Chapter 16
Remnant droplets of water from my shower plopped on my cheek. I brushed back my damp hair and stepped into the living room, the new pleated skirt swaying around my thighs. Rafe and Cade continued sleeping in my bed . . . my temporary bed, and there was no Dorian in sight.
I eyed the door. No one was here. I could slip out and disappear. I swayed and stepped forward.
“You’re not thinking of attempting an escape, are you?”
With a gasp, I whirled around to face Dorian holding an Epad. As much humor as there was in his voice, there was an underlying threat.
“No, I was looking for you.” I lifted my chin.
Dorian’s lips twitched, and he passed me to sit on the couch.
“Is that so?” he mused, finishing with some tapping on his screen, and he raised his eyes to mine. “And what do you need me for?”
For you not to suspect I’m trying to leave.
With all the confidence I could muster, I strode forward, and perched on the edge of the couch, turning my torso toward him. The space I left between us was for my own good.
Their guard had to be nonexistent if I was to manage an escape.
“To answer a few of my questions now that we’re all more levelheaded.” Dorian lifted an eyebrow and turned off the device, setting it aside. “Will you ever let me free?”
Dorian leaned forward and laced his hands on his lap. “We invested quite a bit of money in you.”
“What if I pay you back?” His lips twitched. It was stupid of me; I didn’t have the money. “Give me to the Greymont Pack and you’ll get your money’s worth.”
Rage flitted over his expression.
“Enough with the Greymont Pack,” he spat. “Don’t mention them again.”
My lips thinned. The only way I could make that money back was if I sold my heat, but all of it was null. Even if they didn’t understand why, they wouldn’t agree.
“Fine,” I bit out.
Dorian sighed and rubbed the nape of his neck. “What would you like to make your . . . stay more comfortable.”
“I thought you didn’t care what I wanted.”
A muscle twitched in his jaw. “I can recognize we’ve been a bit harsh with you.”
“A bit?” I scoffed. If the spectrum was on the line of being burned by cigarettes, I guess that was true.
The bar was in hell.
“I want one of those.” I stood and motioned to the Epad. He raised his eyebrows.
“I’ll look into it.”
I licked my lips, eyeing him as he grabbed the Epad with bandaged knuckles and swiped it to life. Looked like he was done with the conversation. I waffled, shifting my weight from side to side.
“How long will I be staying?” I finally managed to spit out, standing up. He shrugged. “Until your Omega comes back? The one you’re so desperate for.” He didn’t spare me a glance as he tapped the screen.
“You’re dismissed, Eva De La Cruz.”
I clenched my teeth, but my feet were glued to the floor. Even with his behavior, he seemed so attuned to me. More affected than he would admit, just as Cade had said. Yesterday, Cade had offered me a small hint of what they’d suffered and what had made them so cold and resistant.
He’d shown me his scars, Rafe had allowed me to feel his . . . An itchiness to see Dorian’s wouldn’t release me unless I sated the curiosity.
Instead of turning on my heel and disappearing into the room, I inched closer to him. I placed my hand on his bicep, then slid it higher and higher.
Dorian stiffened under my touch, but I didn’t stop. I placed my palm on his cheek and slowly dragged it down until my fingertips played along the collar of his sweater. Dorian watched me from under his thick eyelashes. I pushed back the collar.
Horrible burn marks marred his skin, the uneven surface stretching further than I could see from the small patch of shoulder I exposed.
“Oh,” I breathed. My hushed word seemed to rip him out of his stupor.
“Don’t,” he hissed, standing.
I stumbled back as he came at me, looking like a vengeful devil.
Having the end of a cigarette pressed along my back, the sting of the pain haunted me, and his were much larger.
I hadn’t seen the full extent of them, but the small peek was enough.
Whoever did that to him did it with something much larger than a cigarette and for a much longer time.
“Sorry,” I said tightly and backed up. My chest was too tight, and I had better get to my room. The horror that the three men must have experienced made me too soft.
“Move,” I spat at Dorian and shoved past him.
I was so close to the steps, then he grabbed my wrist, turning me forcefully. I kept avoiding his gaze until he gripped the bottom of my jaw. All I could think about was the pain he’d experienced. Emotion swelled in my throat, and the throbbing pulsation mocked me.
“Who do you think you are?” Dorian’s hips pinned me against the wall. I threw myself to the side, and my foot caught on his, sending me tipping to the floor.
Dorian caught my hip, keeping me steady.
His coffee scent wafted across my senses. I shivered at his touch. His hand was incredibly large. I panted, looking at him. He peered down at me, a quizzical expression on his face, and it morphed. His eyebrows furrowed downward.
