Page 12 of A Heart So Savage

Could she defeat him with something so simple?

Realization left Ava breathless.

Her greatest weapon lay in her submission. An instrument twisted and forged in the form of surrender. A sword she would use to stab him in the heart.

A sword that might save them both.

“What’s going round inside that pretty head of yours, lamb? Something cunning, I suspect.”

His husky murmur shook Ava from her thoughts. Dismayed that he could see through her so clearly, she frowned. “I’m wondering how it is you are so rich when you are so eager to waste your money.”

Kingstontsked-tsked, then in a completely unexpected move, his hands gripped her waist. With disgusting ease, he lifted Ava and resettled her so that she sat perched on the edge of the billiard table. Now they were closer in height and nearly nose to nose. If she tilted her head back just a little, she could stare into those cold, indigo blue eyes.

“Doyouthink youare a waste of money?” His mouth was a rigid line of disapproval.

Ava shrugged at the question. Hunching her shoulders made the shirt drape over her breasts. The bra, however, hung in halves, the molded cups awkward and uncomfortable. Would he let her refasten the undergarment? Or would he knock her hands away and finish mauling her?

“Answer me, lamb. Where did you get the notion that you aren’t worth two point six million?”

Ava turned her head from his searching gaze. “I thought we were talking about antique pieces of furniture. Not my questionable value as your prisoner.”

“Sit up straight, Ava.” Kingston scowled, curving his hands around her shoulders until they bracketed her shoulder blades. After forcing her upright, her breasts now jutted forward. It was a position indicative of pride, but Ava only wanted to fold into herself and hide from the heat of his blue eyes.

“Prisoner or not, I won’t tolerate your shame.” His eyes flickered with something fierce as he admired her bared flesh.

“Don’t you want me subservient, sir?” Ava asked quietly. “A woman to be commanded and used at your leisure. You’ve made it quite clear what my position is. I am to be your whore until you grow tired of playing with me. It doesn’t matter that my parents loved you and helped you. It doesn’t matter that without my dad, you would have lost everything. All that matters is your power. Your money. Your name. You would have lost all of it without my parents’ support. So, go ahead. I know nothing will keep you from doing your worst.”

ChapterFive

Irevel in your beautiful surrender

Even while I hate it.

Kingston did not understandwhat the fuck was wrong with him. With her. With this… situation.

Her accusations pounded in his head.

Itwaswhat he wanted, right? Ava’s submission. Her obedience. Her body bowing to his. He had wanted that for a long time. Part of the reason for taking her in the first place was this long-held fantasy of possessing her.

No matter the existence of her damn brother’s debt. That was laughably second to his true motivations.

So, why did victory taste so sour in his mouth? Why did the thought of Ava meekly obeying his demands send faint stirrings of guilt and nausea tumbling around in the pit of his stomach?

The reminder of her parents’ affection was infuriating. He barely managed to keep his roiling anger expertly hidden behind a façade of cool aloofness.

Why wasn’t this working out the way he’d envisioned?

He could not follow his own rules when it came to this girl. This obsession—sharp and double-edged—pricked like a constant thorn in his side. And the vulnerability in Ava’s green eyes when she looked up at him somehow restricted the blood flow to his heart. A heart he was certain no longer existed. It was something he’d lost long ago.

It wasn’t wise to keep Ava, but damn if he would release her before he was good and ready. She had foolishly signed the contract binding her to him for as long as he wanted her. For as long as it took to ensure her safety from Carson and the men he owed blood money, he would keep her.

Maybe that’s forever. If I never find the video of that awful night, maybe forever isn’t such a bad thing.

Kingston grunted at the thought, pushing it away as quickly as it formed. That weak sort of sentiment wasn’t realistic for men like himself. Hard, cruel, bloodthirsty men did not deserve love or kindness.

And they certainly did not deserve forever.

No. Men like himself, men like Oliver and Carson, were hell-bent on crushing weakness. Determined to use whatever means necessary when it came to destroying innocence.