Page 20 of On Edge

“What?”

“Y-You already agreed with my father. I’m one of the conditions of the sale.”

My mouth twitches. I want to laugh, but that would make this seem like a joke, and it’s not. The conniving bitch has been in my office.

“Whatever game you’re playing,Sage,” I say, voice low, for her own good. “I’d be cautious if I were you, that you know exactly what the rules are.”

“You keep saying that. I’m not playing a game. My father…he told me you wanted this marriage. That you even asked for it. The condition was your idea.” She sounds so innocent when she speaks. I can see why men are drawn to her.

Why I am.

I shoot her a look sharp enough to cut. “And now, you know different, and yet you’re still here?”

She opens her mouth and then hesitates, her eyes glassy, face bright red. Clearly, she doesn’t know what to say to that. I’ve just caught her out in one of her lies, and she’s at a loss as to what to say next.

I get as far as the door when she finds her voice again.“Please, I can’t leave.”

Oh, yes, you can.I calmly turn around and walk back the way I came, only this time, I move toward her and cage her in, one arm braced on either side of the chair.

This time, she does flinch.

She reminds me of those songbirds my mother kept in the cabin, caged, fluttering against the bars, too stupid even to try to escape. The cat would slink in, sending them into a frenzy. But they wouldn’t stop singing.

Why do I feel like the damn cat?

“What did you say?”

“I-I can’t leave.” Her voice is barely a whisper.

Brave. Little. Thing.

She straightens up, as though steeling herself, but keeps nibbling her lip. Honestly, it’s like she’s pretending she’s not absolutely terrified of me, and it’s amusing as hell.

Cocking my head, I glare down at her. “Do you know what they say about me,Sage?”

Her big brown eyes stay locked on mine. “Yes.”

“Then you know what I’m capable of?”

She wets her lips and gives another nod. I can practically feel her body shaking, and a thrill shoots straight to my cock.

“Then you know that if you stay here, you’re mine to do with what I like.”

“You”—she drags in a breath—“don’t scare me.”

“I find that hard to believe. You’re trembling.”

“I’m not.” Her brow furrows, and she rolls back her shoulders, trying to stop herself. It’s almost adorable, if it weren’t for the fact that her family ruined mine, and she’s not as innocent as she looks.

“Really?” I reach up and brush the back of my fingers down her cheek. She sucks in a breath as I do. “You’re really not scared?”

“No,” she whispers.

“You don’t care if you marry a monster?”

“No.”

“You don’t mind if I ruin you in ways no sane man would?”