Page 74 of Blood and Thorns

“That’s different,” I snapped. “I’ve never had tohurtanyone.”

He tilted his head, eyes dark with something unreadable. “You don’t know that for sure.” His thumb pressed harder against my mouth, relentless, always pushing. “I know how far you’ll go. How much you’d risk for a man who doesn’t deserve it. Did you know your dad offered you to me before you’d even agreed? How he begged, crying on his knees in my office to take you as payment instead?”

His words hit like ice water, and my lungs seized, the sudden tightness strangling the breath from me. “I don’t believe you.” My dad wasn’t a good father, but he’d never do that. He needed me as much as I needed him. We only had each other. “Stop it.”

My hand flew to Sebastian’s chest, shoving weakly against him, trying to create distance. But he didn’t move.

“He expected me to fuck you,” he went on, his voice colder now. “Then kill you.”

A tremor ran through me, but he wasn’t finished.

“And still, he handed you over like you were nothing. So tell me,” he whispered, eyes searching mine, “are you blindly stubborn? Or juststupid?”

My palm cracked across his cheek, the sound sharp and brutal in the stillness between us. The sting bloomed across my skin, and I gasped at what I’d done.

I braced for retaliation, for him to hit me back or gripmy wrist in a bruising hold. To punish me. Instead, his eyes brightened with amusement. Like hewantedme to fight. Like my resistance only fed whatever dark creature that lived inside him.

He smiled, his lips curling slowly, dangerously. “If it was between his life or yours… where would you aim the gun now?”

I stared at him, my breath shallow. “I could never kill anyone, and I sure as hell wouldn’t enjoy it the way you do.”

“That’s what makes us different,” he said, voice softer than before. “You still think morality is a line, when it’s not.”

“You speak like a monster.”

“Hmm.” His head cocked to the side, his hair tied up to leave only dark wisps to frame his face. “If you believed that, I’d stuff my cock down your throat right now and ignore you if you tell me no.” My lips opened to protest, and he smirked. “But you wouldn’t tell me no, would youbelle?”

This was where I was messed up, because he was right. The more he made me feel helpless, out of control, the more I ached between my legs.

“There’s a reason you’re here, Arabella. There’s a darkness inside that matches mine.”

“I’m nothing like you.”

“We’ll see.” He pressed closer, and I felt his erection dig into my stomach. It was heavy and hard, and I waited for him to demand me to my knees. To fuck me despite the animosity burning between us. “Read to me.”

“You… want me to read to you?” I asked, brows knitting in confusion.

He didn’t answer, just stood there watching me with that unreadable expression he wore too well. I glanced toward the books I’d carefully arranged on the dresser, all except the one I’d left behind in the studio.

I gestured toward them, trying to mask the unease threading my voice. “Which one?”

“Don’t care.” He didn’t even look at them, his eyes trained on me. “The one you were reading last time.”

“That’sTale As Old As Time.”

He finally glanced at the books, but a nerve feathered along his jaw.

“I’ll get it.” I waited for him to drop his hand, and when he did, I grabbed the right book and turned to him expectantly.

Following him to the studio, I was thankful Chip was gone as I took a seat. Sebastian began to strip, the clink of his rings hitting the dish by the window. Followed by the clang of his cufflinks. There was silence, nothing but the sound of his buttons, and then fabric brushing against skin as he removed his shirt to reveal his wide chest. He stayed in his trousers, turning to pick up a fresh canvas and paints.

Vincit qui se vincit,was beautifully written across his upper back, perfectly blended with the thorns and roses. Sebastian looked over his shoulder when I didn’t start, his eyes clashing with mine.

“What does the tattoo mean?” I asked, not that I expected he would answer, especially when his jaw clenched at the question. “It’s Latin, right?”

“‘He conquers who conquers himself.’”

Okay.I still wasn’t entirely sure what that meant. “So you’re your worst enemy?”