Page 78 of The Psychopaths

I move toward the door. “Stay in this room. Don’t touch anything.”

“Afraid I’ll find something I shouldn’t?”

Her shiver isn’t from fear and that’s what makes me want her so damn much.

I check the security feeds on my phone to district myself. Aries’s cell camera shows him pacing—he’s due for his evening meal. The perimeter sensors show no unusual activity.

Everything is under control. Well, everything except the girl who is currently making herself at home in my bedroom.

“Your bed is comfortable,” Lilian says, and my head snaps up.

She’s sprawled across the black sheets, golden blond hair fanned out on the pillow, making it look like she has a halo. She looks like she belongs there, and the sight of her, does things to my control.

“Get up,” I order.

“Why?” She stretches, her shirt riding up to reveal a strip of pale skin. “Isn’t this where I’m sleeping?”

Images flash through my mind—her tangled in my sheets, breathless under my hands, marked as mine in every way possible. I shove them down hard.

“You’re sleeping on the couch.”

“Am I?” She rolls onto her stomach, watching me with knowing eyes. “Seems inefficient. Bed’s plenty big enough for two.”

“Lilian.” It’s a warning growl.

“Arson.” Perfect mimicry of my tone. “Are you afraid to sleep next to me? Afraid of what might happen in the dark?”

I stalk toward the bed, looming over her. “I’m on to whatever game it is you think you’re playing.”

She rises to her knees on the mattress, bringing us eye to eye. “Are you? Because I’m not playing any games. I just want to know why you’re fighting whatever this is between us all of a sudden.” Her hand reaches for my chest. I catch her wrist before she can touch me.

I squeeze until I feel her pulse racing. “This isn’t some romantic arrangement. You’re here because it’s safer than letting them kill you.”

“Then why are you looking at me like you want to devour me?”

“Because I do. Because I’m a male with a penis, and you’re beautiful, with a warm cunt.”

I want to take her right here, mark her as mine, show her exactly what she’s playing with but I can’t.

It’s too soon.“I need to check on our guest.” My voice drops lower. “While I’m gone, remember the rules. Stay in this room. Touch nothing. No computers, no security systems, no attempting to contact Aries.”

“You’re no fun.” She pouts.

“One hour,” I say, moving toward the door. “When I come back, I expect you to be exactly where I leave you. Disobey, and I’ll have to get creative with your punishment.”

“Creative how?” She sits on my bed again, deliberately provocative.

“Guess you’ll have to find out.” My threat lacks heat. We’re past the point of Lilian being afraid of me. That should make me angry. Should make me want to prove how dangerous I can be. Instead, it makes me want...other things.

“One hour,” I repeat, forcing myself to walk to the door before I do something we’ll both regret.

Her laugh follows me out. “I’ll be here. In your bed. Waiting.”

The image burns in my mind as I head toward Aries’s cell. Two siblings under my roof—one I need to keep captive with force, the other choosing her cage willingly.

I’m no longer sure which one is more dangerous to my plans—or to my control.

Her things scattered across my space should infuriate me. Designer clothes mixed with my tactical gear. Expensiveperfume lingering in my bathroom. A delicate silver hairbrush beside my combat knife on the nightstand.

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