Page 57 of Queen of Diamonds

Still, Glade slept, which I took as a great sign. I was safe for her.

She smelled like me, and I loved it. A few times in the night I’d been woken to nails digging into my arms, her body tense and eyes squeezed tight shut. I’d purred, holding her closer and marking her with my scent until she relaxed.

Finally, nearing midday, she woke, rubbing her face and peering around blearily.

“Morning,” I breathed, nipping her ear.

Pretty chestnut eyes blinked up at me as she turned, disturbing Lucy, who was sprawled out beside her, fluffy belly up and paws curled.

Glade seemed, for a moment, lost for words, lips parted, a faint frown creasing her face as if she couldn’t figure out what was going on.

“This isn’t a dream,” she said faintly.

“No.” I grinned. “I’ve claimed and captured you. You’re mine.”

Pushing herself up into a sitting position, she stretched as best she could with the cuffs still on her wrists. My gaze snagged on the flashes of her body visible as the robe parted. She was wearing pretty black panties with what might have been a normal tank top if it wasn’t made to hug her breasts so tight.

I wanted to pounce on her right now, but I’d let her settle in a bit.

“Bag in the bathroom should have everything you need—toothbrush, hairbrush, and all that.”

“No one came up?” she asked as she got to her feet and peered over the side of my room.

“I’m sure they’re plotting,” I snorted. “But I can keep them out.”

Zed was wrong. I had way more than two tasers up here.

While she was gone, I peeked at my phone, and sure enough it was blown up by texts and calls from Zed. He’d given up last night, going back to sleep, but I knew he’d be trying to get her back down before long.

I got to my feet, peering over the side of my pad that overlooked the rest of the living space.

Zed was on the couch, laptop beside him, while Knight was eating an early lunch at the table. Knight’s eyes flickered up at the movement, but he dropped his gaze instantly, clearly set on ignoring me completely. Oh boy, that meant I was in trouble.

“You’re so fucked when you come back down here,” Zed growled up at me.

“I’m stocked for days,” I told him.

He scowled, but deliberately turned his attention back to the TV as if I wasn’t worth his time.

I turned as I heard the bathroom door open.

Glade was stepping out, glossy thick waves looking freshly brushed.

“What are we gonna do about the cuffs?” she asked, glancing down at them and then back to me.

“Bolt cutters are down there,” I said, nodding toward the rest of the warehouse as I stepped toward her.

“Was that on purpose?”

“I do like the cuffs,” I admitted, hands brushing her waist before I drew her close. I loved how her lips parted, chest heaving all of a sudden. “Does that get you hot?” I asked, hooking my grip around the chain and tugging her hands above her head as I stepped closer. “Thinking about all the things I could do with you at my mercy.”

Her pupils dilated as I stepped us both back and pressed her wrists against the wall, caging her in.

“I want you,” I breathed. “Say I can, Sweet Oasis, or I’m gonna die of thirst.”

She let out the sweetest bubble of a laugh. “We… shouldn’t. I’m not staying?—”

I clamped my hand over her mouth, a low growl in my chest. “You think I’d ever let you go?” Never. Not now that I had her back.

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