Page 125 of Salvatore

This woman, who has suffered through a life of trauma not unlike my own, is bleary-eyed and fragile. Over what? Men who would’ve sold her to slavery if she were born to a different family?

“Explain yourself,” I demand.

She scoffs. “Okay, Hitler.”

Frustration tightens my limbs. “I mean it, Ivy. Tell me why you’re upset.”

“Can’t you just leave me alone?” she begs. “I’ll come back inside in a minute. I just need?—”

“Tell me.” I get in her personal space.

“Or what?” She squares her shoulders.

I grin. “Or I’ll tie you to my bed and fuck the truth out of you.”

She rolls those pretty, waterlogged eyes. “Somehow I don’t think those two minutes of torture would cut it.”

A growl rumbles in my chest, my frustration taking control of my common sense. “We’ve played games, Ivy. I’ve let you have your fun demeaning me. But you won’t deny me this. Tell me what the fuck has got you so upset.”

“I’mnotupset.”

“Fuckingtell me.” I grab her upper arms and back her into the wall.

“I’m not—” She shoves at my shoulders. “This isn’t sadness, you manhandling muppet.”

“Then what is it?” I get in her face, forcing her to maintain our stare.

“Panic,” she blurts. “You’ve got no idea what you’ve done.”

I recoil.

“It keeps compiling,” she continues as my hands fall to my sides. “You’re unwittingly increasing my debt to you. And I’m scared at what that means, not only from your viewpoint but frommine.”

This is about me? About the nonexistent fucking debt?

“You saved my life, Salvatore. Youkilledfor me. Then provided all the hospitality that comes with living in an illustrious mansion.Plus ninety thousand fucking dollars’worth of clothes I can’t even afford to dry clean. And now I learn that you’ve also rid this world of the two men who’ve haunted my nightmares since I was a little girl.” The slender column ofher throat works over a heavy swallow, my fingers itching to grab her there and ease the torment. “Have you got any idea how that makes me feel? I’m grateful beyond measure. Toyou—” She shoves me again. “The lord of fucking darkness. How is that fair?”

I clench my jaw. “You owe me nothing.”

Her scoff is barely audible. “For now maybe?—”

“No,notfor now. Forgood.There are things I mightwantfrom you, Ivy. But don’t mistake my desire to fuck you as anything other than a challenge I intend to earn on my own merit. You are neither indebted to me by your body or your nonexistent fucking finances. I don’t want your goddamn money.”

She glances away again. “Just because you don’t want it doesn’t mean I don’t feel obliged?—”

“We’re done talking about this.” I cage her against the wall. “Do you understand?”

She raises her chin, her focus remaining on my uncle’s gardens as she grits out, “I don’t like being told what to do unless I’m naked.”

“That can be arranged,” I growl.

She stiffens, her voice weaker when she says, “No. I’m not doing this again.”

“Doing what?”

“This.” She places a palm to my chest. “Falling for whatever endorphin-induced off-the-rails spell you keep putting me under.”

“There’s no spell, Ivy. You’re just attracted to me.”

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