Page 73 of Never Die for a Sinner
And finally, when I can open my eyes without feeling like they’re going to burn out of my skull, my heart falls in my chest.
None other than the devil himself stands in front of me, grinning ear to ear and holding the black sack that had just been on my head.
“Hello, baby girl.”
I growl through the gag, lurching in the rope holding my wrists. It burns against my skin when I fight its hold, but he clearly went to Boy Scout camp because it doesn’t budge.
Levi smirks, his eyes flashing wickedly in the warm glow of the fireplace cackling behind him.
Okay. This is worse than I thought.
We appear to be in a cabin, though I’m too disoriented and utterly fucking shocked to notice much other than the man in front of me.
Levi circles me like a caged tiger, the muscles of his bare chest shining in the light. My gaze runs over the tattoos inked into his skin. From a rose to something in Latin I can’t understand, right down to the bear growling on his chest.
Unfortunately, I make the mistake of glancing lower, noticing the way his abs shine in the light.
The man was built to break things. Probably women like me, if you want the truth.
With the gag in my mouth and the rope forcing me to stay suspended in the air, I have no choice but to simply glare at him as he stalks back and forth in front of me.
“Surprised to see me?”
“Asshole,” I say, but it comes out sounding more like “ashdkghd.”
His wolfish smile makes my heart drop to my aching toes, and I shift uncomfortably, whimpering as the rope drags against my skin.
“Ava, Ava, Ava . . . what am I going to do with you?”
If this is some kinky sex thing, I’m going to kill him.
“My beautiful little thief.”
Iknewhe didn’t forget. I could never be that lucky.
He stops in front of me, reaching up to brush a lock of hair back from my wet cheek. I hadn’t even realized I’d been crying. “You see, I thought you were this sweet, naïve girl. Never hurt a fly. Imagine my surprise when I found out you were lying.”
My brows knit together in confusion. I try to say something, but it’s useless. Not that I think he’d believe me anyway. If he’s gone to these lengths to get me out here, he’s already convinced himself he’s right.
“I asked you in the woods who sent you to steal from me. You told me you didn’t know.” He continues pacing again, and my eyes follow him. I slip on the wood floor, groaning when the rope digs into my skin. “You lied to me.”
I swallow thickly, but my saliva tastes coppery. I must have bitten the gag so hard, I made myself bleed.
Levi circles me like a predator until he’s at my back. In a flash, his hand digs into my hair, and he tugs my head back, his lips at the side of my throat.
“I’m going to give you one chance to tell me the truth.”
The gag falls from my mouth, and I sputter, my lips dry and sore from the material. I cough and tears slip freely down my cheeks when he releases my hair, letting my head fall forward.
“I told you,” I croak. “I don’t know.”
“You’re still lying to me, sweetheart,” he purrs, and liquid heat slips through me at his voice in my ear. Is it normal to feel turned on when you’re terrified? Because I get the feeling maybe I’m just fucked in the head. “You should know I don’t like liars.”
Levi grips my hip and kneads the flesh of my side where my shirt has ridden up. I close my eyes, a whimper escaping my lipswhen he slips his hand into the waistband of my jeans, teasing the skin beneath.
“I think you like pushing me. I don’t think you’re as innocent as you claim to be, little ghost.” He removes his hand, circling back to the front. I feel him in every step.
I’m clearly in need of a good therapist and probably a straitjacket, because when he comes back into view, my first thought is how hot he is.
