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Sneak away while he’s sleeping. You know how to be quiet. You can do this.

“Yeah, I can do this,” she said quietly, pulling her attention back to the flickering fire.

Enjoying the heat radiating from the burning logs, she constructed a basic plan of action in her mind. First, she needed to exhaust him so completely that he would be dead to the world. Second, she would tiptoe into the kitchen and find a knife. Lastly, she would use the blade on her captor and earn her freedom back.

Simple enough. What could possibly go wrong?

Ignoring the doubt creeping into her mind, she unzipped her black puffy coat and shrugged it from her barely covered shoulders. Dropping the jacket to the wooden floor, she silently went over her plan again and again. For whatever reason, the thought of using a knife on him rubbed her the wrong way. Itwas the only way she could overpower him, though. She was strong but not nearly as physically capable as her captor. This was how it needed to play out.

You know, it really doesn’t have to be this way, Alexandria. You don’t have to kill him. You know that he completes your broken soul.

Yes, I do! I must, there isn’t another way! I want this nightmare to end so I can go back to my life with Leo. My future is with him, not with Kade. I must kill the monster. I must!

Staring into the cracking fire, she became lost in her mind’s vicious tug of war. After a handful of seconds, her vision blurred. Slowly, the yellow and orange flames blended into one, offering her a forbidden glimpse of her future.

She could see herself cuddling next to Leo’s naked body, laughing at something brilliant tumbling from his lips. He looked so sure of himself as he weaved a hilarious tale. Whatever it was had enthralled her, she seemed thoroughly entertained by her lover’s story. It was clear that happiness and love surrounded them in their shared bed. Everything about the moment felt blissfully perfect.

Focusing on the fantasy, the tender moment in front of her evolved. She watched in silence as her phantom self-slinked over Leo’s tanned body, pressing heated kisses from his bare stomach to his chest. Teasing him mercilessly with her tongue and teeth, she looked triumphant as he begged for more. Straddling his hips, she moved her lustful advances upward towards his pleading mouth. Just before her lips made contact however, his handsome face suddenly melted away, turning into Kade’s at the very last second.

“What are you thinking about?” Kade asked, stepping behind her and wrapping his arms around her.

Yelping in shock, she jumped against her captor’s embrace. She hadn’t heard him come up behind her and it scared her senseless. If she was to go through with her plan, she needed to be more alert. Being distracted was a complete amateur move.

“Ahh! You scared me!” she cried out, forgetting about the prediction in the flames.

Holding her tightly against his torso, he kissed an apology against her temple. Roaming his calloused hands across the floral silk covering her abdomen, he moved his lips to the shell of her ear.

“I’m sorry, Sweetheart. I didn’t mean to,” he offered, pulling her soft lobe between his teeth.

Moaning a reply, she lifted her right arm and let her fingers sink into her captor’s mop of dark hair. It unnerved her how quickly he could disarm her. She shouldn’t be enjoying his lewd caresses or his hungry kisses. She should feel wrong for wanting more from the man she would ultimately have to kill.

“Warming up?” he purred, his tongue lazily toying with her earlobe.

Twisting her fingers into his locks, she wiggled her backside against him suggestively. He had just begun to touch her, and her body was already beginning to ache. How was it possible for him to have such an unnatural hold over her?

“Yes,” she breathed.

Letting his hand slip from her abdomen, Kade danced his nimble fingers lower to the metal clasp of her jeans. Toying with the brass button, he trailed his full lips lower to her neck.

“Good. Should I take you upstairs to bed then, my love?” he asked, licking the bruised love bite gracing her throat.

Shaking her head, she turned her body in his strong arms. Pressing her entire weight against him, she plastered a calculated look of desperation and need on her face. She couldn’t risk moving any further away from the kitchen than necessary. If she played her cards right, she could be free before daylight broke. All she needed to do was exhaust her abductor to the point of no return.

“No! I can’t wait! I want you to fuck me right here,right now,”she said seductively, leaning up to claim his mouth in an all-consuming kiss.

CHAPTER TEN

Drawing in a ragged breath, Lexi watched as Kade fell to his knees before her; his large hands yanking the fabric of her stonewashed jeans to her ankles in the process. For a moment he looked almost vulnerable, like an insecure peasant unworthy of being in the presence of a queen. It was a fleeting thought. As soon as she blinked, the wolf had returned, hellbent on consuming anything she was willing to give.

“Off,” he demanded, motioning with his sharp chin for her to step out of her pants.

Following his command, she lifted each leg and allowed her captor to remove her pants. Clad only in a pair of white cotton panties and ankle socks, she couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. He had yet to take off any of his clothes, and didn’t seem to be in any rush to either. Nowshewas the one who was vulnerable. Exactly as he intended.

“What about you?” she asked, squeaking a bit as he ran his rough fingertips over her calves.

“And what about me, Sweetheart?” he questioned, leaning forward to nip his jagged teeth into the skin of her upper thigh.

Closing her red rimmed eyes, she pressed herself closer. Swallowing her racing heartbeat, she reached down to grab thefinely knitted sweater covering his shoulders. It was imperative that she took hold of the reins before he spun her too far. She couldn’t let him take control again. Not now,not ever.

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