Series: Willow Winters
Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 60207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
“I’d like to know how the heat suits you.”
She pulls her hand from mine and stares into my eyes, warring with me, daring me to fight her. I only have to wait. After a moment, she slowly turns to the running water and lets it flow down her fingers. Her eyes close and a small sigh of wanting leaves her lips. My dragon purrs in my chest, loving the bit of happiness we’ve given her. “Is it to your liking?”
My lowly spoken question shatters the image of her content. She rips her hand away while nodding. Silence fills the room as she stares at the bottom of the large, soak-in tub, watching it fill. I truly despise the fact that she isn’t giving me the respect she should be. She’s obviously unwell and has been through hell with Victor. Rage boils inside of me just thinking his name. I’ll rip his throat out the next time I see him. If I hadn’t been so consumed with her, I would have ended his life before Galen had a chance to tell him to leave.
I’ll let her anger at me pass with a warning and keep my tone soft and gentle. My intent is to charm her, to lure her in, but I can’t set a precedence of her treating me disrespectfully. As she refuses to even spare me a glance, with the water filling the basin and steaming, I’m ever conscious of her state of mind. It’s a difficult line to toe. “I expect you to look at me when I ask you a question.” I do my best to speak calmly and not allow my anger or disappointment to show through.
Her eyes fly to mine but her lips remain closed. I wait a moment for her to acknowledge my words, but she fails to do so. “Do you understand?” She nods slightly, maintaining eye contact, but she doesn’t give a verbal response. I don’t care for that either. A fire rumbles in my chest. “I’d like you to answer me as well.” Her eyes widen and her nostrils flare. “You may call me Drago.”
She focuses her attention back to the tub making my anger flare. I repress it once again. “What name do you go by?”
“Kara.” She whispers her name and puts her small hand into the bath, getting to her knees so her fingertips can glide along the surface of the water. The sight of her bent over hardens my dick. I push down my groan. She swallows and looks back at me over her shoulder. Her anger seems to dissipate. Good. I can’t take much more of her resentment.
Kara. What a fitting, beautiful name for her. I love it. I love the way it rolls off my tongue. The sweetness of its whisper, yet strong in its demand.
“I’d like you to tell me about yourself, Kara.” Her eyes look longingly into the bath and then back at me, no doubt wondering if I’ll be here as she washes herself. And I will be. She threatened to kill herself only moments ago. There’s no way I’m leaving her alone. Not only that, the cut along her back needs to be washed properly. I stand, opening the cabinet for appropriate oils, waiting for her to speak. Violet will help the pain. I grab the oil for the bath and continue talking to her. To Kara. My blood heats and my dragon stirs. I must be ever so careful with her.
As I shut the cabinet, our gazes lock. There’s a crack in the tension. Does she feel it too?
She murmurs, still on her knees beside the tub. “What do you want to know?”
“Take your dress off.” Her body stiffens at my request. I narrow my eyes at her. “I need to take care of your wound.”
She stares back with trepidation. “You don’t. I can take care of myself.”
“We have a little dilemma, Kara.” Her heart pounds in her chest so loudly I can hear every beat even though she tries to appear calm and strong. “I’ve decided I’d like to keep you for a while.” Her face hardens with anger. “I’d just like to get to know you and care for you while you recover from everything you’ve been through.”
She smirks at me and tilts her head. “I highly doubt that.” I can smell her fear, but she stares daggers at me with courage. I fucking love it. I love her courage. But I need her to give me this. I can’t have her hating me when I’ve done nothing to her.
“You can doubt it all you like, but that’s not the dilemma. My brothers will be curious and I’d rather they not be involved with our relationship.” I reach down and snatch the bit of fabric that’s frayed and rip it off her body. It tears far too easily, jostling her as she fights to hold onto it. She’s unsuccessful, and she gasps and quickly tries to cover herself. That’s fine, for now. I turn sideways as a compromise. “In the water, Kara.”