Page 17 of Caged By Dance and Desire

“Andrei,” I said, throat dry, my voice barely functional. “You're scaring me.”

“I know. It's your punishment.”

It hurt that he'd try to control me through fear. I tore my gaze away, my fingers trembling. My entire body trembling.

A sigh whispered through the coach and suddenly he leaned forward, lifting me into his arms and draping my legs over his lap. His body was almost hot to the touch, like holding your hands inches in front of a fire. Would he be this hot in bed. . .inside me?

Andrei stroked his right hand down my arm as he cradled me against his chest with his left.

“Hasannah.”

I looked up at the soft command.

“Don’t defy me like this again.”

He stopped caressing my arm and instead ran his thumb over my bottom lip. . .slipped it inside my mouth. I tasted skin, and against my will, my core clenched.

“I've told you that you'll remain with me. I won't let you go. I'm also aware you want to earn your place. I understand. If I have to found company after damn company until one deems you fit, then I will. But you're not leaving Casakraine again unless I'm at your side. Do you understand?”

This entire time he'd watched me, his eyes unblinking.

I nodded, and he slid his thumb from my mouth. “Good. If we have this discussion a third time, I will be displeased, my Anah.”

The arm around my body tightened, and Andrei lowered his head, taking my mouth. His tongue speared between my lips, his hand gripping the inside of my thigh.

I tilted my head back in unconscious submission though half the reason my heart still beat erratically was fear rather than lust.

He conquered, the kiss harsher than before. Teeth scraped my lips, and he plundered my mouth until I had trouble drawing breath. I heard the sound I made, but didn't know if it was a whimper or a moan.

After a time, he lifted his head. “I adore you already. But if you try to leave me, I will?—”

Andrei cut himself off, but I understood. Not saying those last two words was only a courtesy, a nod to my delicate human sensibilities, as he'd probably say. Coralene bleated something similar all the time, a sort of Cassanian catchphrase.

I closed my eyes, turning my head against his chest to hide from his inhuman eyes.

If I tried to leave him, he would kill me.

“Have you ever thought,” he asked quietly, “of doing anything else? If the dancing?—”

“No. If I couldn’t dance, there would be no purpose.”

“None?” An edge in his voice.

I didn’t care. “None. If you want to kill me, take away dance.”

I’d probably regret saying that.

Chapter

Six

ANDREIEN

I’d frightened her last night.

Sane enough to regret it, I’d dragged myself out of her apartment where the temptation of her scent, her taste, the large dark eyes that could turn from sweet to flinty in the space of a breath, couldn't beguile me to into doing something stupid.

Like ravage her.

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