Page 42 of Stolen

Unsurprisingly, she shrugged off my concern. “Just a little bit of nausea. I’m sure I’ll be fine in the morning.”

I almost smirked. I expected her to dismiss my concern, but in a much more combative way. I figured she was probably just in shock from what she witnessed the other night, an understandable reaction, but if a sour stomach was all that came from it, it made me wonder what else she could learn to endure.

“Well, I certainly hope so. You wouldn’t want to continue attracting my attention as much as you already have.”

I watched her hold her breath for several long seconds, her chest completely motionless until she finally exhaled those little fears of hers.

“You’re right about that, though we both know you don’t need a reason.”

I smirked at her. “But it certainly doesn’t help when you keep giving me one.”

“I guess I’ll have to do better at preventing that then.”

“I honestly wish you the best of luck.” I doubted either one of us could be so lucky for her to suddenly become invisible to me. If only it were that easy.

When the silence continued to dwindle, her body started to shift, clearly growing uncomfortable at my lingering presence. I didn’t exactly blame her. The fact that I was visiting her in this fashion should honestly terrify the fuck out of her.

“Is there nothing else then?” she asked as innocently as possible. I almost snorted at her attempt to dismiss me. As if anything she said could possibly derail me or my agenda.

“Actually, you know what, there is something else. Something that’s been on my mind nearly all day, and I just can’t seem to figure it out. Maybe you can help me.”

Now she just looked annoyed as her shoulders slumped slightly, her eyes narrowing just enough to reveal a tiny spark behind that subtle glare.

“I’m all ears,” she finally said.

Kicking off the wall, I wrapped my hands around the top bars of her cage as my body leaned over it. I sneered as her small frame jolted in defense, pressing herself against the back wall of her cage. An adorable attempt to put as much distance between us as she could.

“You never screamed. Not even once,” I said, my gaze keeping her completely still. “After everything you saw last night, I expected something much more…dramatic.”

Her eyes narrowed at me then, challenging me with slight regard for that special little encounter. Her defiance was beyond sexy, and I hated how every passing second made it harder and harder to resist that dark compulsion to fuck her into submission all over again.

“Shock can do that to a person,” she answered, her eyes remaining locked with mine. Still breaking all the rules.

Did she even have any clue how brave she was being right now? I’d known lesser men who’d pissed their pants before locking eyes with me the way she was now. This daring little rebel was becoming more fascinating by the second.

“Maybe it’s shock. Or maybe it’s something else,” I offered.

Her brows narrowed in confusion. “What are you implying?”

“That there’s more to you than either of us may realize.”

She was silent then, likely unwilling to stretch the conversation into the depth we were heading. I couldn’t blame her for that. I imagined I was the last person she wanted to have a meaningful conversation with.

“Whatever that may be, this is the last place I’d want to have to discover it,” she finally said.

“Why not? Traumatic events can reveal the most honest part of ourselves.”

She looked away then, breaking the contact I was oddly enjoying, and resigned into herself.

“Because based on my understanding, where I’m headed, I don’t really see the point.”

I was surprised to actually find myself disappointed. Here I was enjoying our little intellectual sparring match that she clearly was game for up until the point she reminded me that none of this was meant to be in the first place. She was a product now, an object for monetary gain, and she wanted to argue like one. And she was right to do so.

Still, I was shocked at myself for recognizing what a shame it was to let such a captivating mind and personality go to such waste.

She continued to watch me with that bold look in her eyes, waiting for my response to her admission, and I decided to give her exactly what she needed.

“Now, there’s the good girl I knew was in there somewhere,” I drawled.

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