Dominion (Book 1 of The Dominion Series) Read Online Free PDF

letting you into my apartment because then you'll be able to enter any time you want."
    "Eve, we need to talk. Open the door. I'm coming in."
    "You have no right to order me around."
    "I'm coming in ."
    "Why are you so domineering?"
    "Why are you so emotional?" he says and steps closer to me, touching my cheek. Instantly, I calm down from whatever brain chemicals he's making me release. "Don't get me wrong," he says softly. "I love that in you. It makes it so easy for me to read you without even having to touch you. Of course, I do so like to touch you." He smiles.
    "If I'm emotional, it's because this matters."
    "I know," he says all full of sympathy, tilting his head in that characteristic way. "I don't trust people who control their emotions too well. You can't lie and I value that. You might as well just stop lying to me and then this will all be so much easier. Now, open the door. Invite me in."
    "I don't want you to come in."
    "I know you don't, Eve," he says softly. "All of this must be very upsetting to you. I didn't want this either. I tried to erase your memories so you could go on and just live your life without becoming involved in our world. But now that you are involved, you have to trust me."
    "I can't just trust you," I say, frustrated. "Trust is built and based on evidence of trustworthiness."
    "You really have no choice. Either you let yourself trust me, surrender to it, or you fight me every step of the way. And believe me, this is a fight you will not win."
    "Surrender to it?" I say, barely able to keep my voice under control. "You mean surrender to you . I've never been one to just give over to anything."
    "I can sense that," he says and sighs. "It will just make things more difficult and painful. So much easier for us both if you just comply."
    We stand there at an impasse.
    "I'm not letting you in willingly."
    "So be it," he says and grabs my wrist. "I'm committed to my cause, Eve. Nothing – no paltry resistance on the part of a pretty Adept is going to sway me from it. I'll do whatever I have to – whatever it takes – even if I hate myself for it. Even if you hate me for it. Now open the door and let me in. I can't compel you but I can hurt you."
    I close my eyes as pain burns through me like a knife searing in my gut. I gasp at its intensity and bend over at the waist. It's so sharp it brings tears to my eyes. Then it's gone as quickly as it starts.
    "You… monster …"
    "Yes, I am a monster," he says and shakes me, his expression dark. "Don't forget it." After a moment, his face softens. "Eve, I don't want to hurt you," he says, his voice quiet. "Quite the opposite. But you have to know with complete certainty that I will do anything and everything to succeed, including punishing you if it's the only way to get compliance."
    I turn away from him, my face all hot from the pain, my eyes all teared-up for the umpteenth time this evening. I open the door and step inside but I don't invite him in.
    He just stands there for a moment, waiting. Then he closes his eyes and I swear I can see him fuming.
    "Don't make me force you. I'm very old and very powerful and very angry right now."
    I give in. "Please, come in."
    I hear his sigh of relief and then he steps over the threshold.
    "You live alone?" he asks, glancing around.
    I want to say that I have a boyfriend living with me who plays linebacker on the football team, or a big Rottweiler, but he'll know both are a lie. He's touched me quite a bit tonight and probably already knows I'm a single cat lady in waiting.
    "Yes. I have two cats, but otherwise I live by myself. I also have two real Samurai swords on the wall in my bedroom."
    Damn . I didn't really say that, did I?
    He smiles and then laughs out loud, his too-blue eyes filled with amusement. My face burns and so I go to my closet and remove my coat and hang it up, depositing my umbrella inside.
    He comes over to me and takes my hands in his. I try to avoid him, but he's far too strong. He turns