But the silence was getting to her, and when she thought she couldn’t take it another second longer, she finally opened her lips, ran her tongue slowly along their swollen edges, and then took a deep breath before she spoke.
“That didn’t prove anything” was what came out, but not nearly as strongly as she’d intended.
Blake threw her a hint of a smile and leaned a little closer. When he finally replied, his mouth was back to within inches of hers.
“I think it proved exactly what it was supposed to, Jewell.”
“And what is that, Blake? That you have power over me, that no matter what I do or say, you’ll still get exactly what you want? Well, if that’s what you’re trying to prove, congratulations, you did it. Yes, you can force me to do what you want. You’re bigger, stronger, and far more manipulative than I am. And anyway, this is what you paid for, right?” She hoped she’d infused her voice with as much disdain as she possibly could.
“You’ve developed some bite in the time we’ve been apart,” he said, his voice smooth and sounding almost…impressed.
She wasn’t sure she liked that. She was trying to sound fierce, intimidating, frightening. She wasn’t supposed to be turning him on more than he already was.
“Yes, I have. In the months since you so carelessly discarded me, I’ve developed a bit of a spine. You’ll find that I’m not the same submissive little girl you abused to your heart’s desire. So, you see, you’ve wasted your money, Blake Knight, because I won’t be what you want.”
“Oh, Jewell, I know exactly what I want,” he said, running his hand through her hair again. “And it most certainly is you. Besides, wasn’t I promised anything I want for the next thirty days?”
A shudder ran through her. She needed the money this month would bring in, and they both knew it. But she hadn’t counted on how much she loathed the idea of being some man’s toy, any man’s toy. But Blake’s especially, because she knew she wouldn’t be able to keep her emotions out of it.
“You did buy me, so, yes, I guess you get to do whatever you want. But I won’t enjoy it; nor will I try to make it better for you. Be warned.”
“That’s where we’ll agree to disagree,” he whispered. “I know for a fact that not only will you enjoy it, but you’ll beg me for more. And more. And more.” With those last six words, he brushed his lips against hers. “And I’ll definitely give it to you.”
What he said made liquid heat course through her veins. Yes, he’d given her pleasure, pleasure beyond anything she could ever imagine existed. But he’d also given her so much pain. And the pain was what she was afraid of. She’d suffered enough emotional trauma to last her a lifetime.
He could so easily destroy her — she had no doubt of that. But he owned her, and there was nothing she could do about it. Why fight it? Why even try?
“You know I’ll hate you forever, Mr. Knight.” Knight! No shining armor here.
Only a tiny spark igniting in his eyes showed her that her words registered. When his lips parted, she waited for the backlash. She didn’t get it.
“I don’t require any emotion from you except for passion,” he said almost dismissively.
The words stung more than she’d ever admit.
“Then we’re on the same page,” she told him, “because you won’t get anything other than my body.” How desperately she wished that he would give her just a bit of breathing room.
“Ah, Jewell, the fire in you is what made me come back, what made me have to see this through to the end.”
“How long will it be until the end? Will I really be free of you after thirty days?”
She waited as he stared her down in silence, showing nothing in his ice-cold eyes. She wouldn’t break the silence, though. This was up to him.
“No, Jewell. We won’t be done until I’m finished with you.”
Chapter Six
The excruciating emotions coursing through Jewell’s fragile frame continued their chaotic dance in her veins as Blake finally stepped back. Then, almost on a dime, Blake broke into a smile. “Follow me, Jewell. I’m going to the kitchen.”
Without waiting to see if she would obey or not, he pivoted on his heel and walked from the room, leaving her to sag against the wall as she prayed her knees wouldn’t give out on her. Less than thirty minutes in Blake’s presence and she was already a worse mess than she had been before she’d discovered that she’d been sold to him and not to some sadistic stranger. Perhaps part of it was because Blake was clearly sadistic in some ways.
She kept her distance, though, but not because she was afraid that he’d hurt her physically. Maybe it was because she knew what would happen if she ended up in his arms again — she wouldn’t be able to deny to herself how very much she was attracted to this despicable man, and that mortified her. She should be heading for the hills and screaming all the way. But she was still here.
When she finally stepped into the kitchen, he was making a pot of coffee, which seemed to irritate her more than anything else he’d done in the last half hour. Why? She had no idea. Maybe it was because he felt he could do whatever he chose whenever he chose to do it. And he did have that right, at least with her.
Power. Blake Knight had that in spades. Some people were born with it, and some were destined to wield it.
Though the apartment was light, airy even, to have Blake standing in her new roomy kitchen made the place seem to shrink, seem to instantly grow dark. This was his domain and she was his paid mistress, and she felt it in every bone — no, in every cell — of her body.
When the coffee was ready, Blake poured them each a cup and, without a word, led Jewell back to the sitting area where they’d been before. He made himself comfortable, and she bet he was enjoying watching how uncomfortable she was. She’d felt like a puppet as she obediently followed him from room to room and waited to see what was coming next.
With her legs trembling badly, she decided it best if she just sat down on the nearest couch and focused on her coffee. No matter how long he dragged this out, she’d find out his next move fairly soon. And why worry about anything? In this game, he was fated to be the only winner.
“You seem very ungrateful, Jewell.”
“Do you honestly think I’m about to thank you for buying me?” To her complete shock, she realized that she’d been screeching at him. What sort of a human being was she becoming? Did she even deserve to get her little brother back if she had so little control over herself?