Page 37 of Captured Onyx

"It's adorable that you're trying to hide it, but don't assume I don't see the effect this has on you," he says. "You're very responsive to my methods, which is why I think you'll do just fine."

"I won't sleep with anybody to-"

"Who said you'll have to sleep with anybody," he interrupts. "Don't worry. I won't let anyone come near you."

I look up at him then, finally daring to meet his eyes.

"And what about you?" I ask. "Will you come near me?"

The smirk on his face is enough of an answer. He will touch me. He will do things to me.

And the worst part is I'm not horrified by it, not as much as I should be.

What is wrong with me?

"Not tonight, I won't," he says, checking the time on his wristwatch. I never noticed before that he's wearing a Rolex, an actual Rolex. The only other man I've seen wearing one of those is Liliane’s husband, and he's the richest man I know. Based on what little I know about Nate, I'm sure the watch on his wrist must be stolen because I can’t believe he’s anywhere near as wealthy as Jayson. But he wears the watch with a casualness that makes it seem like he was born with it.

"We should try to get some sleep," he announces. "Let me get you back to your room."

"No!"

The objection flees my lips before I can stop myself. "Please. Please don't bring me back to that horrible room! I don't want to be in there again, alone," I plead.

He raises an eyebrow at me. "You don't want to be alone?"

I nod, biting my lower lip. Even I don't know where I'm going with this or what the hell I'm hoping for, but the idea of going back to that horrible room and being locked away in the darkness, surrounded by mold and disgusting creatures living in the walls, fills me with terror.

"Well, you can't have my room," he says. "And I'm sure Daveed and Mike will tell you the same about theirs. There's a reason why we stuck you in that hole, it's by far the worst place of all."

My breathing accelerates as panic rises deep inside my chest. I turn helplessly, my eyes flying around the room as if the answer was written on the walls. I pause when they meet the comparably clean sheets of the queen size bed.

"Interesting," he remarks, his gaze moving back and forth between me and the bed. "You want to spend the night here? With me?"

I throw him a dark look. "That's not what I said."

"Oh, yes, you did, little girl," he says snidely. “And to be honest, I like the idea. It would make my job so much easier.”

“How so?”

He leans down to me, placing his arms on my shoulders as he bends down, his face so close to mine that we almost touch. I can feel the warmth of his breath on my upper lip when he speaks.

“It’ll be so much easier to keep an eye on you,” he says in a voice so low that it resembles a hushed breath.

“So much easier to take control of you.”

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