Page 38 of Red Captive

“We’re going this way,” Steel says, going in the opposite direction. I have to take two quick steps to catch up to him.

“Why? What’s changed?” We keep walking.

“You’re seeing the duke next.”

“The duke? Does he stay in the palace?” I ask, frowning and having to work to keep up with Steel’s long strides.

“No, he has his own castle.”

“Oh! So, why the new route?”

Steel opens a door, waiting for me, and we go outside.

“The duke’s castle isn’t accessible by road, only by air,” he tells me as we continue walking.

“Oh…interesting.” Perhaps we’re taking a helicopter. I mean, that’s what rich people do, isn’t it?

We take a few turns and arrive in the large cobblestone courtyard, where poor Rex got beaten into a bloody pulp. For a few moments, I’m rooted to the spot as the recent events flood my mind.

“Are you coming?” Steel asks from over his shoulder. I realize that I have been standing there and staring at the spot where it happened.

“How is Rex?” I ask.

“If you’re talking about the male who took lashes for you, I haven’t seen him, but I’m sure he’s fine.”

“If you haven’t seen him, how can you say that?” I lift my brows. I pray it’s true. That’s he’s forgiven me.

“He’s a shifter. We have rapid healing abilities. He would have been fine by the next day.” Steel shrugs. “It’s his ego that would have taken a knock. That and his career. Physically, he will be fine. Long-term, he’ll be just dandy, better off than he was.”

I frown. “How do you figure he’ll be better off?”

“He won’t be so damned naïve. He’ll think twice when a beautiful female tries to pull the wool over his eyes.”

Always so full of compliments. What a great guy!

“It wasn’t like that. I didn’t mean for him to get into trouble,” I throw back, my voice clipped. Then I carry on walking. I don’t want to have this conversation. I don’t want to hear about how terrible I am. What a liar and a cheat I am. How despicable I am for selling myself. I get the distinct impression that something happened to Steel that made him this way. He was hurt orbetrayed, and now he’s an asshole because of it. There’s no way around that fact. It doesn’t excuse his shitty behavior.

“Where are you going, Miss Harris?” he calls after me.

I turn and note that Steel has his shirt off; his tie, too. He’s also taken his shoes and socks off. The guy is quick. I’ll give him that.

“What are you doing? Where are the vehicles? What is this?” My voice gets panicked when he undoes his belt and pulls down the zipper on his suit pants. “Can you stop undressing, please?”

“No, I need to take my clothes off. All of them. I’ll put them into this bag, which I need you to carry.” He points to a backpack at his feet.

“Carry where? How? What’s going on here?”

Steel gives me the smallest of smiles, and my knees melt and try to give in. I’m ready to fall into a puddle at his feet, and I don’t even like him. I like his chest and his arms…those forearms, especially. I can’t decide if I prefer them more than his biceps. His abs are a thing of beauty, too.

Steel clears his throat. “The duke lives in a castle that is only accessible by air. That means I have to fly us there.”

“Fly?” I squeak. “As in…?”

He nods; the corner of his mouth twitches like he is trying to hold back a smile. “I’m going to shift into my dragon form. You can turn around…or not, I don’t care either way. I will be getting naked in the next few seconds.”

“Um…I don’t think that—”

Steel lifts his brows, giving me a quizzical look, then he pulls his pants down. Annnd yup, he’s naked, alright. I can see his giant cock. Granted, it isn’t as giant when it’s…in its natural state. It’s still freaking huge, though. His thighs are thick and roped with muscle, just like the rest of him. He has a tattoo on his right thigh. It’s of a scorpion. It’s big, taking up most ofhis thigh, and yet it’s delicate. Both aggressive and beautiful. An excellent depiction.

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