aside the flare of curiosity.
Didn’t matter. Interrogation subjects, even exotic ones, were nothing more than targets to be cracked, dissected, and analyzed.
He snapped the rope once more against her clit. Then, he gentled the pressure, rotating his wrist in the shape of a figure eight. Now that the skin had been sensitized, it wouldn’t take much to shift the burn to arousal, especially given her initial reaction.
Another low moan proved him right. Her thighs strained against the ropes. She was trying to wiggle free of the intense sensations coursing between her legs. Not going to happen. From here on out, he was in full control.
Not interested in half measures, he used his other hand to flick the frayed, rough end of his rope against one pebbled nipple. “I warned you.”
She shook, her head rolling back and forth as those pretty sapphire eyes of hers sank to half-mast and her back arched in supplication. Her mouth fell open, those lips the perfect shape for sliding between, despite the tiny fangs glinting within.
But that was a line he wouldn’t cross. Business was business. Even when no one was looking. Otherwise, he’d be as bad as the monster who’d made him.
He worked the rope faster between her thighs.
Her body trembled, every muscle tightening as her spine bowed upward and her pupils dilated to pinpricks, her nipples elongating and darkening to a deep gold. “P-please.”
New English. It was a start.
He increased the level of pressure. “Answer the question.”
“A-ancient blessings.” Her voice was a keening, desperate rasp. “The se-ymbols are blessings to…to safe me.”
Her accent was intriguing. Her surrender even more so.
“Good girl.” He let the rope go slack.
Her body went limp in the dirt, her eyes glazed with relief as she stared up at him. She had no idea. Soon the lack of pressure against her sensitive clit would be more torturous than no rope at all.
All in good time.
“What did you do with the female slaves from my camp?” His hand hovered over the harness between her thighs.
She stiffened, her gaze locked on his outstretched palm.
“Tell me and this stops.”
Defiance flashed in her eyes, transforming her grim acceptance to calculating—and exposing steel beneath that delicate exterior. “I-I…no understand.”
“Bullshit.”
“We bargain.” She spoke fast, her New English pronunciations off, but still understandable in her honeyed tones. “I have whalh—”
“No bargaining. Answer the question. You already know what happens when you don’t follow instructions.” He was curious about the spear and the metal she’d traded to the gang, but that would be discussed when the time was right. He had no intention of letting her use his interest as a negotiating chip.
“No. You—” Her words turned to a wail as he gripped the rope once more.
Ignoring her protest, he tossed her over his shoulder, her weight so light he barely had to brace himself.
She growled.
He cut off the threatening sound with a sharp slap to her bare ass. “I told you the rules. Now you’ll see what happens when you ignore them.”
More lyrical unintelligible words that could have been insults or pleas for mercy.
Didn’t matter either way.
He sauntered forward, barely registering her vigorous struggles, his mind returning to the torment in Hope’s and Melody’s gazes as they’d watched their mother being dragged away.
Help me. Another pair of broken eyes flickered through his mind. Another haunting he’d never shake.
At least he could make up for his mistakes this time around.
He’d already taken the liberty of setting up a nice, cozy spot where he and his captive would not be interrupted.
He’d circle back to the pit, pick up his pack, her broken spear, and a few supplies. Then, the real work could begin.
6
Her breath rushed out in staccato pants, the desperate sound bouncing off the cave walls. It might be bright light outside, but in here, everything was shadows.
She balanced on her tiptoes, her bound arms stretched toward the ceiling.
Before leaving the cave, the beast had lashed her wrists and ankles to metal hooks hammered into the rocky walls and floor, forcing her arms and legs wide. Worse, the rope harness remained strapped around her chest, waist, and between her thighs, allowing no relief from the coarse press of the fiber against her heated core.
None of this made any sense.
Others were stupid and mindless, their love for shiny red metal surprisingly easy to exploit. Except this one wasn’t acting like the rest. He’d refused to accept her offer to trade.
He pretended he was actually concerned with locating the females.
It had to be a trick. Others were violent in