But I never wanted it. Any of it.
And now I don’t have a choice. There is no way Kai could win. And even if she could, I can’t let her. Only the cruelest of men deserve to be trapped in this life. And I would never wish this life for Kai.
Whether Kai truly wants to become Black or not doesn’t matter. It won’t stop her from fighting with everything she has tomorrow. Her father chose the first task. He might have chosen something that plays to her strengths. And I can’t let her win—not one round.
I won’t let her become Black.
I don’t know what I was thinking when I went out there to taunt her. I was angry and pissed that she could stop fucking me so easily. I thought I rocked her world. I know I did, but it wasn’t enough.
I should head to Surrender or one of my other bars to pick up a woman for tonight. It would help me blow off steam and be focused for tomorrow. But that thought makes my stomach turn up in disgust.
For the present moment, there is only one woman who would be able to get my cock up. And she almost shot me in the arm.
If she had wanted to, she would have, and I would have deserved it.
I grin.
My fiery woman.
No, not my anything.
She’s nothing more than my prisoner and enemy. The only reason I keep her here is to keep track of her. And to protect her—that’s it.
The back door opens as I’m standing in the kitchen staring into the fridge, trying to find something light to eat that won’t slow me down tomorrow.
“What the hell was that? You’ve resorted to taunting me now? You really that desperate to win tomorrow?” Kai storms into the kitchen, ready for a fight.
I slam the refrigerator door closed.
Kai crosses her arms, her curvy hips swaying in annoyance.
“Just trying to even the score.”
“How so?”
“You ran out this morning like I didn’t just fuck your brains out last night. Like that didn’t fucking change everything. Like you could live without doing that again.”
“I could. I will.”
My jaw tenses, my lips thin, and my eyes darken. “No, you couldn’t.”
She rolls her eyes. “I’ve lived without sex for twenty-three years. You think I couldn’t go another few weeks until this is finished without fucking my enemy?”
“Stop calling me that.”
“That’s what you are: my enemy. My captor. The asshole who sold me. I can also call you bastard, jerk, dick, fucktwat, motherfucker, son of a bitch. Which would you prefer?”
I smirk. “That’s not what you were calling me last night. If I remember correctly you were calling me ‘oh God,’ and ‘yes,’ and ‘fuck yes.’ I prefer one of those names.”
She shakes her head slightly. “Just leave me alone. We should both be preparing for whatever awaits us tomorrow. We both need a clear head so we don’t get ourselves killed.”
“Exactly,” I say taking a step into her personal bubble.
Her eyes heat as my own eyes travel up and down her body letting her know exactly what I think of her skimpy workout outfit.
“Not going to happen,” she says.
“Don’t act like you don’t want me in your bed every fucking night.”