Page 41 of Clawed
Gripping the edge of the basin behind her, she steadied herself, unsure how she felt about the development.At the alleged dental practice, there had been no such luxuries.He and Fuller had savored chaining their captives and hosing them down in the yard, a custom that had inspired fear as well as indignation.The tub, on the other hand, looked almost regal by comparison.
She flexed her fingers around the porcelain, acknowledging the cuffs he’d forced her into.Without her hands, the idea of being submerged was less comforting and more terrifying, especially where Lawes was concerned, but she couldn’t deny her longing to be clean again.She wanted to wash the cum from her chest and face, and maybe she’d be able to think straight and decide what the hell she was going to do.
Scanning the inside of the bathroom, her gaze fell on him, perusing the back of his shirt and landing on his tight backside.As if it wasn’t bad enough being taken by a madman who seemed hellbent on using her for his every dark whim, Lawes brought his own additional set of complications.
Tall, brown-haired, and undeniably intelligent, he was a good-looking man who was seemingly able to ignite her in ways no one else had ever managed.She squeezed her eyes tight at the appalling truth.If she’d met him in any other environment, she was certain she’d have made a move on him.
Smart and attractive men were hard to find, but his ability to play her body like an instrument made him damn near impossible to get over.That had been the most difficult part of the ordeal to reconcile once her physical wounds had healed.It was also why she’d eventually decided to reach out to Saul.Lawes had awakened the animal in her, and she’d struggled to cage the beast ever since.
“You’re suspiciously quiet.”His amused tone drew her back to the present, and, startled, she realized her gaze had flickered open, and she’d been staring at him the entire time she’d been lost in her thoughts.
“I thought you wanted me to be quiet, Mr.Lawes, sir.”She hoped the answer would appease him.
“I do.”Smirking, he wiped his hands on what looked like an old hand towel.“It’s just not like you to be so compliant, that’s all.”
“Actually, I feel a little sick, sir.”
It was only a half-lie, but one, she hoped, that might push him to the back foot and buy her a little time to think.She needed to get her shit together to deal with whatever onslaught he had planned.Experience had taught her she needed to act.Too long lost in his web and she might lose herself altogether.
“Really?”Discarding the towel on the floor by his feet, he strode closer.Time protracted as, one by one, he rolled his shirt sleeves up to each elbow.He held such power over her in that moment, and she stood, hypnotized by the sheer look of him.“Are you feeling warmer?”
She nearly shriveled under the intensity of his stare.“I think so, Mr.Lawes, sir.”
The truth was, she hadn’t given any thought to the temperature at all, although she could sense the steam rising from the tub behind him, and she assumed that was elevating the level of warmth in the room.
“Do you need to be sick?”He frowned, the first sign that her comment had derailed him.“Because, if you do, I want you to turn around and use the sink.”
“I...”
Pushing her against the basin, he looked so damn foreboding.
She’d always assumed spending time in prison would have diminished a person, but looking at Lawes, he only seemed to be a bigger and bolder version of the man she recalled.
Suddenly, it was difficult for Hannah to think of the right words.“I don’t think so, sir.”
One of his hands rose and gripped the side of her face gently.“Are you having me on, little girl?”
His voice tingled with that tantalizingly dangerous tone she’d learned to fear.“No!”She insisted, struggling to catch her breath.“I really do feel nauseous.”
One of his dark eyebrows arched as though he didn’t believe a word, but rather than chastise, he only smiled.
“I’ll make sure the bath’s not too hot for you, then.”His tone was knowing, and below her chin, his thumb began making small circles against her skin.“I don’t want you to lose what little food you’ve eaten.”
“Thank you, Mr.Lawes, sir.”She pushed out the obligatory response, unable to meet his gaze.
“I’m going to put you in the bath and get you cleaned up.”His other hand fell to her ass, squeezing as he pulled her even closer.“Then once you’re shaven, I’m going to punish you.”
Shit.What the hell was she supposed to say to that?
“Do you understand?”
Her heart felt as though it was ready to leap into her throat as she whispered a reply.“Yes, sir.”
He was so close to her, the scent of his cologne engulfed her senses.Giddy at his proximity, she tried to remember if he’d treated her that way before.Had he ever held her so closely and murmured so tenderly?Even though she despised the words being said, she didn’t recall them being murmured so affectionately.Her racing heart said he hadn’t, inferred that the man towering over her was different, but perhaps it was her dehydrated confusion doing the thinking as the drugs he’d given her left her system.There was no way an ogre like Lawes, who’d planned and exacted revenge, could proffer anything akin to fondness.
“After that, I’ll see what I want to do with you.”His hand splayed at her lower back beneath her cuffed hands and held her steady as he went on.“And when I’m tending to you and giving you what you deserve, what are you going to be, Hannah?”
Pulling in a shaky breath, she searched his eyes for any sign of absolution, but found nothing but the same hard determination she’d always remembered.There was only one response he wanted to hear, and he wouldn’t let her escape until she’d given it to him.Blinking up at him, she acknowledged the response leaving her lips.
