Page 51 of Gilded Locks

She flinched when his gentle lips pressed to hers. “Very good, Marigold. I think you’ve proven yourself.”

She nearly shattered under his tender praise.

He took so possessively, so completely, his control was inescapable. All of his playfulness vanished in the face of the rough and demanding animal that hid beneath his surface. There was something dark inside of him, something that wanted to degrade and mark her.

“Do you hate me?” She despised the neediness in her voice, but she needed to know.

“I hate your brother.”

That didn’t answer her question, but she supposed that was as close to the truth she would get. “So do I.”

He sighed. “I believe you.”

Tears welled in her eyes as relief washed over her. “You do?”

He nodded.

He might have an urge to punish her. But there was something else there. Something she realized at the peak of her fear when he guided her. They would also protect her.

Stone could have broken her skin. He could have left permanent scars. He could have really hit her and broken bones. But he didn’t.

He took. He used. But he also gave. He showed her things about herself she could have never discovered on her own. And she responded with equal desperation, proving her loyalty through the surrender he commanded.

“I didn’t say stop.”

“No, you didn’t.” He pulled her close, mindful of the plug still penetrating her ass. “You were brave.” His lips pressed to her temple. “And loyal.” He kissed her shoulder. “This is where our brand will go.” He kissed her shoulder again. “Just like ours.”

“Yours?”

He rolled off the mattress and sauntered back to where he’d left his pants. “I saw you looking at it.” He flashed his shoulder so she could openly see the brand of a bear. “Did you want to feel it?”

She sat up on shaky limbs. “You want to burn me?”

He looked down at her and frowned. “This mark is a great honor.”

“That mark is a brand. I’m not a piece of livestock.”

“But you are our property.”

“You can’t brand me!”

“We can if we choose.”

Disgusted, she crawled away from him and winced when she accidentally fell on her ass.

“Careful.” He reached for her leg.

“Don’t touch me!”

He paused and scowled. Then he ignored her order and dragged her close, flipping her onto her belly. “I’d planned to be gentle, but not with that attitude.” He pulled the plug out and she gasped, cool air hitting her overheated flesh in a shock that made her whole body clench.

Rolling away from him, she wrapped her arms around her waist protectively and pulled her knees to her chest.

“Are you hurt?”

Her body was surprisingly fine after all she’d been through. Sore and exhausted, but not hurt. Her feelings, however… That was a different story.

“I asked you a question.”