24690 Read Online Free PDF Page A

forearm. “Do you remember taking that blade to your skin? Do you remember me sitting on the floor holding and rocking you while your very life flooded all over me? Do you remember what you said to me?”
    The tears escaped down my cheeks and I closed my lids as his touch stopped midway.
    “I begged you to let me die, or take me away from here.”
    “And what did I say to you?”
    The blue of his eyes seemed brighter as I met them. “You said if I lived, you would watch out for me. You promised I would be okay.”
    “I was barely a man, then, but I held true to my word. The rape from your master stopped, didn’t it? He didn’t force himself on you again after that day, did he?”
    “N-no.”
    I sobbed, remembering how the beatings increased right after. But the rape … it had stopped. It was two years before my master touched me and I consented. He’d always pulled back at my no, but I hadn’t said no, then, or afterward. He’d grown gentler during that time. More wooing. I thought it was because of my suicide attempt, but it wasn’t me at all. It was Mr. Whitlock.
    “Thank … you?”
    Bram’s fingers began to trail down, sweeping over my bicep before easing along my shoulder. The grip was firm as he locked onto one of my breasts. I tensed even more, not sure how to react. “Like I said before, I’m not your savior. I do nothing for free.”
    And just like that, he was off me and walking away. My pulse was pounding so hard that I nearly fell from the adrenaline that was numbing out my limbs. I tried to catch up, but in truth, I was scared to. I knew what he was implying and knowing the position he held, it frightened me even more. Especially after what I had just gone through with Torrance and the guards. There was no one that would stop this man if he wanted to have his way with me. I ached already. Would Bram be just as savage when he finally did come?
    I caught up to his towering frame, glancing to his hard features. Yes. He might very well tear me apart. Then again, did I know him at all? I saw moments of gentleness. A caress here, a brush of his fingers, there. We’d been going about this now for years.
    “Hurry up.”
    We took another turn and a door appeared in the distance. I swallowed hard, braving the question I feared the most.
    “Will the guard … Billy have access to me in Slave Row?”
    Mr. Whitlock spun on me so fast, I stumbled back, half expecting him to throw a punch.
    “You still doubt me? Even after I had them remove his hand?”
    “I’m sorry, Master. I don’t mean to doubt you. I just—”
    “Just nothing . You’re a scared little mouse. Maybe I made a mistake. Perhaps I should have him go to your room every night and let him have his way with you. Maybe then you’ll stop fearing what you need not fear !”
    The last was yelled only inches from my face. Where the slave in me wanted to curl into a ball and beg forgiveness, the spark within me burned with fire. Had I any sense, I would have doused the flame on recognition, but I didn’t. I leaned forward, pressing my lips into his.
    “Thank you.” And just like that, I began to walk, leaving him there. My eyes widened through my stupidity, but something was happening. An invigorating feeling that I hadn’t experienced before. It surged through, feeding the woman I had chained away inside of me.
    After a few seconds of only my footsteps, I turned to see Mr. Whitlock staring at me. Just … staring, as if he was lost on what to do. His shock appeared as great as the one I held.
    “Don’t ever do that again.”
    The words came out harsh, but his expression was anything but. It was still lax and slightly confused. There was no slash of his lips or narrowed angry eyes. Quite the opposite. He was beautiful unmasked.
    “Do you hear me?” He stalked in my direction and it took everything I had not to cower.
    “As you wish.”
    “That’s it? Where’s the apology?”
    One would apologize to a master if they were in the wrong.