Page 161 of Broken & Bound

“Yup. We’ll be there.”

As Nik closed the door to my studio, I looked up. Pasha was flipping through one of my sketchbooks. The one of the original four girls. The only one I hadn’t done yet was X. Something was off with each one I tried to do.

Marcel said it could be a mental block. My mind trying to protect me from the trauma. I was starting to believe it was true. I’d thought about giving the doll to Alek to take a swing at. But something in me couldn’t do it.

I wanted to be the one to capture her.

With a few rapid taps on the keyboard, I hit send. The tension from the day finally broke. I locked my fingers together, lifting my arms high above my head to stretch out the tight muscles of my back.

A faint snap cut through the silence. I glanced over to find Pasha closing the sketchbook. His eyes shifted to me, tracking the lines of my arms and the pull of my dress. His gaze settled on my breasts.

Without a word, he set the book down on the table. A slow, predatory look crossed his face as he sauntered over. I raised my eyebrows suggestively. Before I could lower my hands, his arms slid around my waist, pulling me firmly against his chest.

“Feel like distracting me, my lion?”

“Always. What level are we talking?” he asked, trailing soft nips along my neck.

I pretended to consider my options before deciding. As I tilted my face up to lose myself in his amber eyes, I dragged my hands sensually up his chest. Adrenaline hummed in my veins.

“Get your ass over to the couch,” I commanded, my voice quieter than usual but carrying a distinct edge.

Jesus, let him pick up what I was throwing down.

My heart raced. For a fraction of a second, his posture went rigid. A flicker of amusement crossed his face. His lips parted in a faint, knowing curve. There was a challenge there.

“The couch? Very well. You will get no argument from me.”

“Then why aren’t you moving?” I barked.

He raised an eyebrow and walked over to the couch. His eyes never left mine, silently daring me to keep that same bold energy. As he went, I followed him step for step. When the backs of his knees hit the edge of the cushions, he paused.

My confidence faltered. I had expected him to sit, but he only stood there watching me, and I felt a little ridiculous. Maybe all of this sounded sexier in my head than it looked in practice.

“Mistress Bella, you didn’t tell me whether to sit or stay standing,” he breathed.

“I didn’t, did I? It’s a good thing you’re such a good boy.”

A slow grin pulled at the corner of his mouth. It grew until there was no mistaking the amusement in his eyes. The last bit of uncertainty disappeared with it.

“Only for you.”

“Good answer. Now tell me something. How do we feel about a new sketch?”

“I can think of a hundred other—”

I smacked my palm against his chest, cutting him off, then covered his mouth before he could finish whatever smartass comment had been coming.

“Try again.”

His eyes danced. When I slowly lowered my hand, he didn’t miss a beat.

“What were you thinking, Mistress?”

Much better. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone, turning it over once in my hand before unlocking the screen. Pasha watched the movement, but I let him wonder what I was doing while I opened the camera. Only then did I glance at him.

“Undress.”

He reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head without hesitation, tossing it aside before hooking his thumbs into the waistband of his sweatpants. I watched as he pushed them down and stepped free, taking my time looking him over while he straightened.