It was a fair question. “I don’t know. Why do you enjoy it when I hurt you?”
“I’m the one asking questions here. So, answer.”
“It’s about dominance. It’s about strength. Only those who are truly strong can find the good in the bad. When you enjoy the pleasure in the midst of pain, you’re fortified by it. You’re empowered by it. It turns me on to see a woman cry but still enjoy it. If she can handle it, then she’s a warrior.” I turned my gaze on her, my lips desperate for hers. “That’s why I’m so obsessed with you. You aren’t like the others. You breathe fire. You’re strong. Nothing can break you, not even me.”
Instead of being offended by the response, she seemed a little touched. It wasn’t the answer she was expecting. “Do you hurt every woman you’re with?”
“No. I have regular sex. I just don’t enjoy it as much.”
“Have you ever raped someone before?”
Now she was on question number three. “I’ll keep answering your questions, but it’s going to cost you.”
“How much?”
“Another button.”
She pressed her lips together as she considered her next move. She only had seven buttons left in her jar. How much would she spend? “Answer my question.”
“You already asked me this weeks ago.”
“And I want to know if your answer is still the same.”
She needed reassurance I wasn’t a liar. When she’d asked me that question, she didn’t know me as well as she did now. “No, I never have.”
“Were you ever going to rape me?”
I made two attempts, and I failed both times. “It wasn’t from a lack of trying. When I walked into your bedroom that first time, I had every intention of doing it. But I couldn’t.”
“Why not?”
That was a complicated question. “I don’t like to make women cry. I don’t like to cause them pain. The fear you showed and the tears you shed...those were from fear. I’m not into that. I want a woman to want me—and to want me to hurt them.”
“Then why did you come up with this button arrangement?”
“Because I could tell you wanted me. You needed an excuse to be with me. You’re too proud to give in to your captor, even if you’re attracted to him. I had to give you a reason. And freedom was the only way to do that. I was willing to lose you as long as I got to have you first.”
“So you really will let me go?”
She’d asked enough questions. “You moved to the next tier. It will cost you three buttons to continue.”
She sighed in irritation. “This isn’t fair. You don’t need to ask me anything because you know everything about me. But I don’t know anything about you.”
“Who said life was fair?” I countered.
She glared at me. “I shouldn’t have to pay for your answers.”
I shrugged. “That’s how it goes.”
She glared at me again.
“How about this? I’ll keep answering your questions until we reach the number of buttons you’re willing to pay. And tonight, you’ll work them off.” We were in the perfect room to accomplish the task. “We’ll be even.”
“But you’ll make me do something crazy.”
“I’ll never make you do anything you don’t want to do.” She knew me better by now. She was never forced to do anything against her will. Not now and not ever. Well...except being my prisoner.
“Fine. Will you really let me go?”
“When you pay your debt?”
“Yes.”
“I’m a man of my word—through and through.”
Relief filled her eyes. “I’ve been debating whether I should trust you or not.”
“You know I’m an honorable guy, an honorable criminal.”
“I didn’t know there was such a thing.”
“Now you do. Anything else?”
“If you’re a good guy, why do you sell weapons to criminals?”
I never said such a thing. “What makes you think I sell to criminals?”
“You’re an arms dealer. Who else would you sell them to?”
“Our company creates weapons to sell to governments for their defense. When Bones releases a new prototype, we design something to counteract it. Countries are always prepared for whatever’s headed their way.”
She stared at me with a dumbfounded expression, realizing she’d assumed the worst. She usually covered up her weakness like an expert, but this time, she couldn’t hide her misstep. “Seriously?”
“When have I ever lied to you?”
“I just thought... I’m confused.”
“Clearly.”
“Why do you do that? Why do you sell weapons to governments instead of the highest bidder?”
“Sometimes the good guys are the highest bidders.” That was my answer, but only part of it. “I don’t know about you, but I like feeling safe in my country. I have friends all over the world, and I want them to be safe too. Bones is the type of enemy that will try to rule the world. If he succeeded, that would benefit nobody. Besides, it pisses him off. And I like pissing him off.”