Page 14 of Good Girl

I hit the switch, flooding the room in light. I blink away the dazzle and look toward the bed. He’s still sitting up, but he’s twisted toward me. He raises a brow. A silent command. I sigh deeply and force my feet to move, dragging me over toward the bed. I hover near the end, unwilling to get any closer.

“I told you to come to me, Cadence.” His grey eyes pierce my skin, stabbing right through me.

I swallow hard and shake my head. “Tell me the code to the door.”

He doesn’t speak, just stares, silently communicating the single command that I take myself over to him.

“You need to let me go, Vin.” I despise the note of pleading in my voice, but I really am down to begging for my freedom. “This isn’t right. You could go to jail for a stunt like this. And even though I think you’re insane, I don’t want to see you locked up. So please, just give me the code. Let me go.”

His eyes bore into me, his continued silence speaking louder than words. He doesn’t need to speak. He’s already said his piece. He thinks I belong to him. That I will become his perfect little slave and that this is exactly where I belong.

I study him, warring with myself. If I give him what he wants, go to him, he could hurt me. But I honestly don’t think he will. It’s either this, give him what he wants, or wait him out. Wait until he has to go to the bathroom, or gets hungry enough, and then make him give me the code. I suspect that won’t happen though. In the months that I’ve known Vin I’ve discovered a strong, steel-like inner core. He doesn’t back down from what he wants. He simply waits.

I frown as I realize that Vin is far more patient than I. He’s been waiting me out from the moment we met. Planning his every move. Giving in to my demands, but only so he can work this other angle. Lull me into complacency before striking. This side of him, the predator, it attracts me. Though I know I shouldn’t.

Finally I give in. He won’t ever give me that code, which puts us at an impasse.

I force myself toward him until I’m standing just out of arms reach. My heart is hammering away like a rabbit’s. I try to control my features, not allow any fear to show.

He stands, the pull of the cuff dragging one of his arms toward the bedpost. “Come,” he says, his voice quiet, chill.

I take the step forward that puts me within reach of him. I close my eyes expecting to feel the hard grip of his hand as he drags me the rest of the way in. He doesn’t touch me.

“Kneel.”

I bite my lip, but allow my legs to fold, dropping to the floor. The command is one he’s given many times. It feels right to obey, even though I’m frightened at the idea of being so vulnerable to him while he’s angry. I expect some kind of attack but all he does is touch my head. Running his fingers from my hair, down my cheek, to my chin. He tilts my face up and I look at him.

“Good girl,” he says.

A glow spreads through me. Happiness that he’s called me by my special name. I know I shouldn’t feel this way. That I’m giving my kidnapper what he wants. But Vin already had me half-trained before I even got down here. I can’t seem to help myself.

Then he does something completely unexpected. He turns back to the bed, reaches for the cuff on his wrist and presses something on it. The latch flips open, releasing him. My jaw opens and I gape up at him. He always had the ability to free himself.

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