Page 53 of Becoming His Pet

She swallowed hard when he opened the door and his gaze dropped to the broken bolt.

Slowly, he touched the metal rod then looked up at her.

Well. Fuck.

Chapter Seventeen

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“Did you do this?” Greg thumbed the chipped edge of the rod. It was bent, and the end frayed from being smacked. He’d have to replace it.

“I, uh—”

“Come on, pet. Where’s all that bravado you had in the living room? All the yelling, chest poking? Where’d it go?” He left the crate and focused on the trembling girl before him. He doubted she even knew how her body betrayed her thoughts so openly.

He’d expected her to pull the exact stunt she had. She didn’t tell Bernie about him. But he hadn’t expected her to have been so bold as to try telling him off and breaking his crate.

No, this girl was different than all the rest. She had a fire that wouldn’t be put out. And he loved it.

Even if at the moment her fire was burning him, he wanted to strip her and strap her until tears fell freely from her eyes, and then he wanted to strap her some more.

“Greg.” A single word. One syllable. But it carried with it more weight than any other word she’d said to him before. Was she pleading with him or was she apologizing?

“Yes, pet?” He decided to let it play out, see where she wanted to take the moment.

“The men that are involved, the Santinelli family, they’re dangerous. I don’t want you to get hurt because of me.” The most honest statement she’d made with him yet, and it had to be right before he punished her for being so naughty.

But he wouldn’t be distracted from what needed to happen. She was going to be punished. But it would be different this time. This time she would ask him for it. She would realize she wanted it to happen.

“I know they’re dangerous, pet. That’s why I have you up here in my hunting cabin. Away from them.” He took a small step in her direction.

“I can’t let you get hurt because of me.”

“I believe you.” He nodded, taking another step.

“I just wanted to protect you.”

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