Page 61 of His Dark Hunger

She never got to finish her sentence. In a split second, he lowered, clasping her around her thighs and lifting her from her feet. She cried out when he hiked her over his shoulder, her feet kicking against his middle while her hands tore at his back.

“Stop!” She screamed, the noise throaty and born of tangible fear. “William, just stop!”

“Wrong answer.” His arm wrapped around her, holding her steady as the other hand rose to wallop her prone backside. “We covered this already.”

“Sir!” Disorientated and frantic, she burst into fresh tears as he ascended the stairs. “Please, no!”

“Wrong answer.” Another blow landed on her upturned ass, branding her with another reason to call out.

“Please!” She couldn’t seem to stop sobbing and crying. “Leonard… anyone! Please help me!”

“No one will help you, little girl.” There was a chilling surety to his tone that sent a shiver racing along her spine. “You know that.”

“Oh God.” Clinging to the back of his jacket as they reached the top of the stairs, she realized he was correct.

Whether it was because the other staff had heard their antics before and were too embarrassed to intervene or because there was really no one else in the house, she couldn’t say, but as he turned toward his bedroom, no one came running to her rescue.

The fight seeped from her as that premise reverberated.

No one was coming.

“There haven’t been many rules since I invited you to my home, Amy.” His voice was solemn, as though he had the right to be disappointed inher! “But Ihaveasked you for respect.”

“I know, sir. I’m sorry.”

Why was she placating him? She should be thrashing over him and demanding he release her, but instead, she was weeping like a child and apologizing.

“Are you?” He sounded unconvinced. “I’m afraid I’m going to need a little more persuasion that you’re truly sorry, little girl. Sorry for going through my files, sorry for losing your temper, and sorry for threatening to leave.”

Upturned over his shoulder, her brows knitted. She wasn’t sorry for any of those things, but the risk of pissing him off at that juncture seemed too perilous to tell the truth.

“Okay, sir.”

The hand that had crashed onto her ass gripped the curve of her backside. “You’re wonderful.” Pain echoed fromhis tone. “Why did you have to ruin something so good, little girl?”

Herruin things? She might have snorted had the blood rushing to her brain not fogged her thoughts so badly.

“I can’t trust you now.” He patted her rump in an almost tender way. “So, I’m going to leave you in here to cool off.”

That’s ironic.Her head throbbed as she gripped the flash fabric of his jacket.That’s what I was thinking.Ican’t trustyou!

She didn’t have to guess at their location as the noise of a door opened behind her. The direction he’d chosen at the head of the stairs and the plush carpet under his feet had already told her where they were.

He strode inside his bedroom, lifting one foot to kick the door closed after him, and a moment later, she was sent crashing onto the bed covers. Landing with a gasp, she glanced around, considering her options, but by the time her pulsing head had rationalized her new, righted position, Kyle had already locked the bedroom door.

Her gaze darted to his as, slipping the key into his trouser pocket, he shrugged out of his jacket and stalked toward the bed. At any other moment, he’d have been the definition of temptation in his smart suit and loosened tie, but under duress, the point was moot.

“Don’t even think about running.” He pointed his finger in her direction. “I’ll chase you, I’ll find you, and I’ll make you fucking sorry.”

“Sir…” She couldn’t help but edge along the covers at his approach. He’d never been so foreboding before. “You’re frightening me.”

“Good.” The bastard’s lips twitched, as though there was anything even vaguely amusing about the predicament. “Maybe that will make you think twice, little girl.”

“I won’t run,” she told him, though even as she spoke, her eyes flitted around his enormous room, looking for potential exits.

“Too fucking right, you won’t.” Without breaking eye contact with her, he slid his tie from around his neck. “This needs resolution.”

She held her breath as he climbed onto the bed, her rational instincts commanding her to flee, although somehow, the dark gleam in his eyes glued her to the spot. Menacing, he most certainly was, but as he advanced, she couldn’t recall him ever looking more alluring. The way the man had carried her up the stairs was practically assault, but looking at him now, she saw only lust burning in his expression.

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