Page 14 of Empress of Ruin
She snorts. “Sure.”
I think this is what I’ve missed about her the most. The way she gives as good as she gets. Her invigorating fight, followed by her sweet surrender. The fact that she, a virtualant, can anddoes stand up to me. Anyone else I would crush without a second thought, but I’d never crush her. Only contain her.
I roll up one of my sleeves. Her eyes track the gesture, growing wide.
“How’s your ass?”
“I’ve had worse.”
Yes, she has. She has a wonderful pain tolerance that enables me to occasionally unleash the full force of my newly discovered sadism on her. Not too often, though.
“You deserved every spank.” And then some.
“Remind me, what crime did I commit to invite such a punishment?”
I arch an eyebrow at her. “Do you really need to ask, Little Bird? Youfucking left me.”
“And how is that considered a crime?”
My jaw tenses. “You were pregnant withourchild. We were about to getengaged, and start planning a wedding. We were set to take steps towards a future—”
“No,” she cuts me off. “Youwere going to do all those things. I had no fucking say in it. I would’ve been trapped here, barefoot and pregnant, locked up and only carted out for social events and galas. You were going to ruin my fucking life. Youdidruin my fucking life!”
“We can agree to disagree.”
“Sure. As long as we both acknowledge that I’m right.”
I’m done with this line of conversation for now. There are more pressing topics to cover. “Is it safe to assume you’re not currently on any form of birth control?” Knocking her up was a compulsion before, but after my conversation with the Herald, it’s morphed into a necessity. The Eyes would have a much harder time disputing that Lyra’s my fiancée, and therefore Silas attacked me through her, if I get her pregnant.
I also don’t mind the idea of permanently binding her to me. It might make her give up on the ridiculous notion of escape.
“I’m not answering that question.”
“That’s fine. I’ll have a doctor check you over tomorrow. In the meantime, take off your clothes.”
She swallows. “I’m going to tell you something I know you’re unaccustomed to hearing:no.”
“I’m actually quite used to hearing that from you. I just don’t care. And I don’t think you know your own mind nearly as well as you wish you did.”
Her jaw tightens. The gesture is oddly cute, like a kitten’s fur standing on end. “I’m not playing this game with you.”
My hands land on my belt. “This is not a game, Lyra. I wish it were; I wish we could afford a mental game of chess, but there are forces beyond either of us at play. Now, you can take your clothes off, or I can spank you some more and tear them off you. Dealer’s choice.”
She winces. Then, ever so slowly and reluctantly, she begins removing her clothing one item at a time. I relax and enjoy the show as inch after inch of skin is exposed. She’s developed a tan during her time away from me; her pale skin is a few shades deeper. But her hip bones jut out unpleasantly, and her ribs are visible.
She stops undressing when she’s down to her bra and panties. I arch an eyebrow at her. “I don’t think you’re done.”
“Killian, I don’t… want this.”
“You don’t know what you want,” I retort seriously. “Tell me, Lyra. Did you enjoy being on the run?”
Her gaze lowers, and that’s all the answer I require.
“Of course you didn’t. Did you enjoy losing your chance at a book deal? At being revered as one of the most influential women in high society?”
“I don’t care about power.”
Ah, but shedoesmourn the loss of the career I would’ve—and still gladly will—kickstart for her. “Of course not.” I allow my tone to be patronizing. “Finish undressing or I’ll do it for you,afterI’ve reminded you why I don’t like issuing orders more than once.”
