When I heard my brother’s laughter from downstairs, I realized how dangerous this was. Anyone could come in.
“You want me to respect you?”
It was a loaded question, but I only knew one answer. Only wanted one thing from this man, and only needed it once so I could know what it was like.
I shook my head.
I wanted him to disrespect me. Every inch of me.
His hands tightened on my waist almost painfully, as if he struggled to keep them there. He nuzzled the back of my head, but his voice was suddenly as cold as ice. “You like it when men disrespect you?”
A chill passed through me.
My hand still rested on his, and he gently spun my ring with a finger until the jewel faced downward. His teeth scraped my ear. “Or maybe you just like to get them all worked up, panting after you.”
His lips brushed my neck and goose bumps broke out along my body.
“So, which one is it?”
I was a slut or a tease.
Those were the options he’d given me—what he thought of me. Frustration expanded in my chest.
“Both.”
He stilled, before making an angry sound in his throat and shoving me away from him.
I grasped the counter, catching myself, and then spun around.
His gaze flared. “Looks like you’re as big of a cheat as I am, Elena.”
What was that supposed to mean? That was the second time he’d insinuated I was somehow disloyal.
Ice trickled into my veins when someone appeared at the top of the basement stairs. Gabriella. She looked between us, back and forth, then smiled awkwardly and hurried from the kitchen.
I wasn’t in a position to analyze why she had been down there with three of the men in my family, and even if I were, I didn’t care to dwell on it. The relief was palpable that she hadn’t entered a moment sooner.
“Go upstairs and change, Elena.” Nico’s voice was hard and uncompromising.
Did he honestly believe I would do what he said? God, he was so full of himself.
My eyes narrowed. “No.”
He ran his tongue across his teeth, and before I understood his intention, he had an arm around the backs of my thighs and my feet left the floor. A breath whooshed out of me as he tossed me over his shoulder.
“Guess I’ll have to do it for you then,” he bit out as he carried me to the door.
“Okay! Okay, I’ll do it.”
When he didn’t put me down, I struggled and tried to wiggle out of his grip. His arm tightened around my thighs like a vise and I couldn’t move an inch. He pushed open the swinging door and panic flooded me.
“Stop!” I hissed, hanging upside down. “I said, I’ll do it.”
“Ask me nicely.”
My teeth clenched. “Please, put me down.”
He dropped me to my feet in the foyer. His eyes flicked to the staircase, in that commanding way of telling me to get there.