Page 70 of Knot a Thief

His blue eyes stare into mine, and I hate the way my body is singing for him.

He lowers his face to my neck. I feel something cool and damp against the bite. The initial touch makes me wince, but then the pain fades, replaced by a soothing sensation.

My body mutineers against my thoughts when it trembles beneath him.

But although Max’s movements are careful, almost tender as he cleans the wound, he doesn’t react to me.

Hopefully, I broke him.

Against my will, I feel my body relaxing under his ministrations. There’s something about the way he’s caring for me that makes me feel cherished. Protected. A warmth spreads through me, starting from the bite and radiating downward.

Don’t do this.

I tell myself firmly.

Don’t fall for him.

He kidnapped you.

He’s trying to get you pregnant against your will.

He’s not to be trusted.

But my traitorous body doesn’t seem to care about these logical arguments. Each gentle touch sends a wave of contentment through me.

I bite my lip to stifle a soft moan of desire.

“Almost done,” Max says, his breath warm against my skin.

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to summon up feelings of hatred and anger.

“Where’s Seb?” I picture Seb’s face. I know he would not have let me go willingly.

“In Majorca—hopefully. You can go back to him in nine months.”

“What the fuck?”

I think of the freedom Max is trying to take from me, the choices he’s making without my consent, and now I know there’s an invisible but palpable bond between us. I send acrimony through it.

“Stay calm.”

Fucking calm.

Yet I can’t deny the part of me that’s responding to his care. The omega in me that wants to lean into his touch, to bare my neck further and submit completely.

“There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Max says finally, his hand lingering on my shoulder. “All cleaned and dressed.”

I take a deep breath, steeling myself before I turn to face him. I need to stay strong, to remember who I am and what I want. No matter how good his touch feels, no matter how my body responds to him, I can’t let myself forget the reality of this situation.

“So you kidnapped me,” I state, my voice hard with accusation.

“It appears I did,” Max replies coolly. “Now, have a shower and meet me in the dining room for breakfast.”

His casual dismissal of my accusation ignites a fire in my belly. Fury surges through me.

How dare he act so nonchalant about stealing me away from my life?

“I’m not eating with you,” I spit out, my hands clench into fists at my sides. “I’m not doing anything with you. You can’t just take me and expect me to play happy families!”

---