Page 121 of Filthy Royal

He tugged on the taming chain, then slapped her ass. And wanted to do it again, or at least keep his hand right where it was and squeeze.

Instead, he called out to Maddox, “One more thing, kid.” He cleared his throat. “Before you go, toss a couple of my extra shirts this way.” Each time he caught sight of that taming chain, it made him harder. And each time he saw her bare skin, all he wanted to do was lick it.

But he was done playing around. Done with distractions too.

He’d figure out how to eradicate her from his system as soon as he had the time. Right now, he needed to think like the predator he was. “And tear me off a strip from the bottom of one. I need to make a gag.”

13

SCARLETT

With each step Damien took, Scarlett’s fury ratcheted up a notch.

It didn’t help that she was slung over his shoulder like cargo. Or that he’d stuffed her into one of his shirts, so his mouthwatering scent clung to every breath she took. Or that she had a gag in her mouth and her wrists secured to her throat, so all she could do was swing against his back, blood rushing to her head with every bounce and jostle.

Though better to have her head swollen and throbbing than her foolish, betraying clit.

She knew better than to spread her legs for Damien.

But, apparently, knowing better didn’t seem to do her any good when he stared at her with that raw, hungry look.

She was a fool.

Damien ducked as they reached a lower tunnel section. White dots flashed in front of her eyes, muddying her vision.

They’d walked for a while now, the dim glow from the crystals embedded in the ceiling and walls lighting their way, and she’d been trying to follow the route in case she got an opportunity to escape.

She’d heard voices here and there, filtering through the grates from above. Cheers at one point, indicating they were below the stadium. Smells at other times suggested they were passing below eating areas and that sometime since she’d been taken, the suns had risen, and the morning meal was being consumed. But after twisting and turning down tunnels for so long, truth be told, she was beyond lost, with no clue which specific part of the Golden Dome they traveled beneath.

Damien, however, didn’t seem at all confused. Per usual, he powered ahead, moving with irritating confidence and grace, securing her to him with one hand pressed to the spot where her thigh met her ass as if it was his right. She wanted to scream.

But she couldn’t because he’d shoved a gag in her mouth.

So instead, she let her gaze drift to the cuffs magnetized to the taming chain. The entire time he’d carried her, she’d been trying to focus her gift to see if she could work the same miracle she had on the manacles earlier. No luck.

They came to the end of the lower ceiling, and he shot up again to his full height, taking her along for the ride. White dots danced in front of her eyes again, and this time, her stomach lurched.

She fought the urge to throw up.

“Scarlett?” As if attuned to her, Damien stilled.

In the next heartbeat, her world turned upside down once more.

She was on her feet—she felt the ground beneath her slippers—but everything else tilted on its axis.

“Whoa.” Strong hands steadied her. “Give it a moment.”

He removed the gag from her mouth.

Wriggling her jaw, she tried to wrestle out of his hold. She didn’t need him pretending to look out for her. Especially not when he was the reason she was in this state.

“Settle.” He tightened his grip, keeping her right where he wanted her.

She glared up at him. Or at least tried to. Even tipping her chin made those damned white dots return.

“When was the last time you ate?”

Scarlett blinked. Not the question she’d expected.

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