Page 63 of His Dark Hunger

Hewoulddo it.

He’d keep his word, bind her and leave her there… maybe to rot.

“And we both know how much you’d love that, don’t we, little girl?” He straightened, his eyebrow arching. “If I cuffed and gagged you.”

“Fuck you.” She was crying again, desperation meeting the waves of fury exploding through her system. How could she have been stupid enough to fall for his bullshit? How could she have believed thatanythinglike that was really love? “You can’t do this!”

“Oh dear.” He shook his head. “I’d hoped for so much better, Amy, but really… you’ve left me no choice.”

Time suspended into strange pockets, her terror heightening with every protracted second.

“We have got to work on that pretty mouth.” He was standing just out of her reach, but if she leapt from the bed, perhaps she could take a swipe at him. It would be with her left hand, though, which wasn’t strong, and even if, by some miracle, she was able to strike him—what then? She couldn’t free herself without the key to the handcuffs, and she didn’t even know where he kept it. Her gaze scanned the bedside unit but couldn’t see any evidence of the key.

“Okay.” His voice continued. “You have one last opportunity to impress me, little girl. Stay quiet and be good while I grab us some refreshments.” He inhaled. “You’ll be dining in here for the time being.”

“I don’t want this.” Her eyes flitted briefly closed.

“Ifyou can behave, then I won’t use the gag when I leave you next time.” Ignoring her plea, he paused, letting the so-called deal hang in the air between them. “Think you can do that, beautiful?”

She frowned, trying to get a hold of her spiraling thoughts. What difference did it make what she said? He’d do whatever he wanted, anyway. Frustrated emotion caught in her throat, making it hard to breathe.

“Yes, sir.”

She had no intention of being good, but she would promise to be quiet if he left, and it allowed her a moment to think.

“Good.” He sighed, reaching into his pocket for the key to the door. “Behave and be quiet. I’ll be back soon.”

Clasping the key, he turned to slide it into the lock and swung the door open, but before he passed the threshold into the hallway, he glanced back in her direction.

“One noise, Amy.” His gaze speared her. “If I hear anything from you, you won’t know what has hit you.”

Right. I’ve got the message.

Striding out of sight, the door slammed closed behind him, leaving Amy to the desolation of her thoughts. She was trapped—his prisoner—but as her jaw tightened, she was not beaten.

Kyle was in charge, but his luck wouldn’t last forever. Restrained but not defeated, she had already resolved that the tears drying in her eyes would be the last she spilled for him.

She’d been a fool to believe the yarn he’d spun her all that time. Clearly, he didn’t love her. Love didn’t push, shove, and bind. It was generous, open, and caring. His lies and hustle had taken her by surprise.

He had her cuffed to the bed, but it would take more than Kyle’s cunning to keep her.

The End