Page 39 of The Devil's Deal

My stomach churns with deep-seated dread and every breath falls faster, until all I want is to claw at my lungs for relief.

My eyes start getting used to the light, and I manage to pry them open all the way.

“Good morning, princess,” Brian says with a condescending undercurrent.

I lift up my head, zeroing in on him, my blood boiling with fury as I grind my teeth with a roar. My hands squeeze, despite the bindings on my wrists.

“I hope your nap was satisfactory.”

My cloudy vision clears enough for me to register that smirk of his. I find him leaning back in a black leather armchair parked against the wall to my left. He crosses his leg over his other knee, black loafers covering his feet.

Getting a burst of energy, I push up with my back, pulling my hands hard against what looks like rope. My eyes glare into his in an intense battle as I growl like a barbaric animal.

He chuckles. “Where do you think you’re going? You’re kind of at a disadvantage.”

I pant, the anger and horror simmering from within me.

He’d better tell me what the hell I’m doing here, and he’d better take this fucking tape off of me.

He gets off the chair and makes his way to me. His light pink button-down shirt strains against his muscular form as he moves. He looks like a hot businessman, but he’s anything but that.

Once he’s on my side of the bed, he reaches a hand down, stroking my cheek with the rough touch of his knuckles. Bile rises in my throat, entangled with sheer terror.

“This doesn’t have to be bad for you.” The corners of his lips deepen into a smile, and that dimple makes an appearance as he draws his hand away. “If you behave and keep those tiny claws to yourself, I’ll remove the tape. If you do decide to scream, no one will help you, so you’ll only be hurting yourself. Understood?”

If I want to get out of these binds and this room, I can’t act like a crazy person. I have to think of a plan while pretending to be a good little girl. I nod, giving him the indication that I’ll be on my best behavior.

Everything’s going to be fine.

Yeah, right. Who am I fooling? This is bad.

“This is gonna hurt,” he warns with satisfaction before ripping off the tape.

I groan, suppressing the scream wanting to get out.

He crunches up the tape and places it on the black nightstand next to the bed.

“Why the hell am I here?” My voice comes out smaller than I intended.

He doesn’t answer, staring down at me, his brows knitting tightly as he runs the back of his hand over the edge of my jaw, his gaze filled with an emotion I can’t name. It’s as though he’s not looking at me, but through me. Like his mind is somewhere else entirely.

“Hello? I’m talking to you, asshole!”

His jaw clenches, and the trance is broken. He lifts a brow in challenge. And before I can say any more, his hand reaches for my neck, his thick fingers wrapping around and squeezing just the right amount.

“Watch your fucking mouth.” His exhales roll out of him like a dragon breathing fire.

“What are you gonna do, huh?”

My heart pounds faster against my rib cage, to the point that I’m afraid it’ll rip right through my chest.

“You wanna fuck me? Is that it? Poor little man.” My tone turns pestering. “What happened? You can't get it up any other way?”

He squeezes harder, and my lungs burn enough to know he’ll kill me if he wants to. I won’t underrate my fear. This man before me is dangerous, and if he’s anything like my father, he won’t hesitate to end me.

I’m a commodity yet again. It’s as though I was born with a sticker that says:Use me and abuse me.

His fingers land on my mouth.

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