“Why are you crying?” He narrowed his eyes and squeezed my cheeks until my lips puckered. He lifted my head until it pinched my neck.
“I’m not crying,” I retorted, filling my tone with attitude.
Dorian growled, and I didn’t move, keeping hold of his gaze, holding my breath.
I wasn’t sure what he would do, so I just stood.
Dorian slammed a hand on the wall at my back.
I eyed it and turned, but his other hand came down with a slap, successfully caging me.
Red adorned every single one of his knuckles, the wounds fresh, but not bleeding. What had he done?
“Let me leave,” I bit out.
“Look at me.” I refused because all he would see was the sheen coating my eyes. “Now.” It was funny how they kept ordering me about, just expecting me to do as they said.
“No!” I screamed.
His hand spanned across the bottom of my chin, half digging into my neck and half my jaw. I fought against his strength, but didn’t manage a thing. Tears I’d been holding back spilled over.
He sucked in a breath, his hand twitching against my skin. Dorian was silent for a few beats.
“You ruin me, Omega,” he breathed, capturing my mouth and thrusting his tongue inside.
His taste exploded on my tongue, and I moaned into him. His pain felt like a tangible thing. Now I understood what Cade meant when he mentioned his weren’t as bad. Based on the small peek, Dorian had been burned and cut up. The scars stretched longer than I could see.
“Why do I fucking want you so much?”
He squeezed my jaw. With his other hand, he slid under my skirt and tugged my panties. They pooled at my ankles. I let him maneuver me, relishing his tight control. I couldn’t see him undoing his slacks with the grip on my neck, but the sounds were easy to distinguish.
In the same smooth move, he released my throat and picked me up, sliding his cock inside me. His shoulders shuddered; his groan reached inside me and added kerosene to the flames of lust. Hard thrusts pounded me against the wall with rhythmic thuds.
When I slid my hands up to his shoulders, Dorian immediately tensed, his thrusts slowing. I kept my touch over his sweater and bunched the fabric in my palm. His pace picked up again, and his head bowed forward.
Wet thwaps melded with my moans. I tilted my head back, embracing the feeling of the length gliding in and out of me.
“Give me your knot.” I clenched his sweater harder to make my point. His shallow pumps were a tease.
He chuckled, the sound deep and hard. Dorian squeezed my hips, the tips of his fingers pressing against my ass. He lifted me another bit and simultaneously rammed his hips harder.
I screamed from the stretch of his knot. My channel clamped around him and he groaned, his head falling forward, breath puffing against my temple. Dorian trembled, and his breathing turned shaky.
“Why can’t I stop thinking about you?” He pumped his hips, and the slap rang out. “Or the way your pussy grips me.”
“Because I should have been your Omega,” I whispered, the tormented words of my heart escaping.
He stiffened, and a snarl left his mouth abruptly.
His expressionless mask slipped, allowing rage to surface. I bunched his sweater tighter and jerked him down to catch his mouth, shoving my tongue against his with lewd thrusts. He grunted, his resistance nonexistent.
Using my arms, I hoisted myself up, and his cock slid out of me. Dorian caught my ass, adjusting me so I settled against him. My warmth shoved against his abdomen. The pressure filled me with so much desire. Each of my movements was desperate, and I didn’t care.
I slid my hands into his hair, raking my fingers through it. He moaned against my lips, pushing me against the wall harder. His pheromones plumed around me, turning me into goo.
“You’ll ruin everything—” he exhaled harshly, and the scent of coffee lit me up inside. His body was saying otherwise. He wanted me, but he would only realize it when it was too late.
I gritted my teeth and pushed his chest, writhing until I escaped. Landing on my feet, I stumbled out of his arms. “Fuck off, Dorian,” I said, refusing to cower.
Dorian’s chest pumped with harsh pants, and his eyebrows furrowed as visible anger flitted over his face. “Disrespect me again and you’ll sleep in the closet.”
His hands fisted and closed. Then he shoved his fingers through his hair, disheveling the silk strands. With a final heated look at me, he turned on his heel, passing me without another look.
I eyed the Epad on the couch. He’d left it behind—
“You went and pissed him off again,” Cade drawled, stopping me from lunging for it. I whirled to the hall entrance where he stood. “He will never bend for anyone. Don’t underestimate his temper.”
Whatever. It wasn’t my business. I would keep my head down.
“I’m hungry,” I said, meeting Cade’s gaze as I redressed.
He studied me silently. Rafe came up behind him and clapped him on the shoulder. It seemed to rip him out of his stupor.
“Let’s see what I can make you,” Cade answered gruffly.