Page 71 of Lexi, Property of Rhyder

His hard, muscly body cages me in leaving me nowhere to go. He spins me around with rough hands, and I take him in. Master’s dark hair is wet from the shower, and he’s wearing an open-collared white shirt that’s tucked in navy chinos.

“Do you like what you see?”

Not realizing I was apparently staring too long, my eyes look into his in a mocking stare.

“No,” I answer, and within a micro-second, he pushes me hard against the door and kisses my mouth. His day-old stubble scratches my skin as he demands entry into my mouth. Refusing to let him have me that easily, I try and keep it closed. The asshole bites down on my bottom lip which makes me sigh, and that’s when he takes the opportunity to invade my mouth.

His tongue wraps with mine, and the pressure of his body makes me fall back against the closed door. His free hand cups the back of my neck, and the other slides down to my butt cheek where he squeezes and pushes me into him. I feel his hardness on my stomach, and with all the force I can muster, I push against his chest forcing him off me.

Finally, he loosens his hold and holds me at arm’s length.

I can’t help the reaction as I slap him hard across his face.

He turns to me, glaring with a cold and terrifying stare. Now I’m worried I’ve pushed him too damn far.

I want to run.

I want to get away from him.

But his hands grip my arms, keeping me still.

Scrubbing a hand over his face, I see the regret in his downturned mouth. Disgust forms when he averts his eyes from mine, refusing to look at me for a beat, while his breathing is heavy which mimics my own.

“You’re making me crazy, Red,” he spits. “I need to control myself around you.”

The thought that he’s losing control around me somehow brings me joy. I like that I have some control over him. It makes me believe maybe, somehow, I can convince him to let me go.

Finally, he steps back wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. Then he grabs my hand and pulls me, forcing me to follow him—although I’m tripping over my own feet due to his sheer speed—through the house to a dining room. The smell of bacon wafts around the room, and I look down at the over-the-top breakfast Gail has prepared. Pancakes with blueberries and cream, bacon, poached eggs, and fruit are all laid out in the most elegant serving trays. My mouth instantly waters, and Master lets go of my hand and pulls a chair out for me. I take a seat, and Gail pours me a cup of coffee.

“Thank you,” I say, lifting the exotic aroma immediately to my mouth.

Master sits opposite me, his lustful green eyes staring into mine are full of desire. I’m not experienced in the sexual department, but I know that look when I see it. I’ve seen it in Rhyder.

Rhyder.Oh, Rhyder.

The thought depresses me. The last time I saw him feels like so long ago now. He must be going crazy not knowing where I am. I think about his eyes and his manly features and how he always took care of me. I think about our kiss that night, and how, although it was hard and demanding, I encouraged it. I let it happen, and it felt so right.

Here with Master, his kiss is strong and determined, yet I sense my body come to life when he touches me.

But this man is not the touch I want.

It’s Rhyder.

It’s always going to be Rhyder.

How could I possibly like anything Master does to me?

I’m not here of my own free will. I’m his captive. His prisoner. A plaything for him to do as he pleases with me. This is nothing more than kidnapping, and I need to remember that.

“What’s on your mind? You’re someplace else.”

My gaze returns to him. “Nothing,” I say, then look down and cut into my pancakes.

“It doesn’t look like nothing.Tell me.”

I take a small bite, the soft-as-a-cloud pancake melting in my mouth, and the blueberries which are just that little bit tart, make my taste buds come to life. Once I’ve swallowed, I place my fork onto my plate delicately and take a deep breath to begin. “I’m thinking about my family and how worried they are. I’m thinking about my sister, Paige, and how scared out of her mind she would be. I’m thinking about how—”

“Stop! That’s enough. I don’t want to hear about the people in your past. I have already told you that’s now forgotten. Here and now is your new future.”

---