Page 33 of Forbidden Fate

I secure her ankles next, ignoring her jerks and twists, her rapid breathing.

I step back.

Robin turns her head slightly, looking at me, her expression a mix of fury and something else I can’t identify.

I drag a hand down my face, try to steady myself.

And that’s when I realize it.

I’m hard. Fucking hard as a rock.

13

ROBIN

The ropes bite into my wrists. Not enough to cut off circulation. Not enough to actually hurt. Just enough to remind me I’m not going anywhere.

I sag back against the thin cot, panting. My muscles are already burning from the fight I knew I wasn’t going to win. Still, it was worth it.

Across the room, Cruz turns away from me. He adjusts his waistband.

Ha. His dick is hard. I felt it against me when he was on top of me.

Heat crawls up my spine before I can stop it. My stomach flips in a way that has nothing to do with fear.

Some twisted and inappropriate part of me liked it. Liked the weight of him. The pressure. The heat.

Liked the way he felt⁠—

I shut the thought down.

What the hell is wrong with me?

He’s my captor.

He just tied me to a bed.

He’s part of whatever nightmare I’ve walked into.

My pulse stutters.

He’s still turned away, shoulders tense. Good. That means I’m not imagining it. He’s attracted to me.

I can use that. I’ve done it before.

I shift slightly against the restraints, drawing his attention back to me.

“Are you going to tell me why?” I ask.

He doesn’t answer right away.

Figures.

“You can be honest with me,” I add. “It’s not like I can do anything about it.”

He turns back toward me. I can’t help eyeing his crotch. The bulge is still there. My cheeks burn, but I don’t look away. I want him to know I see it.

Another kind of tension fills the room now. Different from before. Sharper. More dangerous.