Page 19 of Relentless Sinner
My entire body goes rigid when I realize what that is. What it means.
Shit feels real when he flicks the box open and my eyes glue to the beautiful pear-shaped diamond engagement ring set on a thin platinum band.
The diamond seems to sparkle endlessly. As if each sparkle is renewed by the glint that preceded it.
I stare, shocked, stunned to silence. I’ve never seen anything more beautiful in my life.
How much did that cost?
Clara told me that Grace Kelly’s ring came from Rêve. She’s obsessed with knowing things like that. It comes with her job. She writes for a celeb lifestyle magazine.
My guess is this ring could be anything close to the million-dollar mark. And it’s mine?
“Give me your hand.” Jaxon’s deep voice makes my stomach squeeze and the nerves in my gut turn to rocks.
I look up at him standing before me. Tall, foreboding, and overwhelmingly handsome. He’s staring deep into my eyes as if he’s trying to peel back the layers of my mind so he can look inside my head and figure me out.
His gaze is so potent I almost allow him in. But I catch myself before I fall into his deep blue gaze.
I extend my left hand. When he takes it a visible tremor ripples across my skin from his warm touch. I don’t know what I was expecting but it wasn’t warmth. I suppose I thought his hands would be as cold as his stare.
I look away from him and down at my hand as he slides the ring down my finger. It fits me as perfectly as if I’d gone to the store and picked it out myself.
This man knows what I like, many of my favorite, favorite things, and he even knew my ring size. That should mean nothing to me but I know it does. Even if I try to deny it.
Besides, I don’t know any woman, no matter what her situation, who wouldn’t swoon over a ring likethison her hand.
Suddenly Jaxon’s grip tightens around my wrist, snapping the reverie and the dreamlike haze from my mind.
He lowers his mouth to my ear, wrapping me in that scent of power, and the menacing look returns to his eyes. It pins my soul in place.
“Make sure you’re wearing thisallthe time. And don’t even think about selling it.” He speaks in that low voice again, his accent stronger than ever, making him sound more threatening. “Do you hear me, Gabriella?”
A rush of fear clogs my throat and I no longer feel the bravado that gave me the courage to give him my snappycomebacks. What I see when I look at him now is a dangerous man who can’t be reasoned with.
“I hear you,” I mutter.
“Consider last night a trial run gone wrong. Itmustnot happen again. If it does, you won’t just be chained to my bed. Next time I guarantee you’ll be completely naked and I can’t promise that I won’t be buried deep inside you.”
My blood jolts in my veins as if charged with shards of electricity. My brain seizes and all I see inside my head is the raw image of us together. Me naked with him inside me.
The erotic vision makes my throat go so dry I can’t even swallow.
“Then again.” He comes closer. “This little war dance of ours is very entertaining. I’m sure we’d have way more fun in bed. From what I know so far about you I’m sure you will cross me again at some point. So, if I were you, I’d keep taking those pills of yours.”
Pills? What the hell is he talking about?
Wait…
He went through my bag. The only pills I had in there were for birth control.
As the realization hits me he inches away with that dark look in his eyes. Then he turns and walks away, leaving me staring after him, stunned to silence. Like I’ll never speak again.
It’s not until he goes through the door and another few moments pass before I realize I’m not breathing.
I release the burning breath I’m holding and pant, realizing that I’m way out of my league with this guy.
He hasn’t just trapped me in this house. He seems to have trapped my emotions, too.