earlier, I’m full.” Then she casually stepped over him like he wasn’t even there. Skirting the pool of blood she paced over to the sink where she lifted the shackles up and out with two fingers and dropped them on the floor like they were a distasteful.
Disbelief rocked through him as she cranked on the water and began to wash her hands. Before he could growl or even summon his language skills, she stripped off her top, giving him an eyeful of her slender back and the fresh bruises littering her flesh.
His mind stuttered to a halt as she raised her damp hands to her wild tumble of red hair and then began to twist it up, tucking it into itself in a knot.
The fact that she shed her pants nearly made him swallow his tongue. What fresh hell was this? With cupped hands, she splashed water over herself, and he tracked every droplet as it skated over her soft flesh.
Until he zeroed in on the very present, deeply imbedded handprints bruising those hips he’d wanted to hold while he fucked into her.
Their presence doused his lust in ice water.
The hot rage turned cold. Every little thing he learned just made him want to kill this asshole more. But now…now he wanted to make him suffer while he died. He’d put his hands on what was not his.
“You should stop growling so much,” she commented in that low, sex-drenched voice. “It’s very unattractive.”
Maddox snorted. He didn’t need any of his senses to confirm the mistruth. “Liar.”
She glanced over her shoulder as she worked water down her arms, sluicing away any last minute traces of the blood—and his saliva. Still, Maddox sat up and didn’t move to interfere.
The show was definitely worth it, and if she managed to rinse herself of that stench, it would be much better for both of them. He didn’t need to be battling with his urges to erase it himself, and it would settle his beast. His vampire had given up trying.
Not many understood the clear lines of distinction he experienced with his aspects. It was a delicate balance, one he’d maintained for centuries.
Until today.
The hellion utterly ignoring him as she bathed from the sink captivated him in a way he’d never experienced. Instead of plotting their way out, he debated the different ways he could lure her back over to the bed. Dominating her was definitely one way, but she had too much fight in her to submit to him yet.
Begging wasn’t an option.
He would never take without permission, no matter how badly he wanted her. Even aware she’d stripped for the sole purpose of punishing him wouldn’t make him breach that inviolable wall.
He murdered men who did that.
No, Maddox had only one choice. He would have to seduce her and earn her trust. Then convince her she wanted to submit to him. That she wanted him to claim her. It would be much sweeter for both of them that way.
He was a hunter, and he’d never failed to get his prey. They couldn’t hide her deep enough in this dungeon turned prison to escape him. He could be patient.
It would have been nice to know before the shackles, though.
His beast settled, and his vampire surged, even as the man took his place at the peak of the pyramid. Once they had the nature of the hunt, nothing stopped them.
“You’re smiling,” Fiona said, half-turned and revealing the spectacular curve of her breasts. They were crowned with strawberry shaded nipples that made him hungry for summer.
“I’m enjoying the view, Kitten,” he told her honestly.
She rolled her eyes and turned away, leaving him with her glorious ass on display and the occasional glimpse of pink lips when she bent over. Yes, he had the taste of this hunt, and while she might think she was denying him, he would lap up every single moment.
Where are you? Fin’s voice pinged against him.
It was about damn time. In Hell with a nymph. Where the fuck are you?
Where I’m supposed to be. Why haven’t you rendezvoused? The guards are everywhere, and they’re about to let out the warden’s corspesnare.
That could be bad.
Course, it also meant they’d just have to stay in this cell.
Are you safe?
His only response was a mental snort followed by Do you have her?
Not quite yet. Yes.
We’ll adjust the plan.
They were going to have to.
“You’re still smiling,” Fiona challenged as she faced him a split-second before she pulled her top back on. The color didn’t suit her