Page 15 of Just a Bit Captivated

Spluttering indignantly, Aiden choked out, “You insufferable ass—”

“I’m still not hearing a thank you.” Zain’s eyes narrowed in contemplation. He made a mock-thoughtful sound—or at least it seemed mocking to Aiden.“Come to think of it, a mere thank you wouldn’t be enough. We can’t have you showing this attitude with Gadiel. He’s far less thick-skinned than I am. From now on, you will watch your tone. Insults will not be tolerated. You will address me respectfully. Remember your place.”

Rage filled Aiden’s chest.

“And what is my place, Your Highness?” he bit out, glaring at the floor resentfully.

Zain put a finger under Aiden’s chin and tipped it up.

The contact made Aiden shiver violently. Was it revulsion? Maybe it was the rage. Either way, he couldn’t breathe. He wanted to squirm away from the contact, his skinburningwhere the other man was touching him.

“You don’t have one,” Zain said softly, his eyes boring a hole in his face. “You will be whatever I want you to be.”

Aiden shook his head dazedly. He was trembling, his ears were ringing, and his head felt floaty and weird.

“Right,” he croaked out. “Because I’m a lowly slave and you’re my owner.” His tone was supposed to be sardonic, but he missed the mark by a mile.

Silence fell—and it felt a little weird. A little off. A littlesomething.

“That’s ridiculous,” Zain said, his voice low and rough. His eyes seemed black. Were they not brown? “I told you you weren’t a slave. Much less mine.”

Aiden moistened his lips with his tongue. They felt dry. Parched.

“Go,” Zain said, letting go of his chin and stepping back. “Return to bed—your own bed. If you disturb my sleep again, you will regret it.”

Aiden stumbled to his feet and strode away,a hot feeling twisting his stomach into a knot.

He told himself it was hatred, but there was a weird edge to it.

Something he couldn’t put his finger on.

Chapter Seven

After that night, something changed. Or maybe it was all in Aiden’s head.

That mockingownershouldn’t have changed anything, but the word, once said, seemed to be constantly present in the room with them, like a giant pink elephant impossible to ignore.

Owner.

Owner owner owner.

Aiden now felt very self-conscious, acutely aware that Zain owned him. This man really could do anything to him.He’d known that already—rationally—but theownersomehow had made it so much more real.

“Gadiel wants to meet up with you,” Zain said, breaking the silence that had fallen ever since Aiden came to the dining room.

Aiden looked up—met the chocolate-brown, piercing gaze—and swallowed.“He’s coming?” His voice came out more high-pitched than he would have liked.

“No,” Zain said.“He wants to meet you on neutral ground.” His lips curled slightly, his eyes glimmering with wry amusement.“He said he wantsyou to feel comfortable in his presence when you talk.”

“So he does have some human decency,” Aiden said.

Zain took a sip of his coffee.“Don’t be naive. It basically means that he’s accepting my conditions but wants to assuage his conscience first. To pat himself on the back for beinga good person.”

“Have you always been such a cynic?” Aiden said, even though he couldn’t say he disagreed with him this time. If Gadiel truly were a good person, he would refuse to use a person who had beenboughtfor him, period.

“I’m not a cynic,” Zain said.“I’m a realist.”

Scoffing, Aiden rolled his eyes.“So, you’re taking me to Dubai?” His heart sped up at the thought. Dubai meant a chance to escape.

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