Yeah, we’ll see.
“Nice to meet you, Mian.” He stroked his chin while eye fucking me. He didn’t give me the same hot and gripping feeling Angel did whenever his eyes took liberties with my body. Even Lucas and Z managed to flirt with my desire, though the feeling was never as powerful as the one Angel created. I looked away only to find Angel staring. When I didn’t look away, he smirked as if he knew my secret.
Was I so transparent?
Josh finally got the hint and focused his attention on my captor. I cringed when I noticed the gigantic hole in his lobe where skin should be. “Where should I set up?” It was then I noticed the two black cases he held.
“Dining room.” He led Josh away. Just when I thought I would be left alone to hide, his voice boomed through the foyer. “Mian, come.”
A sharp whistle followed his command, but when Angel’s back stiffened, I knew it hadn’t come from him. Josh laughed at his own joke. I held my breath waiting for what Angel would do, but he kept walking.
Once in the dining room, the men sat while I stood and waited by his side. Josh had implied I was a pet, and at that moment, I felt like one.
“So, what can I do for you, Mr. Knight?”
“I want this,” he slid a sketch across the table. I only caught a glimpse, but I recognized it as his family crest: A kneeling knight piercing the spine of an open book with his sword. I’d only seen it once, and it hadn’t made sense until now.
This Knight, though, had wings instead of armor.
“Where do you want it?”
“On her right hip.”
Josh nodded and set to work. My throat desperately worked to push out words. I willed my feet to move or my hands to reach out and strangle him.
What right did he think he had to permanently mark my body? Since the day we met, he tormented me simply because he could, and I had let him. But this was too far.
“I’m not letting you do this.”
Josh pulled out more materials as if he hadn’t heard. Angel didn’t even acknowledge me. The only evidence that he had heard was the tick in his jaw. I was breaking rule number one. They continued to discuss exactly what Angel wanted to have done to my body.
“It’s going to take a few hours to really capture the detail. I assume you want it finished today?”
Angel nodded, and I could practically feel anger seeping from his pores. Josh kept stealing glances, and I pretended not to notice.
“Sweet. Let’s get started.” He smiled at me behind Angel’s shoulder.
“Mian,” Angel called. His attention was still focused on the creep who didn’t realize he should keep his smiles to himself.
“Yes?”
“On the table.”
I shook my head as if he could see. “I didn’t consent to this.”
“Do I need to strap you down?”
“It’s the only way he’s going to touch me.” I stared at his profile until he rose from his seat and invaded my space. I wasn’t expecting him to sink his hand in my hair and grab my waist with his other.
“Wha—”
It was all I could manage before he kissed me. His lips were soft as he patiently coaxed me to give in. I sunk so deep into the kiss that I had no way out until his lips left mine.
“That was to remember you by.”
Confusion replaced desire. “What?”
“The only way you’re walking out of here alive is with my mark. No games, Mian. There’s no coming back if you test me.”
He didn’t put a gun to my head and threaten to blow my brains out like most villains would have done. He didn’t need to. With a grace I didn’t normally possess, I climbed onto the tabletop.
“She’ll need to remove her panties,” Josh said excitedly as he licked his lips.
“She’s not wearing any.” He then ordered me to lift my dress. I closed my eyes and pushed up the dress I had been so happy to wear only moments ago. The more Angel took from me, the more I accepted that spilling his blood would never be enough to heal the scars he had created.
“I’ll be in my office if you need me.” My eyes popped open and found Angel’s staring back at me. Was that meant for Josh or me? He was the one making me do this. If I needed rescuing from anyone, it was he.
“I’m sure we’ll be fine,” Josh replied. Angel didn’t move. He was waiting for something.
I nodded and then turned my head to stare at the chandelier directly above me. I listened to his footsteps, which eventually faded as he walked further away.
“Pretty intense guy, huh?”
I shivered. “He’s a monster.”
“You shouldn’t be afraid of him.”
“Why shouldn’t I?”
“Because even monsters have a weakness and something tells me he’s discovered his.”
I turned my head to face him. He was unwinding his power supply cable and staring at me with a grin. “Angel doesn’t have weaknesses. His power is in making you believe whatever he wants.”
“Not weaknesses. Just one.”
“Care to share?”
His look was skeptical. “You don’t see it?”
“Should I?”