“I wrote my name across your flesh.”
“And you rubbed it off.”
His brows furrow, and frustrated lines carve their way through his face. Regardless of them, he’s still the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. “I was going to lock you in a fireplace.”
“But you didn’t.” I turn my body, ignoring the way twigs and dry leaves stabbed into the soft flesh on my calf. “If I was assigned to another Fortunate, where would I be?”
An expression flashes briefly across Kade’s face—an expression he doesn’t want me to see. A cringe? Pain? Whatever it was, it spoke volumes.
“You’d be hurt,” he mutters, avoiding my eyes. “Someone else would’ve hurt you by now.”
I nod, feeling my compassion for this man doubling—no—tripling in my chest. “Am I hurt? Do bruises and cuts paint my body?”
He shakes his head.
“Am I still a virgin?”
He arches a questioning brow and I roll my eyes at him. The nerve of him.
“The answer is yes, yes I am. I’m trying to make a point here.”
“And what’s your point?”
My fingers twitch against my thigh. I want to touch him, to caress him into trusting me. He’s safe with me, just like I’m safe with him. “I’m saying you’re different. I know you are.”
I’m barely able to flinch backwards before his hands shoots out and grips my jaw. His thick, long fingers squeeze me until I wince, but I don’t let my eyes drop from his. “You’re wrong.”
I shake my head as much as I can in his iron grip. “No. I’m not.”
He’s breathing deeply through his nose, in a desperate attempt to calm himself. A week ago, I’d be terrified, but right now (and as insane as it sounds) I feel like I know Kade. At least, I know he’s not capable of causing me pain… because I’m innocent. I’ve never done anything to hurt him—to hurt anyone—and if he hurts me, I’m almost certain he’d destroy himself from the inside out. It’s called humanity. Some would claim he has a soul, but that’s not enough. Anyone can have a soul, but that doesn’t mean it functions properly. Having a soul doesn’t mean someone isn’t evil. I believe only humanity is pure. You can’t falsify humanity.
I expect him to give me a warning and let me go… what I don’t expect are his lips. I gasp as he eagerly presses them against mine. His hand falls from my face, but catches in my hair and my heart races as he grips the back of my head, urging my lips harder against his. I open my mouth to him and his tongue slips inside. He tastes like strawberry and mint—a flavour that’s surprisingly arousing as it tickles the surface of my tongue. As my mind begins to numb and all my rational thoughts start to blow away with the breeze, I’m harshly tugged back into reality by Kade’s fist as it bunches up my hair.
“You’re wrong,” he growls against my lips. “You don’t know shit about me.”
I hiss as his fist tightens. Our breath clashes in heavy pants; our lips are still moist from the kiss as they barely graze. “If I agree with you out of force will you let go of my hair?”
The very corner of his lips twitch. It’s a twitch I want to slap right off of his face. “Yes.”
“Fine,” I state through gritted teeth. “I’m wrong. You’re an asshole just like the rest of them.”
He smiles, happy with my statement, but he doesn’t let me go. I keep my eyes on his until they disappear into my neck as he leans in. I hold my breath while my skin tingles like a million and one ants are rushing over the surface… not a second later, his warm lips touch my flesh. And damn him, it feels really good. I feel his tongue flick out and taste me, ever so gently, and I shiver, feeling him smile against my skin.
“I know my mouth drives you crazy,” he says, “But don’t let it make you forget who I am and where you are, Unfortunate.”
The word sends anger spearing into my chest and I ball my fists. “Oh goodie, we’re back to that now.”
He laughs, a rare treat for me, and brings his face inches from mine. “You know, you’re very sarcastic for someone who was born into a life like yours. You’d make a good Fortunate.”
I fake my own smile, a smile to rival his. “No thanks, I’ve suffered enough.”
All humour drains from his face. His stare holds me in place and it’s dark and threatening, but it’s not enough to chase the smile from my lips. I like bantering with him and I like pushing him. It pumps blood through my veins, feeding me the adrenaline I feel only when I’m in control. I’ve never thought about it before, but now I know. I want control and I want control of my life, my body, and Kade. I want to control him for no other reason than my own pleasure. He releases his hold on my hair and I slump away from him.