The Skull King_ Skull #1 - Penelope Sky Page 0,27

looked at me. He had a remarkable poker face, an expression that was impossible to read. He could hide anything—and everything. “So if I took you, kept you prisoner, you wouldn’t fight me?” The threat was audible in his tone, not just in his words. His hand rested on the inside of my thigh, his fingers dangerously close to my lips.

My heart quickened in my chest as the stare-down continued. I had no idea who this man was, only that he was an incredible lover who knew how to handle a woman. I didn’t know what kind of criminal he was, whether he was in trafficking, drugs, or gambling. Shit, maybe he did it all. He had never been overtly dangerous toward me, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t capable of dangerous things. Lucian was fairly reasonable, but he had the kind of temperament that could leave my neck snapped in two. Just because a man didn’t throw a tantrum every day didn’t mean he wasn’t capable of murder. Who knew what this man was capable of? “That would be a really bad idea.”

“For who? You? Or that pathetic husband of yours?” He squeezed my inner thigh.

“He’s a very powerful man.”

“I can promise you, I outmatch him in every way possible.” He moved closer to me, his face just inches from mine. “If your life is so miserable, be my prisoner instead.” He leaned in and kissed the corner of my mouth.

This man had just invited me to be his prisoner, and it turned me on. It was a disgusting question, to ask me if I wanted to exchange masters. I didn’t want to be the slave to another owner. I wanted to be free. “I don’t want to be anyone’s prisoner.”

His eyes narrowed. “If that’s how you feel, leave him.”

“I can’t.”

“Why?” He moved farther on top of me, his weight forcing the mattress to sink. “You strike me as a woman who doesn’t just give up. You’re the kind of woman that would rather die fighting than take this slow, painful, and suffocating death. So explain to me why you accept this bullshit?”

I lowered my gaze, so ashamed of the answer that it hurt just to think it in my head.

“Look at me.” He kept his voice low, but he barked out the order like a general.

My eyes lifted to meet his again.

“We always have a choice. Even when we think we don’t, we do. So explain to me why you’ve chosen to be this weak victim.”

My eyes narrowed at the insensitive insult. “I’m not a weak victim.”

“Well, you certainly aren’t the queen you were meant to be. I see a slave, not a ruler. A woman as beautiful as you should have whatever she wants. She should have her pick of any man she wants. She should not submit to an old man who isn’t worthy of her. Why did you let this happen?”

This sexy man had just rubbed me the wrong way, had painted me in a light I didn’t deserve. I didn’t want to tell him the truth because it was none of his business, but now I had to defend my honor. “Because I made a deal with him—and I can’t go back on my word.”

“What kind of deal?” His hand left my thigh and moved to my stomach. He leaned a little farther forward, like he might miss my revelation if he didn’t focus as hard as possible.

I didn’t like reflecting on that horrible day. I didn’t like remembering how angry Case had been at my decision. I didn’t like remembering the day I gave up everything for a man I loved—but who never loved me in return. “He was going to kill Evan, the man I loved.” I averted my gaze again, unable to look him in the eye as I shared my most painful secret. “The only way I could save Evan was by marrying him. I promised to obey, to cooperate—forever. My brother has always told me a person is only as good as their word—so I kept mine. He let Evan go…and I’ve been fulfilling my promise ever since then.” I refused to cry because enough tears had been shed. Evan wasn’t worth my sadness. He’d already taken so much from me, and I couldn’t let him have any more.

Balto was quiet for several minutes, his low breathing barely audible. He didn’t grab my chin and force me to look at him again. “And did Evan try to save you?