She jolted, unable to hide her shock. Wriggling away like a freshly caught fish, she shot up the bed. Locking her legs together, her arms lashed around her knees as her back slammed against the headboard.

You really shouldn’t have done that, Pim.

I pushed off my elbow, sitting upright. “That wasn’t very smart.” Grabbing her ankle, I squeezed the black-shadowed bones of her foot. “I didn’t say you could move. I won’t hurt you, so don’t fucking run.”

Her jaw clenched, dragging me into deeper fascination with her.

I’d exercised my self-control a lot tonight.

She’d just pushed me to the edge.

Pressing my thumb against the metacarpal leading to her big toe where badly healed bones showed injury, I said, “Just like he broke your hand, he broke your foot.”

She sucked in a breath as my touch lingered on her toes then crept up her ankle to her calf. “Why? Is it to keep you in line? Are you rebellious and deserving of such cruelty? Or is he just a sick fuck who plays with you?”

A rageful spark ignited in her gaze. For once, I couldn’t figure out if she was pissed I’d implied she deserved such punishment or relieved I saw exactly what Alrik was.

“I’ll put your mind at rest. I know it’s not you. It’s him. You don’t deserve a single bruise he’s given you.”

That damn connection spiralled thicker as she stopped breathing. Her eyes tore into mine and whatever enchantment she’d fucking weaved on me grew hotter, tighter, stronger.

It couldn’t be permitted to continue.

I only had one night. I only wanted one night.

I wouldn’t hurt her, but I would steal from her, and then…I’d leave.

Because I was fucking selfish and didn’t have the willpower to fight the addiction quickly building for her.

My thumb stroked her gently as my constant battle for control won over my scattered thoughts. “I have many questions for you, Pimlico. Questions I didn’t really care about until now. However, by trying to dissuade my interest by refusing to obey me, it’s done the opposite.” I grinned. “It’s only made me more determined.”

Bracing myself on my knees, I yanked her lower leg. I wasn’t gentle or kind. She swooped from reclining to spread, and the moment she was on her back, I locked my fingers around her throat again.

The panic I’d witnessed in the stairwell when I’d given her my jacket unravelled. Her breathing picked up, unable to avoid the trigger whenever I touched her neck.

If I was a nicer man, I would remove my hand and touch her elsewhere.

But I’d already established I had my faults.

She would have to live with them.

I waited for her to erupt into an attack—to fight me off—but once again she inhaled and exhaled, taming her snarling pulse, locking everything from view.

Fuck, she’s so much more than I thought. More warrior, more wounded, more woman.

But none of that mattered.

I would still earn my answers.

“Three questions.” Shifting my body to lie back beside her, I whispered, “You get three questions. If you answer them, I’ll let you go. I won’t expect anything more.”

Her gaze widened as my hand slipped from her throat to resume my position on her sternum. “However, if you don’t answer them, then I’ll expect everything. I’ll fuck you, just because I can. I’ll treat you like a slave because that’s all you’ll ever be if you don’t let me into your mind.”

I locked eyes with her. My control snarled, begging to snap. But I had just enough discipline to ignore it. “First question, how long is it since you ate?”

Her face went slack with surprise.

I chuckled low in my chest. “Not something you expected me to ask?”

Come on, shake your head.

Answer me.

The longer she was silent, the more my obsession increased.

I will break you, Pim.

Poking her stark ribcage, I said, “I want to know because I’ll ensure Alrik is starved the same way, once our deal is complete.”

Her muscles tensed, her eyes flying to the ceiling, searching for cameras. I didn’t need to be quiet about what I intended to do. We had a contract. That contract would keep peace until delivery of his yacht.

After that, he would try to kill me—like the fuckwits who bought my services always did. And he would fail—like the fuckwits always did. But at least I would’ve upheld my side of the business and my reputation remained intact.

However, I wouldn’t kill Alrik so fast. I’d pay him back, like for like, let him live Pimlico’s life before ending his.

What would she say if I admitted my plan? Would she rejoice or cower? I had a feeling if she had the power to make her master hurt, she would be the one to do the dirty work. She wouldn’t be satisfied with an outsider extracting tolls she herself had paid.

Our mutual silence filled with thoughts of revenge and the slightest thawing in her gaze welcomed me to ask another question.

She might not know it, but she’d just lost.

She’d let me in.

Stupid, stupid girl.

“How long is it since you’ve been free?”

Whatever openness she’d given me shut down with the clang of a steel gate. Her eyes closed as she swallowed.

“Months or years?”

She didn’t flinch.

Studying her body, counting the breaks and kicks and bruises, I answered for her. “Just like a tree gives up its age when its trunk is revealed, your body answers without words.”