Page 69 of Clawed
“No.”She sniffed back her impending tears, irritated that he not only had the power to manhandle her with such ease but had the capacity to manipulate her emotions as well.“That’s not what I thought, sir.”
“Hey.”Rising to his full height, he captured her chin with one of his large palms.“Don’t get upset again.I’m not angry with you, little girl.I’m enjoying your company.”
I bet.She heaved in air.Easy for him to enjoy himself.He sets the pace.He directs what happens next.
“We just need to settle into a routine and establish some ground rules.”
Ground rules?
Her stomach knotted at the way he made that sound.Did that mean her rules would involve being leashed, fucked, and tutored in dental hygiene?Her throat dried at the prospect, certain it shouldn’t sound as intoxicating as it did.
“But I am pleased to hear you’re not intending to run.”Lifting her chin, he compelled her gaze north to meet his.
Her brows knitted.Was that what she’d said?God, she must have been truly losing it.
Passionate green eyes probed her as he went on.“I want you to be happy, little girl, and I will look after you.”
He wanted her to be happy?Hadn’t he told her he’d hunted her down for revenge?Had he reconciled those two competing motivators?A part of her wanted to ask him, but fear kept the question quiet.
“Anyway,” he sighed.“We might both be on the run soon.”
“On the run?”she parroted his words.
“Mmmm.”He chuckled, as though she was an adorable pet who could bewilder and blindside.“We’ll have to get out of here sooner than I’d hoped.”
“Why, sir?”She glanced around at the unappealing bedroom.It wouldn’t be her choice, but at least they appeared to have developed a sexy equilibrium there.“What’s wrong?”
Suddenly, the idea of leaving terrified her.Not that she especially wanted to stay in the neglected property, but she couldn’t understand his logic.Why bring her there if they couldn’t stay?Surely a move didn’t bode well.Lawes had been many things in the past—both brute and tormentor—but he’d always been logical.The change of heart was unsettling.
“You don’t need to worry about why.”He patted the side of her face gently.“Needless to say, I’ll bring all of your bowls and leashes with us, and I think you’ll manage your new dildo when we travel.”
She gulped at his judgment, trying to comprehend what the so-called ‘journey’ he described would be like.Knowing the old Lawes, it would be belittling and excruciating, but the most recent version of her captor had altered her perception.Staring at him then, she wondered which version of the man she could trust.
Neither.She tensed at her inner voice’s sneering decision.Don’t trust either.
“Don’t worry.”He sounded much more like his old self as, smoothing back her hair with one hand, he pointed to the floor with the other.“On your hands and knees now.Let’s think of some ways you can express your gratitude for the recent pleasure you’ve enjoyed.”
She slid to her knees softly, trying not to overthink what his next instruction might be or where, when, and why he was planning to take them from the pebble-dashed house by the ocean.
