“What happened?” I dare to ask. “Did my father do that to you?”
“No,” Lex says, catching my wrist. “That’s one of the few scars your father isn’t responsible for.” He breaks eye contact. “My family died in a fire. That’s all you need to know.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” he replies bluntly, wiping his wet, dark hair out of his face. “I’m not.”
I have so many questions, but I’ve already pushed my luck. Outside my room, there’s a rush of wheels accompanied by a familiar scream that gradually grows fainter.
“You should go,” I say. “If they find you here, they’ll lock you up again.”
“Do you really want to get rid of me so soon?” Lex asks, stepping closer. The tiny room shrinks more with him inside it. “The asylum is in lockdown. We’re going nowhere.”
“What about Aiden?” I ask. “He’ll be wondering where one of his minions?—”
Lex’s jaw clenches. “I’m not a minion.”
I’ve struck a nerve. I shouldn’t annoy the man who has just set someone’s cock on fire, but I can’t help myself.
“That’s not what it looks like,” I say. “You and Eli follow Aiden’s rules.”
“Rules are made to be broken,” he says. “You should know that by now. And besides, you owe me.”
“Owe you?” I shake my head in disbelief. “After what you did last night, I owe you nothing.”
“Don’t pretend you didn’t like it,” he says, licking his lips. “I can still taste your sweet pussy on my tongue.”
I back away from him until my calves hit the metal sides of the bed.
“Are you afraid?” His British accent makes everything sound better, even when it’s a cloaked threat. “You should be.”
“You won’t hurt me,” I say, hoping I’m right.
He’s inches from me, and there’s nowhere to run. His radiating body heat warms me through my wet clothes, and my nipples stand to attention, clearly visible through my sweater. He looks down, the corner of his mouth tilting into a twisted grin.
He arches an eyebrow. “Are you sure about that?”
Before I can respond, his lips are on mine. His fingers weave through my hair, and he pulls me closer. The lingering smell of gasoline goes straight to my head, sweeping me away in an inferno. His tongue plunders my mouth, and I wrap my arms around his neck, blaming my eagerness on the fumes.
He sinks his teeth into my bottom lip, forcing a groan from me. His scarred hands pull off my sweater, and I claw at his T-shirt, tearing the fabric around his shoulders. He pauses to remove it, giving me time to admire his body. The white light illuminates his pale skin, showcasing every scar and line of his delicious, defined muscles. I run my hands over his marks, and my heart sinks at the thought of what he’s had to endure.
Lex pinches my nipple hard. His smoky scent engulfs me as he whispers, “Don’t pity me.”
I can’t help it. His body maps his suffering. Knowing that my father is responsible is almost too much to bear.
“I’m sorry about what he did,” I murmur, stroking the base of Lex’s neck at the spot where his burns end and another scar begins. “I really am.”
He crushes my windpipe in his grasp. With one hand around my throat, he propels my entire body around and slams my back into the wall, then slides his other hand into my panties. His fingers meet my wetness and spread me open.
“I said…” He slides two fingers inside me. My body jerks from the force as he fucks me with them. “Don’t.” His knuckles graze my pussy lips with each flick of his wrist. “Pity me.”
I gargle, battling for air.
He smiles, satisfied I won’t struggle as he releases his chokehold to unleash his cock.
“I’m a monster, Little Ghost,” he murmurs. “A monster who breaks the rules.”
“I—”
