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Nothing can get in or out.

Besides me. I made a crack in his walls before. I’ll do it again.

“Bold is auctioning unwilling women.” He opens his mouth, ready for a rebuttal. I beat him to it. “Except it isn’t bold when it comes to you, is it? I saw the police chief there. You know him, and he’s okay with your little gang.”

“Not a gang.” He’s bent over to look me in the eye.

He’s so strong. So imposing.

I bet, beneath this designer suit, he’s all muscle. All power. It’s bad to think about it. To crave it. I’m as good as gone if I don’t get that picture out of my head.

“Whatever,” I keep talking back. That’s the only thing that’ll save me from my inconvenient need for him. From fearing him. “Anyway, I wonder what Topher will say when he finds out you were the one who bought me. That you fucked him over.”

“Stop. Talking. About. Him.” Everything he says is calculated. Delivered slowly. Meant to scare me further. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s meant for him. A way for him to stay ahead of the game.

One thing’s for sure. I’ve struck a nerve.

“Who?” I’ve been touched, groped, and motherfucking auctioned today. I’m here with my…owner. I’m attracted to him, for fuck’s sake. So yeah, I grow even bolder. Anything to stop this madness inside my head. I push myself higher until our noses nearly touch. “My ex-boyfriend?”

“This game you’re playing won’t end well for you. You’re way out of your depth here.” Fire within him. Ice coating the outside. “You said you were hungry.”

I wasn’t lying about that. I haven’t had anything to eat since our dinner last night. And no, the toothpaste I swallowed after I was waxed and pampered doesn’t count.

But my weaknesses aren’t his to exploit. “I’m not. I only said it to spite you.”

“You’ll need to eat at some point,” James muses, seemingly nonplussed.

He can tell I’m lying. The games have officially begun, I guess.

“Who will you come to for food then? Tell me.”

“To you, asshole.” I pinch my lips, stopping myself from spitting on him. From getting this sick fuck off. “To the asshole who’ll feed me.”

“Cute.” He shakes my head. I bite back a groan. “Try again.”

I’ve poked him enough. His temper is rising faster than before.

He might kill me for it.

I hate this cell. I don’t want to die here.

Damn it. Two words. I can say two words, and it won’t mean a thing. As long as I get to fight another day.

“My owner.”

“Louder.” Despite being bent over me, I still have a view of the bulge in his pants. His thick cock jerks. I do not wish to touch it. Ever. I don’t. “Louder, Sonnet.”

“My owner.” Keeping my eyes on his as I growl the words is my only way to preserve my dignity. “My motherfucking owner.”

“That’s better.” James moves my head to the side. His lips burn a trail across my jaw. My cheek. It’s hotter than before. More sinful. He stops at my ear. I can hardly hold back my gasp. “I’m going to get my money’s worth right now. Beg me to feed you.”

“I’m not hungry.” My breath hitches. “I won’t beg.”

As soon as I say that, he releases me. Stands up to his full height. Fuck, he’s so tall. So intimidating.

After he takes six measured steps toward the cell door, he turns around, glaring at me. This force of nature exerts his power over every inch of the small space.

“You’re right. Begging isn’t what I’m after. Maybe later it will be.” He adjusts himself in his pants without looking away. Like him being hard is a minor inconvenience. My need for him, though, isn’t an inconvenience. It’s ruining my life. “I recall bringing an end to a particular scene at the auction.”