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Ishouldn’t have been surprised when James made his presence known.

While I was dragged down here, I recognized the faint hint of Clara’s perfume.

The walk down the stairs wasn’t as violent as it had been when James had dragged me down here. Didn’t stop me from recognizing the familiar walk to my cell.

She didn’t order me to keep the bag over my head. That was the guy who placed the bids on me. I will never forget his voice.

But I suspected I was in James’s house.

I was right.

I’m here. James is here.

I had no idea that I’d be sticking around. I thought we were making a short stop here before I was delivered to my bastard owner.

Anxiety soaks my pores, stomping on my survival instincts. On my will to fight, to get out of here. Lust joins it, the fucker.

James is as hot as he is awful.

He’s hard in his pants. He said the wordplayinglike he’d saysuck me.

I get so wet from that. Painfully, shamefully wet.

He can’t keep evoking these emotions in me. I won’t let him win. Ever. “You can’t do this to me. I’m not some animal you put in a cage.”

“Tell me, Ophelia.” His fingers massage my scalp. Soothing me. Lies. It’s all lies. My hair is still in his grip. In his tattooed hand that’s now identical to Topher’s. He can tug harder anytime he wants. He probably will. “What does ownership mean?”

My heart flutters. Skitters and stops. If I answer, he’ll hear my desire for him. It’ll be really loud too. The tingle between my legs is torture. The need for him locks my throat. My swollen breasts ache for him.

“Use your words.” He dips his chin. “Deny me, and you’ll be punished.”

Violence bleeds from his eyes. And lust. He’s fucked, just like me.

I don’t know why he’d pay an obscene amount of money for me. Sure, he’ll get some of it back. All of it goes to his cult’s bank account. He won’t get three-quarters of it back, though.

He’s lost so much money. For me.

Could he really want me that badly?

Maybe.

I have no idea what that says about either of us.

I have no idea if I’ll ever get out of here. If I’ll live long enough to survive his games.

No, I do know. I won’t die here. I won’t. I refuse to.

Is it really up to me, though?

Doubt gnaws at my sanity. I can’t be sure of anything. I might actually die here. He’s strong enough to end me.

He might end me here and now if I don’t do as he says.

“I’m hungry.” Raising my chin when my hair is in his fist is a challenge. It hurts. “How’s that for words?”

“Bold. That’s what it fucking is.” His self-control wavers. His voice rises. His lips twitch.

In an instant, he’s back to his old self.