Page 53 of His to Possess
Her words should have pleased me. They were exactly what I wanted to hear, a confirmation that she understood her place, that she was adhering to the rules I had set. But instead, I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my chest. I resisted the urge to roll my shoulders, to shake off this strange sensation. Why had it found its way there? I despised it already. I had never felt that way before, and I supposed that was where the discomfort partially came from, not having any experience with this.
"Fair enough," I replied, keeping my voice steady. "But that doesn't change what I said. And I know for a fact, even without knowing the entire case, that you are innocent. You are as straight as an arrow, adhering to the contract rules to a fault."
To my surprise, her expression softened, and a faint giggle escaped her lips. It was a sound I had rarely heard from her, and it sent an unexpected thrill through me.
"Maybe I'm not such a straight arrow," she said, a mischievous glint in her eye. "I've had a lot of fun poking at your damn rules."
Her admission caught me off guard, and I found myself smiling in return. "Oh, really?" I asked, taking a step closer.
Her smile widened. "Let's just say I've found some… creative interpretations."
Desire grabbed at me, sudden and fierce. I was struck by the urge to pull her close, to feel her body against mine. But I held back, intrigued by this playful side of her I had rarely seen.
"Creative interpretations, hm?"
I took a step closer to Laurel, my eyes locked on hers. "I knew from the start you were a woman of many and varied talents. Many… except for one."
Laurel stood her ground, lifting her chin defiantly. The spark in her eyes ignited something deep within me. "Oh? And what weakness might that be?" she challenged, her voice steady despite our proximity.
My smile widened, predatory and knowing. "You would need to brush up on your spy skills," I murmured, leaning in slightly. "Especially if you want to hide something from me."
I watched as confusion flickered across her face, quickly replaced by a flash of alarm. But she recovered quickly, her expression smoothing into one of practiced innocence.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, but there was a slight tremor in her voice that betrayed her. She rolledher eyes at me, quickly averting her gaze from me. A light blush coated her cheeks. My favorite sight.
I chuckled softly, the sound dark and knowing. "Oh, I think you do," I replied. My eyes flicked down to her foot, then back up to meet her gaze. "Like a piece of paper, for example."
Her eyes widened almost imperceptibly, and I knew I had caught her. The thrill coursed through me, sharp and intoxicating. I had always enjoyed this dance, the push and pull of secrets and revelations. But with Laurel, it was different. More intense. More personal.
"I…" she started, then stopped, clearly at a loss for words.
I leaned in closer, my lips nearly brushing her ear. "You'll find," I whispered, "that very little escapes my notice. Especially when it comes to you."
Laurel shivered, caught in my web but still fighting with everything she had. It was charming. So many women had succumbed to me, submitted without question. But not Laurel. She was different, a challenge that made my blood pump faster.
I decided to gamble, to push her further. "Let's play a game, shall we? A challenge, if you will."
Laurel's eyes narrowed, suspicion clear in her gaze. "What kind of challenge?"
"If you win, you can keep that little secret of yours," I said, nodding towards her pocket. "If I win, you show me what's on that paper."
I watched as she weighed her options, her jaw clenching slightly. She didn't like this game, that much was clear. But I could see the curiosity in her eyes, the temptation to prove herself against me.
"And what exactly would this challenge entail?" she asked cautiously.
I smirked, pleased that she was at least considering it. "Oh, I'm sure we can think of something interesting."
Her hesitation lasted only a moment. Then, she shook her head. "No deal."
"No deal?" I repeated, my eyebrows raising in question. "Explain."
Her eyes flashed, a challenge in her gaze. "This is none of your concern. It has nothing to do with our agreement. It's not part of the contract."
I felt a spark of annoyance at her dismissal. This was exactly my concern. Every aspect of her life was now my business. But I kept my tone light, almost playful, as I argued, "Everything about you is my concern. Don't you understand that yet?"
Her eyes narrowed, but she didn't back down. "Maybe you want it to be, but that doesn't mean I agree."
In that moment, something snapped within me. Perhaps it was the defiance in her eyes, the refusal to yield. Or maybe it was the underlying fear I sensed lurking beneath her brave facade. Whatever the reason, I decided to take matters into my own hands.
