Page 130 of Once Upon a Fable

“What the—” He spun on his heels, raising his arm as he did, tipping me off balance.

I swung with him, determined not to let him go.

Our eyes locked.

Fire to fire.

Our hearts kicked.

Soul to soul.

Betrayal blackened his face as he noticed the rope that once bound menow prepared to bind him.

His mouth opened to speak again. His gaze burning into me, making me char with guilt, making me feel things he had no right to make me feel.

Don’t you dare stop, Gem!

Crashing into him again, I reached for his other arm.

I tripped as he stumbled backward, moving toward the drop off, backing away from me as if he forgot he could overpower me in a second. Undiluted fear shone in his stare before being drowned out by fierce cruelty.

“Think you can switch roles with me?” he snarled, his arm still too high for me to grab. “You’ll pay for this.” His chest pressed against mine. His thigh wedged between my legs as I jumped like a five-year-old trying to get candy from his fingers.

This was ridiculous.

My plan was crumbling before it’d even begun.

His other hand, with the rope dangling uselessly around his wrist, latched around my bicep, digging his nails into my skin. “Christ, I’m going to have fun reminding you of your place.” His cock hardened, tenting his slacks. Long hair danced around his wild face.

And that cursed electricity hissed into being, pebbling my nipples, making my body crave his.

No!

Gritting my teeth, I tried one last time.

Striking his hand off me, I gave it everything I had.

“I’m not going back down there!” Leaping upward, I managed to grab his forearm, clinging with all my strength, desperate to drag his arm down so I could wrap them tight together.

The only problem was.

He was too strong.

Too tall.

Too much.

It was demoralizing.

So, I let go.

He grinned, thinking he’d won. “Youaregoing back down there. Or are you forgetting you’re mine now?”

Try again.

My thighs bunched, ready to jump and tackle for a third time. “I’m mine. Not yours.”

“Oh, don’t worry.” He smirked. “We’ll have plenty of time to discuss who owns who when we get home.”