Page 8 of Cruel Master

I tremble as I stare wordlessly up at him. There's no way I’m willingly giving him anything.

When I make no move to obey, he reaches down and grabs my hand, yanking it up to his face.

I gasp at the shock of the sudden movement more so than anything else because even though he tugs on my arm sharply, it's like he's careful not to really hurt me.

He lifts the ring finger of my left hand up to his lips, and I stare at him, wondering what he's going to do. It almost looks as if he's going to kiss my finger, but then his other hand appears out of nowhere and I feel a sharp prick on the tip of my finger.

I cry out at the sting and try to yank my hand back, but he holds it steady. The tip of a switchblade I didn't even see him brandish glints with a drop of my blood.

He holds my hand steady and stares directly into my eyes as he brings the knife up to his mouth. I watch in horrified fascination as his tongue snakes out and carefully licks the blood from the tip of the sharp blade. He manages to do it without cutting his tongue, and then he closes the knife with one hand and slips it back into his pocket.

He pulls my bleeding finger back up to his lips and slips it into the hot cave of his mouth. My body jolts. His tongue is wet and warm, and the way his eyes blaze into mine while he's suckling gently on my finger like he's a vampire or something has my heart pattering away in my chest. I'm equal parts mortified and fascinated. It's insane. He's insane.

When he finally releases my finger, he speaks gruffly, “Blood requires blood. Always remember that, kitten.”

I finally succeed in yanking my hand away from him. “I'm not your kitten,” I spit at him defiantly even though my voice is shaking.

He moves swiftly, his hand coming up to cup my throat. His eyes travel over my collarbone. His head cocks to the side contemplatively. “Oh, but you are, Nora.” His thumb strokes over my clavicle, the light movement sending tingles rushing through me.

He drops his head until his breath skates across the shell of my ear as he whispers, “And you'll be purring for me before you know it.”

“What do you want with me?” I hate that my voice comes out in a breathy whine. His unpredictable nature terrifies me, but I think what terrifies me more is the way my stupid body is responding to him.

It makes me hate myself. Am I really this shallow? If he weren't so handsome, surely I wouldn't be reacting to him this way. If he was just a normal serial killer or an ugly one, would my body still be lighting up at his touch? Handsome or not, he’s still a monster. He has to be to steal someone like this and then claim ownership over them.

He doesn't answer me. Instead, he drops his hands from my body, leaving me strangely cold. “Sleep now,” he orders me. “No more escape attempts. I assure you there's no escape for you, kitten. You are thoroughly caged.”

He nods over to the closet. “You'll find everything you need over there. I'll see you in the morning.”

I open my mouth to protest, to tell him that sleep is the last thing on my mind, to beg him to let me go, hell, I’m not entirely sure what I was going to say, but he interrupts me before I ever get to. “Unless you want me to stay?” He raises a mocking eyebrow at me.

I swallow, whatever I was going to say dying in my throat and shake my head adamantly. “No.”

He smirks as he takes another step toward me.

I fight the instinct to take one back.

“Sleep, little Nora. You'll need it for what I have planned for you tomorrow.”

He lifts his hand as if he's going to touch me again. My skin starts burning in anticipation of his touch, but it never comes. His hand hovers less than a millimeter away from my cheek for a second before he drops it and turns on his heel.

He strides quickly from the room, the door slamming shut behind him with finality.

Even though I don't hear a lock engage, I already know that what he told me is the truth. It's useless for me to try to escape.

I glance over at the closet and then the bed.

Sleep, little Nora. You'll need it for what I have planned for you tomorrow.

What does he have planned?

And just who is he?

I still don’t even know his name.

ChapterSix

Although I didn't thinkI'd be able to sleep for worrying about the suited man's cryptic message before he left the room, I eventually fall into a nightmare-ridden slumber. I don't know if it’s because my body is just exhausted from the events of the kidnapping or if it’s the aftereffects of the injection, but I’mfinallyable to sleep.

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