Page 83 of Mama Si's Paradise

Suddenly, he raised his hand toward me, and I leaned away on instinct but not fast enough. He moved like he was on fast-forward mode, so he already had his fingers in my hair, pulling it in front of me, looking at the strands in his palm as he slowly moved his hand back.

“Sunshine,” he whispered before he let go. “Join me for breakfast. Your wardrobe will be ready by the time you return.”

Goose bumps on my forearms. “I amnotstaying here.”

He pretended he hadn’t even heard me as he looked around the room for a moment, then turned those eyes on me again, like he was afraid I would disappear if he wasn’t looking at me.

“This floor will be yours for now. You will sleep alone until the Blood Call. The rest of the Fifth Tower is mine. There are three more floors below you, just in case you’re thinking about running away.”

My brain malfunctioned. “Wait, wait, wait—Blood Call? What the hell is that? And why am I in a tower? And why…why…what…” I shook my head, so terrified so suddenly it felt like someone had zapped my energy.

Or maybe it was the fact that I hadn’t eaten anything in possibly twenty-four hours.

Anxiety tightened my throat. “Why am I here, Valentine? What is this place?” I said in barely a whisper.

“You need food. Your body is weak,” he said, lookingconcernednow, which was worse. He stepped to the side and waved at the open door. “Shall we?”

“I—”

“If you eat with me, I will answer your questions.”

My mouth clamped shut. “And then?”

“And then you can do whatever you want.”

“I can?”

“Yes. Until the Blood Call.”

I did not like those two words together at all, but I needed my questions answered. I needed to know what the hell was going on around me, where I was, who lived in this place—and most importantly, what were my odds of escaping here for real?

“I won’t acceptnofor an answer, Sunshine. After you,” Valentine said, waving at the door.

My choices were really, really limited. “Such a gentleman,” I muttered, and started for the door. The sooner I had food in my system, the clearer I’d think.

Then… “Only when you’re not in my bed.”

Shivers ran down my back. I stopped walking, and so did he. “I willneverbe in your bed.” And I’d say it a million more times if I had to, to get it through his head.

“Oh, but you will. All tied up and wide open for me. Very soon.”

Oh, God. He meant it. He spoke like he knew it for a fact.

I forced myself to laugh. “I’ve dealt with men like you before, Mr. Evernight. Your arrogance just makes you a dick—that’s it. You don’t scare me.”

“Of course, I do.” He grinned. “But I don’tjustscare you.” Again, with that same certainty.

I shook my head—did he think that the fact I found him hot meantanything?“You’re delusional.” I’d found plenty of people hot before. Nobody nearhiscaliber, but I had.

“And you’re more beautiful than the idea of stars in the sky. I can’t wait to see how bright I can make you shine.”

The alphabet had a way of evading me sometimes, and this was one of those times. My mouth opened and closed, but I couldn’t think of a single thing to say.

The asshole chuckled, running a single finger down my cheek before I could jerk away.

“Come, Sunshine.” And he started walking down the hallway.

Unfortunately for me, I had no other choice but to follow.

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