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He was quiet for longwhether or not to spill the truth “You’ll have to ask hiive her the cold, hard facts “Just know thisTheodore Cole is not the man he’s portrayed himself to be to you You have no idea who your father really is or what he’s capable of”
She was beginning to believe that was true, but instead of acknowledging Maddux’s stateht back in his face “That’s what Gavin said about you That you’re a dangerous, malicious man”
“Did he now?” He arched a dark brow as he leisurely started walking back toward her, though his disposition was anything but casual “He’s right, Bella I’ ruthless”
The words were a low, round as he neared, crowding into her personal space Her breathing kicked up a notch, causing the upper swells of her breasts, pushed up by the corset stays in her dress, to quiver ever so slightly—her only outward sign of unease She resisted the urge to step back, and considering he was essentially towering over her, she had to tip her head back to look up at his face, which was stunningly gorgeous, despite the ani his features
“Considering everything I am, are you afraid of
She’d already told him she wasn’t scared in his office, and that still held true despite his boorish behavior now “No”
A spiteful smile curled the corners of his mouth “Maybe you should be”
The light arown dark and turbulent, and still that didn’t change the fact that, while she ht be a tad bit nervous about the unknown quantities of her confinehtened, nor did she feel unsafe with hi, assertive, do in front of her had already proven to be a contradiction and she wanted to trust the good she’d seen in him
Twice he’d already defended her honorthe first ti down at the ball and Gavin had roughly grabbed her arain when Gavin had called her a whore and Maddux had nearly ripped his throat out for his disparaging comment Arabella had to believe a man who didn’t hesitate to protect a woreatest ene to deliberately hurt her physically After everything that had transpired downstairs in his office, he had his oalls up, and his anger was out in full force He was lashing out, and she was currently taking the brunt of his resentut-deep level, she knew Maddux wasn’t a man to abuse any woman—despite his threat that she should fear him
“What are you going to do to me?” she asked in a soft voice, more curious than worried
His gaze fell to her lips, then traveled down to her chest, a flicker of hunger igniting in his eyes when theyI told you I expect your total surrender, and I meant it”
“Will you take me by force?” Yes, she’d just assured herself that he wasn’t a cruel man, but she wanted and needed to hear the truth from his own mouth
His jaw clenched at her question, and his brows slashed angrily, as if she’d thoroughly insulted hi she didn't want to, and I’m not a
bout to start with you Anything that happens between us will be consensual and because it’s what you want and desire But make no mistake, Bella, I will have you in my bed, and not just to sleep I will have your sweetmine when I’m buried deep inside your pussy”
Her lips parted and her entire face flushed red hot with shock The dirty, filthy words should have offended her—it hat he probably intended—but instead they aroused her Her tightening nipples scratched against the fabric of her gown, and the slick s was in direct response to his explicit and vivid statement