Page 67 of Blood and Thorns

“You’re literally selling a product that destroys people’s lives.”

“People tend to destroy their own lives without my assistance,” I said, my tone a deep growl that caused goosebumps to pebble along her arms. She reacted so viscerally to my presence. I couldn’t help but wonder if she hated the reaction as much as I enjoyed it. “If someone wants to escape their dull lives, who am I to stop them?”

She twisted to glare at me over her shoulder. “You’re creating addicts.”

I scoffed. “They were already addicts. I’m just providing a more sustainable powder to those already wanting it.”

“Is that what you tell yourself?”

I automatically grabbed her throat, my fingers squeezing in warning. “Careful,belle.”

“An addict is an addict,” she argued, ignoring my grip. “You’re supposed to help them resist, not give it to them on a silver platter.”

“Just like you helped your father?”

She tried to wrench herself to the side, but I simply tightened my fingers.

“Fuck you. Don’t ever speak to me about my father.” She swallowed against my palm, and I released her because I didn’t trust myself to not keep squeezing. “You have no idea what I’ve had to do to help him.”

“I’m sure he’s thankful that he’s still alive, and you’re here with me.” My words were cold, hammering down the point. “Your dependency on a man who sold you is concerning.”

“He didn’t sell me. I agreed to this arrangement,” shehissed, but she’d lost some of her conviction, as if she was slowly realising I wasn’t the only monster in her life. “Fuck you, Sebastian. You don’t get to lecture me about something you know nothing about.”

I laughed, the sound alien even to me. I would’ve killed anyone else for speaking to me in such a way, but with her I found I enjoyed her resilience. She had no idea the edge on which she walked, risking being thrown into the abyss as soon as she pushed too far.

The car stopped at a red light, the vibration rumbling the leather beneath us.

“Ask,” I growled, feeling her agitation on my lap. Her head kept turning towards me, lips opening before she lost her confidence and closed them again.

“Did you have to kill Smithy? Couldn’t he just be let go with a warning?”

“I didn’t kill him.”

“But you didn’t stop it.” There was another moment of silence, and I concentrated on every single one of her breaths. “Do you think he deserved it?”

“Yes,” I said without hesitation, her skin soft when I stroked up her legs.

Her breath hitched as my thumb brushed higher. “You don’t get to play god with people’s lives.”

“I don’t need to. I already own yours.”

I pulled her so her back pressed tighter against my chest before spreading her legs over my thighs. Her dress strained at the position, so I pulled it up to reveal black lace.

“You disobeyed an order again.”

My fingers brushed the edges of her underwear, and a groan caught in her throat. “I–”

I slapped her inner thigh, her words strangled as she writhed on top of me. “See, your mouth’s going to get you into trouble.”

Tugging at the lace until it ripped, I tossed the ruined fabric beside my mask.

“Sebastian…” Arabella breathed, her head pressing back against my shoulder when I brushed my fingers through her centre.

“You seem pretty wet for a monster.” My thumb circled her clit, teasing without touching. “Tell me, how’s that reluctance going?”

Arabella gasped. “Fuck you!”

I smirked into her hair. “Sounds like an invitation.” Two fingers dipped inside, her pussy clenching around me when I finally brushed across her bundle of nerves. She wriggled on my lap, rubbing against my growing erection.