Page 33 of Savage Kingdom

Something maddening and inviting that could kill you.

“I’d be no use to you dead?” I quipped.

“Look at me,” he demanded.

I kept staring past him.

“I am loo—”

Gideon took another step forward. “Another thing I hate is liars.” Then he was right in front of me, his hand wrapped around my waist, pulling my body flush to his.

“You’re going to try harder if you want to fool me, Petal. I can’t tell when those wolf eyes are on me or past me.”

When he let go of me, I took a step back and slowly looked up at him, and my lips parted when I noticed how there was no repulsion in his gaze. Far from it. His eyes were full, hungry—he wanted me.

That terrified me.

I’d been wanted before—that wasn’t the issue—but not by someone who had seen more of me than most men had. It went skin-deep through the scars and cut down to my bones.

Gideon got under the water, our bodies millimeters away from one another. His hand came to the wall behind me, blocking the water from hitting me and instead cascading down his back.

I held my breath, waiting to see what he would say. Gideon didn’t press our bodies together, but he did bring his head down. I’d tasted a thousand lips, and none of them meant a thing. I’d rather not taste his, because you could never miss something you’ve never known.

“Until you earn my trust back, Petal, I am your fucking shadow.”

“And if that never happens?” My words were low, getting lost with the noise, but he heard them.

“Then I guess you’d better get used to my presence,” he chided against my cheek. I felt a zip go through my body. Something so violent against a soft touch. With my eyes closed, I let him have his fill. It’s what I always did when men were near. As quickly as his lips had roamed over my cheek, they were gone, to the point I felt like I imagined it.

“Hurry up and shower. We have things to do,” Gideon said, sounding farther away. When I opened my eyes, he was across the shower. He was giving me space. Turning around, I did as he asked in record time.

We dried in silence, my eyes not going anywhere near his vicinity while I felt the scalding burn of his gaze on my skin. Lust was a feeling I knew well—one I didn’t particularly enjoy either.

Once we were both dressed, I expected him to chain me again. Gideon handed me a Band-Aid and some slippers. My cut was healing. It still ached when I added pressure on it, but being chained and in bed had helped the healing process.

“We’re going out,” he informed me.

Not saying a word, I got ready and followed him out of the door.

“You wanted to be a pet, love, let’s see how well you do,” Gideon said as he guided me to the elevator.

There was excitement humming through my veins. I loved a good challenge. I loved being victorious.

“I wasn’t trying to fool you before…” I told him as the elevator door closed.

“And now?”

My head turned around, watching him out of the corner of my eyes. He stood tall and confident behind me. He looked like someone who got off on intimidating scared little girls. I grinned at him. The cocky look on his face slipped a bit.

“You’ll learn,” I told him dismissively.

The elevator door dinged, and it opened to the lobby. Before I could take a step, Gideon curled an arm around my hip and pushed me back against his hard body.

“Is that a threat?”

I looked up, stood on my tiptoes, and kissed his chin. The action made him freeze. Finally, I felt like I was gaining some ground.

“It’s a promise,handsome.”