Page 45 of Trapped

I leaned back into his body. “Maybe I like keeping things mysterious.”

“Is that what we’re calling secrets?”

I turned within his embrace, facing him. “It keeps it exciting between us.”

He studied my face for a moment, his touch lingering as he traced the diamond drop earrings. “Not when it feels like you’re slipping through my fingers.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

He snorted. “You freaked out when I gave you keys.”

Could he tell how much he messed me up inside? When he used that possessive tone, a spark lit up all the crazy feelings I tried so hard to hide. How much longer could I pretend I only cared about money when every second with him pulled me deeper into something that terrified me?

I looked away. “I’m still escaping my ex. I’m not trading one master for another.”

“Master, huh? Does that make you my slave?”

I slapped his chest. “Stop it.”

“Hey, I’m just trying to understand the rules. Last I checked, slaves didn’t negotiate terms.”

“Don’t mock me. You control everything around you.”

“I control situations that require it.”

I huffed. “Now I’m a situation? Are you going to fix me?”

He tugged on my waist. “I’m here to protect you. I won’t apologize for keeping you close.”

“Santino, I’m not the type you can keep.”

Santino said nothing, staring at me with the calm determination I’d seen many times before his cock slammed inside me. His eyes sparkled like I’d given him a challenge.

“Prove it.”

I frowned. “What?”

“Prove that I can’t keep you.”

I laughed. “How am I supposed to do that?”

“Door’s right there. Leave.”

I lifted my head. “Maybe I will.”

Santino’s voice dropped. “Go on, then.”

“You think I won’t?”

He smiled. “I think you’re stalling.”

Smug prick.

He knew damned well I couldn’t leave. Not with my ex haunting my footsteps. I wanted to prove him wrong, but I couldn’t. Not yet.

“This doesn’t mean you’ve won,” I growled.

He rubbed my back, grinning.