Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 130317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 652(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 652(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
“Well, we need to find a way for you to talk to one of them,” Sev said, frowning. “Otherwise we’re just fucking stuck here.”
“What about kidnapping Brother Jonash and making him take us back through the tunnel again?” Mia suggested.
“That’s a thought—if we knew where he lived we could grab him in the middle of the night,” Sev said thoughtfully. “But that’s supposing that the Elders’ homes aren’t guarded or outfitted with cameras, like ours is. If they’re bugged, we wouldn’t get him two feet before they were on us.”
“True…” Mia shook her head. “The only other thing I can think to do is…” She trailed off, nibbling her bottom lip.
“What?” Sev spread his hands. “I’m open to suggestions here, partner. I’ve got nothing.”
“Well…”
Mia took a deep breath. She couldn’t quite believe she was about to suggest this but she honestly didn’t see any other way.
“The only other thing to do is just…give in. I mean, do what they want and show them we’re ‘making an honest effort’ to conform to the ways of the PPP. That’s what they want—right?”
“But, Mia—” Sev began.
“That way we can have the Binding Ceremony in the Inner Sanctum and we’ll finally get to see The Prophet up close and maybe even grab that sparkly thing he always wears—which must be the source of his power,” Mia went on quickly. “So maybe…maybe we should just give in and do what they want us to do—you know?”
“Just give in? You think it’s that simple?” Sev rose suddenly to tower over her. “You know what they’re doing here, Mia and you know my background,” he growled.
“Yes, I know. So?” She had never felt afraid of her partner before and she told herself she wasn’t afraid now. But she had never seen Sev look like this before—his golden eyes were glowing with some emotion she didn’t dare to name. Why did the way he was looking at her make her nipples tight and why was she getting so wet and hot between her thighs?
“So, it’s not that fucking simple for me,” Sev growled. “There’s a part of me I’ve kept locked up for years—you’re asking me to unlock it. To let it out. And I don’t know if I can put it back if I do that.”
“Can’t you just…pretend to let it out?” Mia asked faintly. She found she was backing away as she spoke. She tried to stop and stand her ground but her body wouldn’t let her. She took another step away from her partner and found that her back was suddenly against the wall.
“No, I can’t fucking pretend.” Sev was suddenly right there, his muscular arms on either side of her head, his blazing, golden gaze pinning her to the wall. “You’re asking me to dominate you, baby girl,” he growled softly and suddenly his hand was on her neck, his long fingers wrapped loosely around her throat. “Is that what you really want?”
“I…I don’t know,” Mia whispered and oh God, why was she so hot right now? She ought to be outraged, ought to push him away! But somehow she didn’t want to. His hand around her throat felt like a warm, living collar. He wasn’t choking her—just letting her know he was in control. She had sworn to herself after her divorce that she would never let a man control her again, and yet she felt herself melting as her partner looked into her eyes and held her by the throat.
Suddenly Sev let go of her and took a step back. Mia thought for a moment—with a mixture of confusion and disappointment—that he had decided to reign in the part of him he’d been talking about—the dominant part. But the next words he spoke destroyed that illusion completely.
“Get over to the couch and bend over,” he growled.
“Excuse me?” Mia gasped, not sure how to respond to this.
“You want to give them what they want? Want to let them see me dominating you? Well that’s what we’re going to do—so bend over!”
The last words were spoken in a deep growl—a command that Mia couldn’t ignore.
Her legs felt like rubber as she somehow made it to the couch. Gripping the sleek leather arm in both hands, she bent at the waist.
Sev took his time coming to stand behind her. Mia felt like every one of her nerves was strung tight as a wire by the time she felt his huge form at her back.
“Sev—” she began, turning her head around to see him.
“Face front!” he growled, which Mia did with a gasp. She bit her lip as she felt him lift the back of her dress, exposing her bare bottom to the cool air. God, if only she had some panties on! But there was nothing to hide her from his sight—she was completely naked under his gaze.