Page 52 of A Debt of Darkness

I stare at him and tip my head. My lip trembles and my thoughts collide. I want to ask for something, but I don’t want to give in. I don’t want him to win. I’m not ready to stop fighting, nor willing to submit.

“I…”

His eyes flood with hope and he waits.

He’d refuse all the things I’d want anyway. I want a choice. I want my freedom. To go outside. To leave this godforsaken room. I want to know what the fuck he’s hiding. And I want to know why he keeps calling me lea.

I shake my head and he leaves, locking the door.

My heart races and I’m panicking. Within seconds of him leaving. Within moments of the lock turning. The walls are closing in and my heart’s pounding so hard it could break out of my ribcage. I don’t want to be trapped again. This room is another cell, even if it’s a damn sight prettier than the last one.

I race to the door and my fists bang against it. I’ve lost all reason and my screams become frantic. I’m pulling at the handle, slamming into the wood and doing anything I can as I thrash against the immovable barrier holding me in here.

“For heaven’s sake, calm down.”

I scream and the door nudges open. I back away until I hit a piece of furniture and Matt walks into the room, closing the door behind him. He’s tense but at least he doesn’t look like he’s going to kill me. Or give me another lecture.

“Well, you’re in a right state. I won’t hurt you,” he says. “Henry will kill me if I harm so much as one hair on your head.

I nod and he sighs.

“Was Henry kind?”

I shrug and Matt’s eyes narrow. “Was he kind, Ivy?”

My lips purse as I search for something to save me from telling a random stranger about what happened last night. I haven’t had time to process it myself and I don’t want to talk about it with anyone until I’ve done that—and I definitely don’t want to discuss this morning.

“He was…”

Matt’s muscles tense and I sink against the chest of drawers behind me. He’s staring with enough intensity to make me brace myself and so far this conversation isn’t going well.

“I’m not sure I know.” We draw a hitched breath in unison. “He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t mean. I need to think about it.” We exhale together and an urge to say more takes hold of me. “The bath was nice. Really nice. I ruined it by falling asleep.”

“Ivy, I can guarantee you didn’t spoil anything.” Matt smiles and takes a seat. “In fact, I suspect you did the exact opposite by falling asleep on him.”

My mouth forms a small circle and I sit on the furthest chair away from Matt.

“Everything seems very strange right now, and it’ll make more sense and get easier with time. As long as he’s kind, and you’re honest, and neither of you rushes it.”

This morning wasn’t rushed but we didn’t go slowly. I didn’t want him to slow down, not once we got started. I wanted more, practically begged for more. My clit pulses as I remember earlier, making all the thoughts I had about thinking things through evaporate instantaneously.

“Well,” Matt says, barely hiding his smirk. “You’ve moved past the taking things slowly stage.”

I turn scarlet and he laughs, watching as I drop my headon the sofa and silently contemplate how the hell I’m going to get out of this mess.

16

HOLDING HER OWN

HENRY

I’ve teased Ivy for three days, and the poor thing is beside herself with frustration. She’s bothered. Fucking needy. Still trying to fight it and it’s exquisite to watch.

Even more satisfying is the fact that she’s trying. Genuinely trying to connect with me. She’s often unsure and hesitant, but we’re moving closer. She still doubts her feelings and wonders if this is because I’ve emotionally manipulated her by locking her in the dungeon. It’s done all that and more, but we were always going to come together. My mate doesn’t understand that yet and although she feels the pull of our bond, she doesn’t know it’s irresistible.

She’s far from perfect, and it would be unreasonable to expect this. She’s been through hell. She’s still going through the aftermath of her ordeal. She’s got a lot to learn, but we’ve got all the time in the world.

Matt’s with her again and Ivy seems flustered.

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