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He huffs through his nose and a bit of smoke is revealed. He unclenches and clenches his fists, as if debating what to do. All the while my heart pounds uselessly.
His gaze cuts into me and then his expression hardens even further, his eyes darken like the stormy sky. “Get back in bed.” He commands me with a force that has my knees buckling. My heart aches with the disappointment in his tone.
My legs grow weak as I turn and scramble to get to his bedchambers. Never in my life has someone given me what Drago has. His kind touch and generosity. He didn’t have to help me. He didn’t have to do any of this. As I race toward the bedroom door, I can’t hear him behind me. Alone and shaken and filled with regret, I seek sanctuary in his bed and pray it will be enough to save me.
DRAGO
The moment I swing open the door, my grip so strong I could break the knob, I’m filled with an anger and possessiveness I’ve never known. She says the one word I never want to hear on her lips.
“Red.” The single word trembles, and when I glance at her small form braced with the comforter clinging to her, she manages to say it again but her voice cracks. “Please red. Red.”
The raging fire inside is dimmed by the genuine fear in her voice. She scoots back ever so slightly, her small frame trembling. “Red,” she whispers and the rage shatters.
I’ve never done well with the feeling of betrayal and with that word hurled at me, I shut the door behind me with grave cautiousness.
The resounding thud intensifies the tension in the room.
I glance at her huddled on the bed, clutching the comforter before turning to the window and swallow. “Red?” I ask her with my tone low yet even, and then dare to look at her once again. She nods her head and tears well in her eyes.
“All right Kara.” I respond only so she knows I heard her. It takes everything in me to restrain the emotions roaring inside of me. The only truth that keeps me tamed is that she’s fucking terrified right now.
Of me…
She’s afraid I’m going to hurt her, and I struggle with how to handle the situation. My knuckles turn white as I ball my fists and walk past the bed to the bathroom. I choose not to look back at her, even though I’m all too aware she hasn’t stopped watching me. I turn the water on and let it run ice cold. The white noise of the shower spraying down aids to calm me ever so slightly, but the fire in my chest is blazing and my dragon is pissed. He wants out. He wants control. Not only of me, but also of our treasure.
I clench and grind my teeth as the freezing water runs down my body. The chill is barely effective, but I focus on it, on reining in the rage that blazes inside of me. As it hits my chest, a low steam forms in front of my eyes. I need to calm the fuck down. I concentrate on my breathing, keeping my eyes closed. And then I remember that I didn’t lock the door. My dragon claws up my throat, needing to get to her. I swear to God if she bolted, I’m not going to be able to contain myself. Without second thought, my body moves, slamming the handle down and storming from the bathroom with uncontained determination.
The water droplets fall from me as I hover over the bed, landing onto the comforter and soaking the floor beneath my feet.
Her gasps and wide eyes are what I’m met with as steam billows from me, evaporating the water. With a glance to my left, the red vision dims and the sudden panic wanes; the door is shut, and the key is right where she left it when she left me. I stare at it for a moment, willing the anger in my eyes to leave. I wouldn’t be this fucking worked up if it hadn’t been for my brother. The image of him pushing his body against her flashes in my eyes, and I bite back the flame that ignites in my chest. I roll my shoulders and relax my stance. I have her now. I have my little treasure.
After clearing my throat, I stalk to the door and I quickly lock it. With my back to her, I allow a moment to pass, listening to the adrenaline rushing in my ears and preparing to fix this little mess. We’ll get past this. I almost whisper it out loud.
“Did he hurt you?” I speak with my back to her, still facing the door with my eyes closed. I can’t face her; I can’t risk her seeing my anger.
“No.” Her answer is softly spoken. I breathe out and wait a moment to continue. She’s all right. She’s safe. And he didn’t threaten to challenge my claim. My eyes open as I come into clarity. Both of my brothers scented her. And neither has questioned my possession of her. My dragon calms at the realization. There is no threat to my treasure. She’s mine.
An odd sensation comes over me, a desperate need to claim her and finalize my possession of her. My mate, my dragon paces in agreement. Mine to have. All mine. I’m only vaguely aware of how the thoughts entered my mind. My dragon is desperate. The parts of me that crave to be fated to her overwhelm my logic and reason.
The intrusive thoughts are cut off at the sound of her hushed cry. A faint feminine sound that brings me to my knees. I can fix this. I can make things right again. I am a worthy mate. She will love me, and she will love what I do to her even more. With a plan in mind I slowly turn to see my Kara and a thud drops in my chest.
The long sleeves have fallen down her arms, no longer neatly rolled like they were earlier today. Her hair is ruffled, and her eyes are wide with both sorrow and fear. Her cheeks are tear stained. I want nothing more than to comfort her, than to take her cheek in my hand and to kiss her tenderly. Her chest rises and falls as she stares back at me. Intent on doing what I must, I step forward but then I remember…red. She’s denied me. She safeworded me. Carefully and slowly, I stop at the end of the bed.
“Why did you use your safe word?” I have to ask her even though I already know why.
“Because you’re angry with me.” Her voice is shaky and breaks on the end.
“Of course I am. Is it because you don’t want to be punished?” That’s the reality of the situation. She took her reward; she should be ready to take her punishment. Heat travels down the length of my arms to the palms of my hands, itching to touch her. To teach her what happens when she leaves me.
“No. Please don’t.” I hate the dreadfulness of her tone.
“Why’s that?” I ask.
“I’m sorry I disappointed you.”
I shake my head and respond, “You disobeyed me. You deserve to be punished Kara.” I make sure to use Kara and not the pet name I love to use for her. With cautious movements, I lay on the bed, but keep my distance from her.
My dragon and I both crave to hold her and comfort her fears, but she’s denying me. She’s denied us. The voice hisses in the back of my mind.
