Page 46 of Devil Mine

Need, not want.

I’d be a fool to take those words as anything more than an unintentional slip up. Still, my heart trips over itself in response. His words ring with authenticity, almost as if he’s imploring me to believe him. But he’s a master manipulator – how can I trust anything he says?

“You hurt my friend. Why would I ever go to you when you could just as easily hurt me?”

“I will hurt you,amor,” he promises, making me shiver. Somehow, it’s not fear that I feel, but excitement. “I’ll punish you for being a bad girl, but you’ll fucking love it.”

“Then–”

“But I’ll also make sure no one ever touches you. You’ll be my queen and I’ll protect you with my dying breath if I have to. Whatever it takes to keep you safe, I’ll do it without batting an eye.”

“But you can’t protect me from you.”

“Come back and I’ll show you just how good pain and submission can feel. You’ll beg me to do everything I want because deep down that’s what you want. It’s just a matter of getting you to admit it.”

I shake my head, ignoring him. “Why can’t you find someone else, I don’t get it. You don’t even know me.”

“I know you’re mine.”

He says it categorically, believing in it more fervently than I’ve ever believed in anything my entire life.

“How?”

“I knew it the moment I saw you.”

“And that’s enough for you?”

“It’s all that matters. You’re the only wife I want.”

His possessive words heat my blood, making me shaky.

“I want a husband who doesn’t kill people. One who doesn’t hurt my friends or doesn’t want to hurt me,” I say, shaking my head. We’re going around in circles. This was a mistake. “I’m going to hang up now.”

His eyes flash. “I guess Dagny has served her purpose then.”

His threat is crystal clear; he doesn’t even bother to conceal it. Ice steels my spine.

“I asked you not to hurt her.”

“The only person who gets to ask things of me is my wife. You’ve been very clear that’s not you,” he says silkily. “So, tell me — what will you give me in return?”

We’re bargaining with my friend’s life and all I can focus on is his lips. How plump they look, how they moved and danced against mine when he kissed me.

I used to be governed by logic and ruled by my mind. I have no idea what happened to that version of me and if I’ll ever get her back, but I definitely need her right now.

Clenching my jaw, I roll my eyes. “I’ll hate you the same amount I hate you right now instead of the exponentially higher amount I will tomorrow if you kill my friend.”

“I already told you it doesn’t matter what you think of me. I think hating me turns you on.”

“You’re afflicted by severe delusions.”

“I hope Dagny has a will ready.”

“Wait,” I exclaim, desperate now and searching for something to offer him. “I—I’ll call.”

He stares at me, unblinking, for long moments. So long that I start to wonder if the call didn’t drop and I’m not just left with a frozen frame of him.

“Are you there?”

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