her up in my arms.
Her eyes were still slightly glassy, and she melted against my chest.
I’d only taken three steps towards the house when her small hand cupped my cheek, her thumb tracing the line of my scowl. She lingered over my scar, and the unfamiliar sensation sent a strange ripple through my muscles. No one touched me with such tenderness, especially not on the scars that warned of my vicious nature. In the past, women had been drawn to my darkness, my savagery. But they didn’t caress the marks of violence that’d been etched into my skin.
An image of Marisol’s delicate hands tracing the scars on other parts of my body sent another shudder through my chest. It rolled down my arms, and I tightened my grip on her to counter the strange weakness.
“I don’t hate you,” she murmured, rubbing my scar.
The resultant tremor in my muscles persisted, and I realized she was keeping me trapped in a disconcertingly vulnerable headspace.
I jerked my head to the side, shaking off her traitorous touch. “Don’t lie to me.” My harsh rebuke was roughened by a twisting pain beneath my ribcage.
“I’m not lying.” She pressed her palm against my cheek.
Even though she was so frail in my arms, the gentle touch redirected my face to hers with irresistible force.
I glowered down into her doe eyes, resenting the fact that she was still trying to manipulate me. Even more, I hated the fact that I wanted to believe her.
“You tried to escape from me as soon as my back was turned. You betrayed me to Daniel and left me for dead. Give me one good reason why I should believe you.”
She flinched at the mention of her betrayal, her eyes tightening with something like anguish.
I knew I should’ve looked away. I should’ve shut her out before she could wheedle her way back into my mind.
But that resolute hand on my cheek kept me locked in her rich brown eyes; as warm and sweet as melted chocolate. And just as tempting.
“I didn’t try to leave because I hate you. I…I care about you.” Despite stumbling over her words, her steady stare willed me to believe her. “But it scares me that you’re so possessive. It frightens me that you won’t allow me to leave. I don’t want to be a prisoner anymore. I want to be free.”
Her voice shrank as she made each admission, ending on little more than a whisper. Her gaze turned inward, no longer focusing on my face.
My stomach twisted, and I cradled her closer to my chest.
This can’t be a deception. I don’t want it to be a lie.
I wanted her sweetness, her concern, her vulnerability.
She’s been hurt, I reminded myself.
I needed to understand the details of what she’d been through that’d traumatized her so deeply, but I didn’t need to know them for her reaction to make sense. I’d already come to the realization that she would need some time to settle with me, but when I’d seen her on my security feed, I’d lost my mind with rage.
Even if I had forgiven her for betraying me to Daniel, I was obviously more affected by it than I would’ve liked to admit to myself.
Fuck. I’d behaved like a savage, hunting her down like an animal and pinning her in the dirt.
My spine straightened, and I hardened my resolve. I’d promised consequences if she tried to run again, and I’d followed through. Marisol needed a firm hand to help her adjust to her new life with me.
I didn’t regret punishing her. I didn’t regret branding her flesh with my punitive hand. I didn’t regret making her whimper into my mouth and scream out in pleasure when I forced an orgasm from her bound body.
A sense of calm settled over me. Marisol was right where she belonged, and she’d learn to love being my prey.
“I’m possessive because I know that other men will try to claim you if you’re alone and vulnerable. I won’t let you leave because my walls keep you safe.”
I brushed my fingers through her hair, and my callouses scraped over a small twig that was tangled in the black, silky locks. The lingering evidence of her subjugation centered me even more, and I spoke in an even, reassuring cadence. My lost little lamb would listen to reason if I didn’t spook her.
“You don’t have to be my prisoner, if you accept that the barriers are in place to keep others out. I can tell you’ve been through