Page 10 of Her Vicious Angel

Andrei looked like he wanted to wring my neck. He had pulled his white-blonde hair back in a short ponytail, and it only emphasized the severe, perfectly made planes of his face.

“Somewhere to get a cup of coffee,” I said, because I was pissed.

“There’s coffee here,” he replied.

“I want coffee shop coffee,” I said.

I heard a few sharp intakes of breath, and I knew that I had blundered. But I didn’t care.

His eyes darkened with anger.

“I can’t spare anyone to accompany you,” he said. “You will stay here.”

I felt my heart pounding with fear and anger, and I yanked at the front door without giving myself time to think about it.

Andrei was on me in a second. Damn, the man had a predator’s speed and instincts.

With one big hand, he slammed the front door shut, and with the other hand he grabbed my chin, forcing me to turn my head around to face him.

His fingers bit down on my chin. He was so close to me that my heart started beating crazily.

“You will stay here,” he repeated, spitting out each word like it was a shard of glass, and the painful pressure on my chin increased with each word.

I put my hands up to try to push him away, but he trapped both wrists in one big hand, and held them tight as I struggled against him.

“Answer me,” he said, shaking my chin.

I met his eyes and my blood ran cold at their expression.

“Let me go!” I said from behind gritted teeth.

“Answer me or I’ll tie you to a chair,” he said.

“You wouldn’t dare,” I retorted, my breath coming in short pants.

He narrowed his eyes at me and his voice was silky and dangerous. “Oh yes, I would, Cerise. So what’s your choice? Do you want to be tied to a chair or are you going to obey me?”

I didn’t see any way out.

“I’ll stay here,” I said, slowly and reluctantly.

His lips curved up.

“I was hoping you’d choose the chair,” he said.

Then he bent down to me and ran his tongue up my neck, starting at the sensitive hollow at the base of my throat and curving around my ear.

I felt the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand up as my body flamed with heat and I wrenched my head as hard as I could, finally breaking free of his hold. Then I turned on my heel and left the room without another word.

* * *

I foundmy way to the library. Frederik looked up and smiled to see me.

I wandered around restlessly, gently feeling the spines of the books to try to calm down. The library had big bay windows and smelled deliciously of old and well-loved literature, the spines dark and creamy and golden.

“I’m doing some organizing of my library today,” said Frederik. “Would you like to help me?”

I accepted with relief, glad to have a distraction for my mind.

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