Page 30 of Emperor of Havoc

“Is that an offer?”

Wait. Did he…understandthat?

Takeshi grins wickedly at the shock on my face, though he says nothing.

“You know sign language?” I demand, my fingers moving stiffly, too stunned to form the words fluidly.

“Enough to understand you,” he replies with a shrug, coming closer.

I take a step back, my heart pounding. “Stay over there,” I sign, nodding with my chin.

“Or what?” His voice is silk-wrapped steel as he closes the gap, his dark eyes locked with mine. “You’ll scream for help?”

“Fuck you,” I sign angrily, my hands moving fast enough to sting. “Ever heard of consent? As in, what I didn't give the other night?”

Takeshi’s smirk doesn’t waver. “You’re the one who was looking for a rape-play partner on the internet,” he growls, his voice low. “And I never heard a safe word.”

My face goes hot, fury sparking through me like a live wire. “BECAUSE I CAN’T SPEAK,” I sign furiously, the movements almost sharp enough to cut.

Takeshi's gaze is unnervingly calm. “Would you have, though?” he murmurs, so close I can feel the heat radiating off him. “If you could?”

My throat tightens and my hands tremble slightly as I hold his gaze, unable to look away. And then, to my horror, my fingers falter. Because I don’t know what the answer is.

Takeshi’s smile darkens, satisfaction flickering in his eyes as he steps back. “Innnteresting,” he murmurs.

“Excuse me?” I sign, glaring at him.

“Ability to voice a safe word aside, you loved what I did to you the other night,” Takeshi says bluntly. “You can’t hide that. I know your dark secrets, princess.”

“Stop calling me that.” I sign the words like a slap.

Takeshi ignores me. “Why can’t you speak?” he asks, his tone suddenly serious.

I give him a hard look. “None of your damn business.”

“You weren’t born that way,” he presses, his voice calm but insistent.

“Says?” I sign.

“Says the picture of you in the school choir in your bedroom.” He smirks faintly, but then his eyes turn dark. “What happened?"

Life happened. Life decided to shock and terrify me by locking me in the dark for a week, where I cried and screamed so much that I lost the ability even to whisper.

“Speaking is overrated,” I sign sarcastically.

“So is consent.”

Takeshi's eyes drag over me like he can see straight through my skin. “You’re easier to read than you think, princess. You act like you hate me, but part of you… I think you like this.”

I straighten, glaring at him, my hands gesturing before I can stop myself.“Go to hell.”

He grins darkly. “Care to come and keep me company?”

The tension between us stretches, vibrating like a taut wire. Takeshi takes another step forward and I instinctively back into the dresser, my heart pounding. He stops a breath away, close enough that I can feel the heat of him.

“Get the fuck away from me,” I motion.

“Are you always this hostile?” he murmurs, his voice low and taunting.

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