Page 37 of Property of the Hellfire Riders

“I should punish you, Izzy,” he finally says then.

“Punish me? For what?”

“Running off.”

“I went home.”

Delicately, he slides the strands of hair behind my ear. This close to him I make out the long lashes lining his blue eyes.

“It still doesn’t change the fact you left the property without a word, not saying where or when you’d be back. That leaves us with few concerns. Either your little ex-boyfriend, Maverick, found you and beat you up pretty bad, or you had other plans that we aren’t privy to.”

“Jesus Christ. I went home.”

He raises his brows, amused.

“Oh? And I’m supposed to just believe you?”

“Yeah. You are.”

“For someone who's new here, you’re sure asking quite a lot, and that’s not how things work around here.”

I swallow hard. I need to take control of this situation; I’m losing time and my pride. “Alright then. Punish me. Or don’t. See if I care.”

“Fuck, you’re a bad liar.” His amused expression fades, and his jaw tightens with a sharp inhale.

“I’m not lying.”

“Oh. You care. Or you don’t know what you’re asking for.”

“Do you want me on my knees? Or over the table?” I tilt my head and take a step forward. “Or how about another little dance? You seem to like those.”

His expression darkens, grabbing my hips roughly, and I yelp. “You think you can just waltz in here with your smart mouth and take charge?”

“You don’t scare me,” I mutter.

“Then why is your heart beating so fast?”

Fear courses through my veins but I remain defiant, glaring up at him. I’m already in trouble. He’s onto me, and I don’t know how much longer I can keep any of this up. I just need to buy enough time to find out what the hell is in that basement.

I glare up at him. “Is this all women are to you? Things to fuck?”

He clenches his jaw.

“Who said anything about fucking you?” A cruel, wicked smile dances over his full lips. His hand catches my chin, squeezing hard and pulling my chin upward. “That’s what you want isn't it, Izzy? You need to be fucked, hard.”

His thumb runs over my lips, slipping into my mouth.

Without thought, my tongue presses against it.

“Oh, I can tell you’re a little slut. So thirsty for it.” He leans into my ear, his voice a menacing growl. “But I don’t just fuck girls like you. I break them.” His words a whispered threat against my ear as his grip tightens on my shirt hard enough to tear, his other hand fisted in my hair, tilting my head back.

His lips brush against mine, and so full of wanting. I want him to kiss me. My mouth opens for his, and I lean to him. He pulls back right before they touch, laughing to himself.

Then in one swift motion, he grabs me, spinning me around. His hands force my wrists over my head, pinning them against the wall.

“I just said I should punish you.” He chuckles, leaning in close. “You’re the one who brought up fucking.”

I breathe out, can't help but arch my back against him, feeling a rush of arousal I didn't know I was capable of.

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