Page 34 of Tainted Obsession 1

But I’m strong enough for both of us, and she doesn’t have to bear that kind of burden now that she’s with me.

She blinks again and swallows hard, edging away from me. “Let me go.”

I don’t budge an inch. It takes no effort at all to keep her pinned to my side, trapped in my arms.

“I’ve got you,” I soothe, trailing my fingers through her silken hair.

She calmed when I petted her like this last night, but it doesn’t seem as effective now.

She squirms.

“Please.” Her plea comes out on a ragged whisper.

I can’t bear the prospect that she might fear me, so I reluctantly release her. Maybe she needs a little space to sort through her surging emotions.

She scoots away from me, clambering off the bed to put distance between us. Her eyes are wide on me, her gaze flicking over my bare chest before snapping back up to my face. She licks her lips and takes a step back, putting more space between us.

Her pupils are dilated—with fear or desire?

I want to believe that she’s aroused by the sight of my body, but she’s undeniably shaken by everything she’s been through in the last twenty-four hours.

I sigh and nod in the direction of the ensuite. “Everything you need is in the bathroom. Let me know if you want anything different from what I ordered.”

Her toiletries, makeup, and clothes were quietly delivered a few hours ago. Duarte has an efficient team on staff, and they didn’t ask any questions when I messaged them to request everything that Evelyn might need. I’ll make her comfortable here with me, and she’ll have no reason to want to leave.

“Go on,” I prompt when she doesn’t immediately move to obey me.

We’ll have to work on that. I’m accustomed to having my orders followed without question or hesitation. If it weren’t for her traumatic circumstances, her delayed compliance would irritate me.

As it is, I have more patience for her. She’s been through a lot, and she needs a little time to process her new reality. Once she accepts that she’s safest with me, she’ll be much happier and more amenable. I’ll care for her and give her everything she could possibly desire, and she will be eager to please me in return.

“Breakfast will be here soon,” I tell her when she continues to linger. “You have fifteen minutes.”

“And what will you do if I don’t comply? Drug me again?”

I grimace and cross my arms over my chest. “You needed rest.”

She lifts her brows. “And you had to tie me up for that?”

Her chin tilts in that same defiant posture I glimpsed last night. It should irk me, but I’m consumed by the nearly overwhelming urge to take her in my arms and kiss all the defiance from her fragile frame.

But I won’t scare her again. I never want her to look at me with terror in her lovely eyes.

I can be careful in my seduction. She’ll welcome my kiss soon enough.

“I tied you up to prevent you from doing something foolish,” I explain. “If you’d tried to leave as soon as my back was turned,Duarte’s men would’ve stopped you from leaving this building. They wouldn’t hurt you, but I decided you didn’t need to go through that when you’d already had a difficult night.”

She scoffs. “What if I don’t want you to decide what’s best for me? I understand that you think you’re protecting me, but I want to go back to America.”

“That’s not an option.” My firm tone is a warning; I won’t accept further defiance when it comes to her safety. “I won’t put you at risk when Crawford will come after you as soon as you leave my side.”

She wilts at the reminder of his betrayal, her shoulders dropping. Her teeth sink into her pillowy lower lip, holding in words she’s not ready to say.

“We can talk more over breakfast.” I’m gentler with her this time, gesturing in the direction of the ensuite. “Go on.”

She shivers, and her eyes drop to the floor, as though she’s forcibly breaking from the power of my steady stare. She keeps her eyes averted from mine as she walks the short distance to the bathroom.

I take a breath and struggle to master my desire to hold her. I ache to touch her, to make her melt in my hands.