Page 14 of Beast

Was she not as close to her father as I’d thought? That was rich. He gave her anything she wanted, even throwing her a graduation party that rivaled a billionaire’s indulgence.

“No, thanks, I’ll pass.”

“You aren’t taking me seriously.”

“Of course I am. But I’m not going to do anything with you like this.”

“Why? Are you worried about what my dad will do when he finds out about you kidnapping me?” She sighed. “He never would allow a guy like you to get near me.”

A sense of pride filled me at that. I wasn’t proud of kidnapping her and forcing her to come here, but at the same time, I liked that she knew that she couldn’t get out of this. The fact that she wasn’t honest with herself was almost amusing. She wished that she didn’t get off on the situation, but she couldn’t deny her arousal. Her heart pounded in her chest and her breath came in short, sharp bursts through her nose.

I let out a laugh and shook my head slowly. “You’d better worry more about what I could do to you than any puny repercussions your dad might try to enact on me.” I wasn’t afraid of her father or anyone. My wolf howled in my chest, wanting a challenge, wanting blood.

Her eyes opened wide as though she was surprised by how much power I had over her.

“What are you going to do? Kill me once I’m of no use?” She laughed, pressing her arms tighter around herself. “You’d better hope the rest of your team doesn’t attack now you’ve got me and take the reward money for themselves.” She faltered, looking at me when she realized I was here by myself. “Oh, right, stupid question. Your team’s probably guarding other parts of the island right now to make sure I can’t escape.” She rolled her eyes.

“You’d make an excellent enemy.”

I thought I saw a flash of ice in her gaze before she looked away. Her blue eyes were filled with rage and something I didn’t dare name. Admiration?

“I’m sure you would think that,” she whispered hoarsely with a shrug. “Guess I’m your bitch now. And you and my father are on the same team.” Her lips pursed as she turned to me. “It makes me wonder if maybe you have my dad in your pocket and he already knows where I am.” She frowned. “But if you did, you wouldn’t act like this. You’d just have to tell my dad.”

“I already told you, my employer requires your dad to do something, and when he’s done it, then I’ll release you.”

“Right,” she snapped. “Well, I’m sure Dad can get my location from my cell. They’re probably already here.” She avoided meeting my gaze.

I wouldn’t lie, I liked her desperation. It made her weak. “Your phone is in a trashcan back on the mainland and far from the docks. They won’t find you here and they don’t know I took you.”

“Why are you doing this?” She inhaled sharply and arched an eyebrow. “You’re getting off on this, aren’t you? Torturing me. Keeping me a prisoner to do whatever you want.” She made a face that showed her distaste.

“Think whatever you want, sweetheart.”

“Don’t call me that. My name’s Natalia.” She squared her shoulders, lifting her chin “You let me go and I’ll ask my dad not to have you killed. Can’t promise anything, though.”

“No, you won’t,” I replied with a crooked smile. Her heartbeat frantically sped up. She might claim not to like this situation, but she was getting off on it despite her protest. The sweet scent of her arousal filled each breath I took. She flopped back in the chair like she wanted distance and the table between us.

I wasn’t stupid. I knew our kiss from earlier had affected her the same as me. My body burned to cross the space between us and claim her mouth again. I wanted to have my hands on her, soaking in her moans and whimpers as she kissed me back with the same passion and fever. Her hands had tugged at my clothes, wanting more.

I narrowed my eyes. “You may look sweet and innocent, but really you’re raging with desire right now, aren’t you? Do you get off on being helpless like this? That’s why you know as soon as you saw me you wanted me to take you.”

She shook her head and wiped her brow, beads of perspiration covering her skin. “Of course not. I hate that I’m here with you and that you brought me against my will.”

Did she? I didn’t know. Maybe I needed to push her harder. “I can be very creative when it comes to my pursuits.” I took a step closer to her, enjoying the fact that she shrank back from me. “Trust me, I’ve had plenty of time to think about forcing you to your knees. You’re mine. Right here, right now. There’s no getting rid of me.”

She glared at me sharply and slowly rose from the table, waiting for me to step aside to get out of the kitchen.

Her fists curled at her sides, her body tense, as though she was fighting back a war within her mind. I knew she wanted mewith everything she had. Her body was shouting it, and even if she didn’t admit it, her arousal scented the air so heavily that it took all my willpower not to kiss her again.

“I’m not yours.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder and it reminded me so much of her in high school that my heart twisted in my chest. “What? Do you think I’d just melt at your feet because of your muscles and your power?”

“Think whatever you want, but I’ll give back twice as much as you dish out.”

She let out a huff, but her cheeks colored. With her nose in the air, she pushed past me and her shoulder bumped my chest. I put my hands on the sides of the archway to block her exit. She stopped short and turned to glare at me. She pushed hard with both hands on my chest, but I didn’t move.

“Like I said”—I cocked my head—“you’re mine until I let you go.”

“Get out of my way,” she barked, pushing at me. I let her shove and then push harder, finally watching her hands slide across my chest and the quick backward motion of her leg as she threw her weight into it.

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