Page 19 of Sacrifice

Maybe if I do talk, I’ll find out if Espresso is alive.Or worse, really dead;my brain fires back at me. I decide to stay quiet. In the back of my mind, I think about the fainting spells I keep having.

There’s no doubt in my mind I have to get out of here. Besides, Vincent will likely end up killing me when he gets bored of me. Or if I continue to push his buttons and he decides I’m not worth all this trouble. “Thank you, Mossimo. We shall discuss it more later.”

Vincent closes the door and turns back toward me. Alright, so my eyes are almost all the way closed. I think I’m more worried about what he might do to me if he thinks I’m asleep.

My mind won’t shut off, making the panic flow through me as the questions keep coming at me. Am I trying to catch him in a bad act? Or do I want him to touch me? The uncertain way I feel about my situation is disheartening.

“Mi reina, I know you’re awake. Go ahead and open those pretty eyes for me.” There’s humor in his tone. That’s a good thing, right?

Opening my eyes, Vincent stands there in sweatpants and no shirt. His body is sexy, but I know better than to let myself go down that train of thought. Instead, I watch him walk over to me and sit down on my left side. I’m on my right side facing him, but I scoot backwards, afraid he might take my covers off.

“How are you feeling?” He reaches out and pushes my hair off my shoulder. Leaning down, he kisses my lips.

“I’m fine.” That’s hardly the truth, but I’d rather not tell him how weak I feel. Or that I’m baffled by the way he’s been acting.

I’m torn between the two versions of Vincent’s I now know. He’s a beast,The Beast. But then he seems so caring and nice. I can tell he is concerned for me. How can he be so opposite sometimes? Do I want to see who he truly is? A caring, considerate man, or the violent beast. Can I console the part of me that doesn’t trust him? That knows he is a murderer?

“Look at me,mi reina.” Instantly, my gaze falls upon him as he pushes a hand through my hair.

My obedience earns a smile from him. “If you promise to behave, I won’t hurt you.”

“It’s unrealistic of you to expect me to behave.” At least I’m honest. That has to mean something to him.

Watching the anger flicker on his face has me swallowing. I really do need to keep my mouth shut. And maybe not be so honest.

The hand in my hair squeezes and I whimper. “Do you want to die, Aribella?” To prove his point, his other hand grabs my throat and I cough. “I’ll do it right now and we can end this.”

My breath quivers out of my lips. “No.” I don’t want to die. I’m just not sure I want to live under his command. “But I also don’t want to be treated like property.”

He gives me a side smirk and shakes his head. “Ah, but you’re mine. I’ll do as I see fit and you will learn to take it.”

There’s anger and what I think is lust in his eyes. “I’m not a pet, Vincent.” I frown, wondering why he can’t see that he’s a beast. That no human being wants to be treated unfairly.

“How can you not see that I’ve given you comfort? I could have made you stay in the dungeon. It’s a dingy, dark, and horrible place.”

This conversation is going south quickly. “I’d like to go to my room now.” I gulp and meet his eyes. “Please.”

My words are barely audible, but I know he hears them. Instead of letting me up, Vincent moves on top of me. The way he looms over me, I can see how sculpted his chest is.

My mind growls at me to remember that I shouldn't care how hot he looks.

Chapter Nine

Maybe my approach of instilling fear in Aribella isn’t working. She’s looking at me like a piece of meat. Goddamn, I want her. Nudging her thighs apart with my knee, I bring her hands up to my stomach. Her shirt keeps me from touching her skin to skin, but I massage her sides. She melts into my touch and I know she feels the need as much as I do.

“Touch me, Aribella,” I whisper as I move her hair out of the way. Bending down, I lick the vein along the left side of her neck, and she trembles. Her hands move tentatively up my bare stomach and as they touch my nipples, I thrust my hips into her.

“Fuck,mi reina,” the groan leaves me as I bite down on her collarbone.

She tries not to moan, but I can hear it, she wants me as badly as I want her.

“D… don’t.” She’s going to make me work for it by fighting how she feels, but I feel her hips meet my thrusts and her nails raking down my chest.

I can only imagine the war going on in her mind. Hell, she thinks I killed the most important thing in her world. She’s earned the right to be conflicted. But right now, I want her and she’s going to give me what I want.

“Let go, I’ve got you, Aribella,” I try coaxing her to let it all go and just feel what we have between us. My words do the exact opposite and make her tense up. Damn it. I can give her pleasure. And if she will allow it, I can give her happiness.

“I…” she looks at me, and the confusion I see in her eyes takes my breath away. “I don’t want you.”

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