Page 46 of Caged By Dance and Desire

“My name should be branded across your body to warn of the death that awaits those who touch and tease and toy with my bonded.”

She’d saidnothingof his offer. In the absence of denial, silence meant assent.

Anah trembled. “I think we should take a time out. Maybe a glass of water or a walk outside for some fresh air.”

Fresh. . .air?

Was I a grumpy mortal adolescent?

“Don’t patronize me, little mortal,” I said gently. “Air is not what will soothe me.”

The intoxication of her fear and desire filled my lungs. Fresh air. I wanted to howl with laughter, but recognized I wasn’t feeling what one might call sane at the moment.

“I’m not trying to patronize you, Andrei. I’m trying to help you calm down so you don’t do something I’ll regret.”

“And what is it that you’ll regret?”

She dared take me to task as if I was in the wrong for wanting hersafety. To wanting acknowledgment of my claim. No other Lord would allow her the temerity I allowed, no other Lord would coddle her, choose amusement rather than anger over her open defiance. And the thanks for my indulgence?

More boldness. It was almost as if kindness beget disobedience, rather than the other way around.

Anah pressed her lush mouth into a thin line. “I don’t need you to go back in there and pick a fight. I also don’t want you to take your bad mood out on me.”

It wasn’t a bad mood I wanted to take out on her. I wanted to sink my fangs into that mouth and make her bleed. Make her moan, her body slack with submission.

“And if I want to take my mood out on you? How will you stop me, Hasannah?”

“I can’t. If that’s who you want to be, I can’t stop you. Be a monster.” She lifted her chin. “See what it gets you. It certainly won’t get youme, except by force.”

Force?Force? Now she accused me of. . .then threatened towithholdherself from me?

When, in my adult life, had any one sane person ever defied me so blatantly to my face? Plenty of insane ones, matching the number of those also dead.

My fangs throbbed. My beast uncoiled, focused. I softened my voice further, splaying my fingers across her cheek. “You dare. I offer you everything, and you darethreaten me.”

My will broke and I shoved her against the nearest wall, her scent sweet with fear. Dark, how I wanted this female.

I lowered my head to her ear, gently placing a hand on the wall next to her head. My nails gouged into the wallpaper.

“Tell me why I shouldn't take what's mine,” I whispered, and cupped her between the thighs, yearning to shove my fingers, my cock, inside her heat. To fuck her until she unraveled and the only words coming from her throat were cries formore,pleas formercy.

Which I would give, once she was suitably penitent.

Once I was fully sated.

“Why I shouldn't spill my seed in and over you so there's never again any doubt what male has claimed this pussy?”

She made a little, feminine noise. “Andrei, please.”

Her plea broke the last of my restraint. “I am yourLord.”

And I latched onto her throat.

Chapter

Fourteen

HASANNAH

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