Page 11 of Cruel Master

I yank my head from his grasp, and he releases me. He stands in a fluid motion and offers a hand down to me.

I ignore it in my stubbornness and push to my feet much less gracefully than he just did.

I hate him for that grace. He’s so smooth, so calm and collected, while I’m a mess. In my defense, though, he’s ripped me out of my world, whereas he’s in total control. Of course, he’s fine.

“Who are you?” I ask him.

“Depends on whom you ask.” His eyes rake over my body, assessing how I look in the dress, no doubt.

I cross my arms over my chest, attempting to hide some of my exposed breasts. He smirks as if he knows exactly why I’ve crossed my arms.

“Your name,” I grit out.

“Ah,” he tips his head like that’s another question entirely before he answers, “Gabriel.”

“Well? Go on then. Get it over with.” Damn my voice for shaking.

He cocks his head to the side and stuffs his hands in his pockets casually as he regards me thoughtfully. “Get what over with?”

“Whatever you're going to do to me. You told me last night I would need my strength for what you had planned today. So go on. Get it over with.”

“I said you would need your rest,” he corrects me. “And just because I said that doesn't mean I have anything in particular planned for you today. Isn't it true that people always need their rest?”

I stare at him for a moment before I let out a hollow laugh. “So that's your game, is it? You won’t break me.”

He crosses the distance between us until he's standing so close to me his scent wraps around me. He smirks again. “But, kitten, if I don't break you, how can I ever put you back together again?”

I look away from him. What is up with this guy and his twisted riddles?

“Why were you sobbing on the floor just now?”

“Maybe because you kidnapped me,” I retort sarcastically.

He grabs my chin and stares into my eyes as he says thoughtfully, “No, that's not why, and we both know it, Nora. You were on that floor crying your pretty little eyes out because the suspense was killing you. Wondering what I'm going to do is worse on you than anything I could actually do to you. You cannot lie to me, Nora. I know more about you than you know about yourself.”

I try to yank my chin out of his grasp again, but he holds fast this time, even going so far as to wrap an arm around the small of my back. He yanks me to him until my stomach is flush with his. I feel the evidence of his desire pressing into me, and while it should repulse me, desire licks through my veins. Moisture pools between my thighs, and my nipples harden underneath the flimsy material of the dress. The way his eyes darken and flick down to my cleavage lets me know that he can feel them poking into his chest through our clothing.

My face colors in embarrassment. Of course, the one thing the wardrobe he provided me with was auspiciously missing was bras.

“Why do you want to hurt me?” I ask him.

“Who says I want to hurt you?” he fires back.

“You just said you want to break me.” I point out.

“No, you said that,” he corrects. “I merely expounded upon what you already said.”

“Is this why you said I’d need my rest?” I try to wrestle my way out of his hold, but he’s too strong.

“I don’t want to play your sick little mind games,” I hiss at him in frustration.

His lips stretch into a wicked grin as he smiles down at me. It's a devastating smile that punches straight into my solar plexus. The man is sinfully beautiful. He bends his head down until his lips are hovering right over mine, his hot breath fanning against them.

My own breath catches, my heart thudding between us. My lips tingle in anticipation, and guilt gnaws at my belly for the way I react to him.

I stumble when he abruptly pulls away, coolness slithering over my skin from the sudden loss of his heat.

“You didn't eat your food,” he notes before he glances over at the trays on the table and frowns.

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