Page 18 of His Dark Purpose

There she was, entirely under his control, and he was desperate for a question-and-answer session.

“Go on.” She clenched the muscles between her legs, praying she could hold on.

“I need to know if you can be my good girl again.” He waved the key in the air, taunting her with the idea of her liberty.

“I can be good.” She eyed the key enviously, willing it into the locks to free her.

“Can you?”

“Yes.” It seemed as though he was toying with her, intentionally taking his time while he knew she was desperate, but then she already knew that much about him. Kyle liked to be in charge, and until that day, she’d been happy to let him lead, but his bondage had shifted from sexy silk to complete control without so much as a discussion. “You know I can, sir.”

He glowered at her—an expression she would have once considered so alluring, but staring into his dark eyes then, she wasn’t so sure. What kind of man tormented another person for fun? And not in a frivolous or flirty way, but in a way that reinforced his own dominance while she was left dangling at the end of his rope.

Or cuffs.

She sighed.

“I’m not sure what I know anymore.” His hand lowered to her ankle, grazing the key over the metal bracelet. “I thought we understood each other, but I’d never seen that vicious side of you before.”

Me, vicious?She wanted to laugh at the way he was twisting the truth.

“It’s fair to say I was a little shocked and disappointed at what you told me, sir.”

That was the understatement of the century. It had been bad enough knowing he’d been her landlord and not told her, but hearing how he’d been prepared to exploit their marriage was sickening. She wasn’t sure how she could ever trust him the same way again.

“Fair enough.” He hovered the key over the lock. “But why does your disappointment always result in you screaming profanity at me?”

Unsure she recognized that version of herself, her brows knitted.

“You were the same in my study,” he went on. “When you first found the files. You don’t seem able to sit down and talk things through calmly, little girl.”

Is that true?The question echoed in her head.Is that who I am?

“It’s been one hell of a day.” She wasn’t making excuses for her behavior, but as far as she remembered, she’d never reacted that way before finding the tenancy files. But then, she hadn’t unveiled his secret past until then. “Perhaps I’m not feeling myself?”

“And that’s what worries me.” He attempted a half smile. “If I let you go now, how do I know what you’ll do?”

Distrust was an interesting response from the man who’d kept so much to himself. Shouldn’t she be the one expressing wariness?

“You’ll have to take my word for it, sir.” What else could she suggest? If he delayed much longer, she wouldn’t be responsible for the repercussions.

“Maybe.” His brow rose. “Or, perhaps I can contain you for a little while longer… until I’m surer.”

A ball of anxiety knotted in her tummy, exacerbating the ache there. “Contain me?”

“Yes.” His tone was even, neither righteous nor apologetic.

“Like the cuffs?” The fog in her head had started to clear, but in its place was a new thick apprehension that seemed determined to flood her senses with doubt.

What the hell was he trying to say?

“Yes, like the cuffs. I know I can’t keep you cuffed all the time. But when you’re away from the bed, I have another idea.” He gestured to the ankle he was hovering over, and to her horror, she noticed a thin line of what looked like rope secured around it. In the frenzy of rousing and discovering the cuffs, she hadn’t even noticed the additional restraint.

“What’s th-that?”

“My insurance policy.” He sounded so pleased with himself. “You have ropes on both ankles, securing you to the bed.”

What?

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