Page 50 of His Captive Pet

“What happens now?” She looked up at him through bowed lashes once she sank into the tub, bubbles up to her chin.

He turned the water off and sat back on his own heels. Now he knelt while she relaxed.

“Now, we’ll go up to the main house in the morning and find out more. My cell’s reception is shitty down here. Trevor might know more about what’s going on, too. He’s got some friends on the force that may be able to help John if needed.”

“Is Trevor the guy who came over earlier?” A new blush crept up her neck, covering her soft features.

“Yes, he’s Devin’s brother, and was a cop in Chicago until about a year ago.”

“You really think Luis is going to turn on his own gang?”

“I’ll be honest. I don’t give a rat’s ass about the Pecadores. Gangs aren’t going away. No matter how many leaders get sent to prison, someone else just pops up in their place. Right now, I’m only concerned with getting your name out of their memory.”

She closed her eyes, sinking down in the suds a fraction more. He hadn’t taken off the collar, but it wasn’t being hurt by some suds.

“How does putting Luis in my place make me any better than them?”

Fear came off of her, but not for herself.

“You didn’t put Luis in any place. His life isn’t your life. You don’t deserve to get gunned down because you were trying to help those dogs. You don’t deserve anything bad happening to you, and you deserve every bit of happiness life can give you.”

“I know that,” she whispered.

“No, you don’t. You still blame yourself for what happened to your mother.”

Her gaze darkened. “You blame yourself for what happened to your parents,” she shot at him.

“No. I did at first, yes. I hadn’t been here, but even if I had been in Chicago, I wouldn’t have been with them when they’d closed up shop. I would have been at work, or on a date, or anywhere else. What happened still would have happened. You didn’t choose your mother’s life. Even if you hadn’t gone to college, she still would have gotten in that car with him. She still wouldn’t have left him like she should have.”

Her lips trembled. She hated talking about her father, and even more about her mother. It was a topic they’d brushed on very lightly over time, and he’d always let her pull back.

“She was scared he’d come after her. After me. She thought she was protecting me.”

“And you think because of what happened you never deserve to be protected again, because you were selfish? You went off to college to make a better life for yourself, and something horrible happened to her?”

A tear slipped down her cheek. This was uncomfortable for her, but he would push her. The small crack in her wall would get bigger, and he’d tear the whole fucking thing down.

“I—” She closed her eyes and when she opened them, resolve shone at him. “I couldn’t save her. She was weak and needed someone stronger, and I couldn’t do it.”

“Sweetheart, no one can save someone who doesn’t want to be saved.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

She huffed a laugh. “Really? Because you’ve been trying to do just that.”

“Yeah, well.” He shrugged a shoulder. “You do want it. I’ve watched you at the bar chew up and spit out any guy who gave the slightest appearance of not being able to handle you. You want someone like me. You want the rough, the ragged, you want the discipline and strength.”

“You got all that from seeing me at the club once?”

“No, I got all that because I listen when you talk, and I hear more than your words, I see your eyes, the way your body tightens and relaxes when you talk.”

“You know, it’s annoying how well you read me.” She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on them.

“I’m sure it is. Right now, I want you out of the tub.” He had only filled the thing halfway, knowing he wouldn’t be able to stand letting her stay in for too long.

She lowered her lids, peeking up at him through her long dark lashes. “And if I say no?”

He leaned over, his lips just barely a breath away from her ear. “There are worse punishments than spankings and butt plugs. Do you want to tempt me?”

Her head bumped his chin in her urgency to show she didn’t.

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