Page 38 of Hideaway

“You should work on those anger management issues,”she goaded with a pointed glance at the fist that still rested on the wall a few inches from her head.

“My issue is with managing my librarian, not my anger,”Cade responded darkly. He was clearly still seething, and her glib attitude was not diffusing the situation.

“Perhaps you should find a new librarian,”she suggested flippantly.

“Trust me, if there were any others to be had, you would be gone,”he replied evenly. His words inflicted more damage then he intended; Cade could see the hurt written plainly on her face. She had, against his better judgment, become something more than just a job, but that was part of the problem. Cade ran his fingers through his hair as he tried to control his rage before he said or did anything he might regret. He had to make her understand the severity of her actions.“You promised to stay here, Kara,”Cade reprimanded, finally getting to the heart of the matter.

“I don’t think I should be held to oaths made under duress,”Kara replied spitefully.

“Under duress?”Cade questioned with an incredulous scoff.

“Yes, under duress. As I am a prisoner in this damn house, every move I make is under fucking duress.”

“I seem to recall you begging me to stay and fuck you this morning. I don’t believe anyone forced you to sleep with me. Or keep coming back for more. You wanted it.”

“I’m a good actress,”Kara answered disdainfully.

Cade narrowed his eyes.“I see.”

Without warning, Cade’s lips were on hers—hot, possessive, and entirely conquering. His tongue forced its way past her defenses, invading her mouth violently. His teeth collided with flesh, impatient and hungry as they drew blood from her full bottom lip. Her mouth filled with the taste of him, heady and familiar and completely intoxicating. Kara allowed herself to briefly melt beneath his touch before pulling back and slapping him as hard as she possibly could across his presumptuous face.

“Get the fuck off me!”Kara shouted in disgust. What had possessed the impudent bastard to kiss her like that?

Immediately obeying her request, Cade took an intentional step backward, putting space between them once again. He moved his hand to the side of his face emblazoned with the red print of her fingers, stroking the sting thoughtfully, a smile slowly playing across his lips. Rather than looking pissed, Cade was positively gleeful, as though a slap to the face was exactly what he had been after.“You, my love, are no actress. When you dislike someone’s advances, you protest quite freely. And quite loudly. You came to my bed willingly. You can attempt to convince yourself otherwise, but I have all the proof I need,”he finished, rubbing his sore cheek for emphasis.

Kara merely glared at him, any hope of challenging him obliterated to ash. She hated him for taking advantage of her weakness and manipulating the intimacy of their relationship.

“As I was saying, when you broke your promise and went to the campus today, you risked very grave consequences. Both for yourself and for me.”

“What do you mean?”Kara asked, confused.

“Avery’s men were at that library, Kara. Yesterday. What would have happened if they were there today when you foolishly decided to make an impromptu visit alone and unprotected?”

“Wait, what are you talking about? I thought youwereAvery’s men?”

“Yes, but we didn’t exactly follow through on delivery, now did we? Avery had no intention of permanently relinquishing that text, and he’s fucked without it. He’ll do what it takes to get it back, and he’s more than willing to employ people with far fewer moral scruples than I.”

Kara scoffed aloud at the idea of Cade representing a moral standard.

With a chastising glare, Cade continued.“His agents have been regularly visiting the university, presumably waiting for you to show up after having little luck finding you at the literary conference in Canada you’re supposedly attending according to Braxton’s hacking skills. If any of them saw you with Jace today, they’ll know your location and that I am involved.”Cade watched as the realization that she might have endangered more than just herself began to sink into Kara’s consciousness.

“Well, I would have been more careful if I’d known. Shit, Cade, why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t feel it necessary to worry you with the knowledge that you were being hunted. I had it under control, and I told you not to leave the manor. You should have trusted my judgment and not disobeyed.”

“Well, I just assumed you were being a control freak; it is basically your fundamental characteristic.”

“Much as blatant irrationality for the sake of appearing independent is yours.”

“You literally had your lackey come and forcefully drag me back to this prison because I decided to get some air for a few hours. A little independence would be a nice change.”

“Prove you’re capable of obeying reason, and I’ll consider it.”

“And we’re back to this again. I swear your outrage has far less to do with my brush with danger than it does my audacity to disregard your authority. I’ve seen the power you wield over those around you; hell, even Jace is wary of inciting your displeasure. It’s as if your very presence extinguishes free will. Thank goodness I’m still able to express my right to rebellion.”

“You speak so rashly because you have yet to experience the consequences of my displeasure, but trust me, you will.”Cade’s threats were interrupted by a brisk knock on the door.“Not now,”Cade commanded loudly as he grabbed ahold of Kara’s arm and dragged her toward his desk.

Kara tried to resist, but his grip was relentless and his countenance completely devoid of mercy. For all her defiance, Kara was beginning to dread the consequences of pushing him too far. Cade’s eyes shone with a determination that implied he had finally decided upon the manner of Kara’s reckoning. And she knew it would not be pleasant.

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