoped he indeed would follow through on his promise.

As he had every intention of doing.

“I would. And I will.”

Her next inhale was shaky, making her breasts quiver, silently begging for his touch. “You have no right?—”

“I have every right, girl. Unless you call your safeword, you are mine for the rest of the night.” And because the contract they’d both signed did not actually define ‘one night’, he was using his own interpretation of night as ‘until the sun rises the following day’. It was a nice little loophole Beckett had discovered for him, and he planned to exploit said loophole to his every advantage. “Which means, if I want to punish you for being a defiant little brat, I absolutely have the right to do so.”

God, he’d forgotten how beautiful she was when she was angry, like some avenging angel practically glowing with righteous fury. “You’re an asshole, Elias.”

“I don’t disagree. But unless you want to be wearing cane marks for the next week, I suggest you stop with the name-calling and use my proper title instead.”

Nostrils flaring, she gave a jerky nod of agreement. “Yes, Sir.”

“No. Not that title. The other one.” The one he’d specifically told her not to use the night before. But that had been when she’d just been his friend who’d had a little too much to drink sitting at his kitchen table.

Now she was his and he had every intention of taking what he wanted.

He saw the moment his demand clicked in her mind. “Fuck no. I’m not calling you… that.”

Rising from his seat, he rounded the table, hauling her up to her feet. Fear danced with anger and need in her eyes, fueling his own aching desire. “Yes, you are. Do you know why?”

“Why?”

“Because you are mine, Amanda Sterling. Bought and paid for. And you are going to fulfill every filthy fucking fantasy I’ve had about you since I was sixteen years old. Starting with my proper title.” Pulling her more tightly against him, he leaned down and nipped at her full bottom lip. “Now, be a good girl and say ‘Yes, Daddy’.”

It felt like forever, trapped in a silent battle of wills as he watched the struggle play out on her face. She was a brat, always had been, but she was a smart brat. And smart brats picked their battles.

Was this really the hill she wanted to die on?

He got his answer when he felt the fight leave her on a long, dramatic sigh. And everything in him crowed with triumph at her next words.

“Yes, Daddy.”

“That’s my good girl.” Ducking his head, he took her lips in a proper kiss, his heart threatening to beat out of his chest when she sank into him.

Kissing her was everything he remembered from their night together and more. Heat and need, yes, but with a hint of sweetness he hadn’t stopped craving in all the months he’d been apart from her.

When he finally lifted his head, her eyes fluttered open, and he was pleased to see she looked as dazed as he felt.

“The pit,” he murmured, loosening his hold on her arms to run his fingers up and down the soft skin. “We should go down to the pit.”

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