Page 29 of Savage Sin

His threat does not sound empty.

“You know nothing except violence. I’m not helping you kill people.”

His only reaction is another infuriating nod that means I can say whatever I want, but he’s not going to hear my words.

That’s okay. I have my agenda. And that is to do whatever it takes to get out of these cuffs and back to my sister. This man will not be of any help to me. He’s all about what is good for him.

Eventually, he will have to let me go. I only hope it’s before my sister gives birth.

His fingers leave an invisible trail over the swell of my hip and up my side. He moves the hem of my borrowed shirt out of the way. His touch is gentle and not at all as harsh as his appearance. One hand rests just below the underside of my breast, while the other brushes the tender skin above the wound.

I whimper with a harsh breath.

“Easy,” he coaxes in a soothing tone again, like I’m a wounded animal he’s tending to.

The worst part is how easily my tense muscles relax when he speaks softly like that and rubs that damn thumb over my heated skin. It’s nearly hypnotizing and wrecks my resistance.

He presses on either side of the stitches, causing me to hiss again.

“Stop, please. That hurts.”

“It’s healing, but you’re still tender inside,” he says with a rough mumble of sounds. I can’t tell if he’s talking to me or himself, but I answer anyway.

“No shit,cabrón.”

This time I get a full smile. Devoid of mirth, but I’ll take another sign he’s more human than monster. Dimples soften the corners.

He’s off the bed and moving to the nightstand. When he turns, there’s a sponge in one hand and a towel in the other. He grabs the discarded baggie of drugs and puts it into his pocket.

I suck in a harsh breath. Our eyes catch.

“This isn’t in the least bit necessary.”

He raises an eyebrow. “It is. I can see the gears in your head turning. The second I cut you loose, we’ll both be sorry. So, a sponge bath, it is.”

The low timbre of his voice diminishes the fight in me a fraction. I mean, I would kill for a shower, but if this is all I can get, then I’m not going to fight it.

Gathering my hair away from my face, my captor wipes at my brow first and then gently caresses the sides of my face. My neck. He lifts my hair and takes his time, making sure he doesn’t miss a spot. The water is warm and smells of rose petals.

This guy doesn’t seem like the type to have essential oils sitting around.

I can’t shake the feeling that the shift of energy between us has taken on a different vibration. He’s invading my personal space and my thoughts. With every pass of the sponge, my skin grows tight with awareness and my body’s undeniable response shows in the pucker of my nipples.

And there’s nothing I can do to hide those or the unwanted heat working its way into my cheeks. I need something else to focus on that is not sensual.

“Does your girlfriend or wife know you kidnap women and hold them against their will?”

He doesn’t fall for the bait.

Only a breath of space separates his face from mine when he drags the edge of the sponge over my collarbone. Instead of doing the smart thing and letting him finish quickly, I ask a question that’s been gnawing at me all day.

“Do I scare you? Is that why you keep me tied up? You said it yourself: we are in the middle of nowhere. Where would I run off to? And since you’re not answering, that means you are scared.”

Shattered blue eyes lift. Surprise covers his expression. “You are deeply more perceptive than a woman your age should be.”

Pulling my hair to the side, he brushes the long length. After working something in to help with the tangles, he starts at the tips and works his way up until it’s silky smooth. God, that should not have felt so good.

“That’s not a direct answer.” Between my legs I feel an unfamiliar rush of heat and it pisses me off. My body cannotrespond to him.

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