Page 17 of Taken By the Kingpin
“They don’t deserve your compassion, angel. You’re not the only girl they have hurt.”
“But…”
“If you’d prefer them to live, I’ll see what can be arranged.” He says it like it would be a concession. Like unless I intervene they’re as good as chopped meat.
“I can decide?” Another gift. Or another favour? It’s a little thrill to have the power of life or death over those who once held it over me, and chose to sell me off. I don’t know what to do with the sensation. It’s wrong, and yet… Like everything with Sebastian, it’s right. He hands over the control to me, even though I’m his prisoner.
He tilts his head. “Yes. But I’ll want something from you in return.”
7
SEBASTIAN
“What do you want?” There’s a hint of anticipation as well as question in her eyes, but no wariness now.
It’s tempting to admit,her.
I could reveal the depth of my adoration with one word. And perhaps she’d give me her body for the day, or the night. I think that curiosity in her expression might get the better of her, and she’d allow me to steal away her innocence. I’d love to. My cock demands I take her with every throb of blood through it. Yes, I want to give her release, and it soothes my soul to do that. Joining us would be even sweeter. Stroking into her for my pleasure as well as hers, having her tighten around me and come on my cock.
But I won’t bargain for her love. I only want that freely given and forever.
Neither will I allow my baser urges to wreck me, or harm her. If I have her, she’ll bemine. But she deserves the choice of liberty. I won’t coerce her into being with me, however much I might want it. I am enough of a bastard to take her virginity; I’m not so immoral as to steal her for my own without her knowing.
I can’t help the bone-deep feeling that she’s mine, but I can let her decide, keep her out of harm’s way, for now at least.
“Don’t leave until either they’re dead, or I’ve found a new safe house for you,” I say.
“You want me to stay?”
Always. Forever. I want her by my side and in my bed. “Just until you’re safe.”
She’d be safer with me.
Those trusting blue eyes peek out from under her long lashes. When did she start to have such faith in me? She puts down her knife and fork, and traces a pattern on the worktop with her fingertip, thinking, white teeth pressing onto that plush pink bottom lip.
“But you won’t be able to keep me safe until I’ve decided about what happens to the leaders?”
I nod. “Have you made up your mind?”
Her mouth twists. “No. I don’t… I’m not sure what the right way is.”
“It’s a lot of responsibility.” I should know. I make these decisions day in, day out. A rival, a retaliation, an enemy. All their lives in my palm. Anything that keeps Jeanette happy and away from those who mean her harm is a no-brainer to me, so I hadn’t even thought about letting the Carters and Fletchers live. But she hasn’t had this weight on her shoulders before. Does she really even want it? “If you don’t want blood on your hands, I’ll send you to a new safe house without knowing what happened. You can leave at midnight, as we originally agreed.”
That makes her gaze snap to mine. “No! If you’ll allow me, I want to make the judgement. Can you hold off on the safe house and the… Permanent solution… Until I’ve made my mind up?”
“Yes.” It’s good she’s thinking about this seriously. And there’s another reason to be happy about her indecision. Every hour she isn’t sure if she wants escape or blood, she remains with me. “You have all the time you need.”
A secret smile lights her eyes, so subtle that anyone who didn’t study her as hard as I do wouldn’t notice it.
“What would you like to do today?” I ask.
“I get a choice?” she scoffs.
“I aim to please my prisoner.” She has no idea how much.
“More lessons on defence.” Her chin tilts up.
“Okay.” I like the idea of protecting her myself, of course. But if defending herself is what she needs, I’ll provide. “You know what your two best securities are?”
