Page 88 of Venomous Desires

“Do I need a reason to fuck you?”

“And if I don’t?”

“Then you’ll learn that you don’t get to choose,” he murmured, his gaze dropping to my lips, which were still swollen and red from his kiss. “You don’t get to negotiate with me. You don’t get to ask for reasons. You’ll learn to obey, to submit,” he growled. “Or this can go wrong in so many other ways.”

As if he everything wasn’t wrong already.

I could feel myself slipping into unconsciousness, my vision darkening at the edges.

Then, just as quickly, his grip loosened, and I collapsed to the floor, coughing and gasping for air. He crouched beside me, his eyes shifting from viciousness to a twisted form of mischievousness. “Don’t faint on me,” he chided, patting my cheek lightly. “I need you conscious.”

My hands found my neck as I rubbed it harshly, trying to ease away the stinging pain. How could he be so emotionlessand not realize the agony he was inflicting on me? His ways surprised me, leaving me wondering how a man could be such a borderline psychopath.

His smirk deepened as he raised a finger, and with a casual flick, tugged at my sweater, exposing my chest. I recoiled instinctively with a surge of fear and humiliation that smashed my senses. My breath hitched, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. “Name your price then. Whatever you want, I’ll lay it on your feet.”

“I am not a woman to be bought and sold,” I stated firmly, my hands trembling as I clutched my sweater tightly.

“I know that,” he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of frustration. “I have purchased only your eyes.”

“Then why are you doing this to me?” I questioned, her voice tinged with desperation.

With a sudden coldness, he leaned in close, his breath hot against my skin. “I wish I could understand it myself. Your cries please me, Ptichka, and your pleas, they fucking turn me on. Whenever you are near, I feel a burning desire that I cannot quench.”

His words sent shivers down my spine, and I closed my eyes, feeling utterly hopeless.

He straightened up, spreading his arms wide as if presenting an offer. “I’ll forgive you for disobedience. We both know I can pin you down and take you.”

“You are threatening to rape me?”

“Never used that word,” The playful glint never left his eyes. “You’ve been reading too many novels.”

He reached out, his large hand cupping the back of my neck, his thumb stroking the sensitive skin just behind my ear in a gesture that was deceptively tender.

“I am not threatening you,” he corrected. “I amremindingyou. There is a difference between a man whoforces a woman who hates him, and a man who claims a woman who is too terrified to admit shebelongsto him.”

Hr lowered himself, crouching before her so that we were eye to eye.

“Let’s make a pact, little bird,” he whispered. “Submit to me. Give yourself to me completely, let go of all that pride and resistance, and I will treat you like the goddess you are. I will spend every night worshipping every inch of you, making sure you never know a moment of want again. You’ll be the most cherished thing in my world.”

He paused, his gaze dropping to my trembling lips before snapping back to my eyes, his expression darkening with a possessive, hungry intensity.

“But if you keep fighting me...” He leaned in closer. “Then I’ll have to be much more...persistent. And we both know that once I decide to claim you, there isn’t a force on earth that can stop me. I’ll make sure you suffer.”

He reached for me. His thumb gliding over my bottom lip.

“Don’t make this a struggle, sweetheart,” he pulled down my lip. “Stop fighting the inevitable. You can feel it, can’t you? The way your heart races when I’m near? The way your skin aches for my touch? Don’t lie to yourself. Give in to your desires.”

I could laugh.

Shaking my head, I tried to clear the fog of confusion. “Do you hear yourself?” I whispered. “You sound delusional.”

“Practical.”

“A fucking creep.”

He sighed. “You’re just scared,” he said softly. “It’s okay to be scared. But I will never hurt you,Ptichka.”

I looked into his eyes, resembling the icy blue of a winter sky. Hurt? He threatened to ruin me, sliced my throat, dragged me, and he said he’d not hurt me?