Page 14 of Swallow Your Fear
She sent me the fakest, sweetest look. “How nice of you.”
“Have to do chores to earn your keep, though,” I said.
Her mouth popped open. “You invited me.”
“Only if you want to do them,” Austin piped in, leaning forward on his stool slightly.
I kept my stare on Brynne. “She’s doing them.”
Her eyes lit up like an idea hit her, and I internally groaned. “Fine. I’ll do them if you tell me your name.”
I shook my head. “You don’t need my name to feed horses and scoop shit.”
She shrugged, glancing at her nails. “You’re right. But I just won’t cooperate until you tell me.”
I wouldn’t budge, and she must’ve seen it in my stance, because she added, “If I’m going to trust you, then you have to trust me, and that includes you telling me your name.”
I crossed my arms, giving a tight nod in her direction. “Then beg, Darlin’.”
Chapter 8
Brynne
Ispun on him. “Excuse me?” The man was crazy if he thought I’d be at his mercy that easily.
“You heard what I said.” His gaze darkened as a sort of hunger crept into those midnight eyes. “I’ll only tell you my name if you’re a good little slut and beg for it.”
My eyes were practically slits as I mentally threw daggers at him. He was an asshole, the biggest prick I’d ever met, and yet, a part of me wanted to be on my knees before him, at his command. I also wanted to see the utter shock on his face if I did, and the thrill of his rough voice shot sparks through me. Chase had never told me what to do, let alone ever called me a slut. I almost hated that I liked it.
What did I have to lose?
I lowered myself until my knees hit the hard ground, all the while keeping my eyes glued to his. To my disappointment, his expression didn’t change at all. He still looked bored as all get out. From this side of the counter, Austin and Henley couldn’t see me down here, save for probably the top of my head.
“Please, Nightmare, tell me your name so I can stop using this ridiculous nickname for you.”
That got a reaction. The corners of his mouth tilted down the slightest bit behind his facial hair, annoyance ringing clear in his expression. Satisfaction made my lips curl up.
He roughly grabbed my chin, tilting my head further back as he bent the slightest bit. “I’d be careful mouthing off while you’re on your knees before me. Never know what I’ll fill this little mouth with to make you shut up.”
I kept my jaw set, determined not to let his words get to me. Though it seemed they had the opposite effect of offending me as heat pooled in my core.
“Maybe I should fuck that stubborn little tongue clean, huh?” He leaned closer, his voice lowering. “Does that make you wet, Darlin’?”
Again, I kept quiet. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing he’d gotten what he wanted. My panties were already soaked.
“Where do you draw the line?” he asked, the set of his brow softening a bit.
“What?”
“What am I allowed to do to you?”
Realization hit me. He actually wanted to do this. It wasn’t an act—he truly liked me at his mercy, and he intended to play.
“Anything.” The word came out in a whisper, eliciting a small chuckle from him.
“I didn’t hear you.”
“You can do anything to me,” I said, finding my voice.
