I nudge his knee with my other foot. He lifts it, pulls off the second heel, and sets off to work.
“I am aware.”
I blink. His voice is calm.
“You can talk?”
“Just now noticed? Witch, your intellect disappoints.”
My jaw drops. He’s still a smug asshole, even under compulsion.
“I’ve never even heard someone speak under compulsion! Of course, you’dfigure out how to be a prick through sheer spite.”
I shove my foot into his palm hoping to jam one of his fingers. “Keep rubbing, boy.”
He says nothing more and obediently resumes rubbing while I stew.
Eventually the annoyance fades. And once again, I’m waiting on Arella.
Cage’s hand slides up my calf, thumb working in slow, deep strokes into the muscle.
Goosebumps rise along my skin as his fingers creep higher, brushing the sensitive crease behind of my knee. He sets to work kneading my muscles with expert precision.
I glance sideways. His eyes are still clouded in milky haze.
The door opens. Not Arella.
Then hot breath ghosts over my foot. I look down.
Cage presses a kiss to my toe. Then another. He trails kisses up the arch of my foot, slow and languid, dragging his mouth to my shin, then back down.
“Cage?” I ask, uncertain.
No response. A part of me wonders if this is part of the compulsion order; another wants to kick him in the face. Yet,the darker part of me stirs at the sight of him on his knees as he kisses my feet.
Then, suddenly, he bites. Pain spikes through my calf as I jerk my leg away.
“Giving me away as a fucking slave?” he asks aggressively, rising off the floor. His hand snaps forward, grabbing my collar and yanking me upright.
I shove at his chest, kick out hard. “Get the fuck off me!”
“We are going to have a little chit chat. You have been a bad girl.”
“Bad girl? I’m not some dog.” I aim another kick at his crotch, but he deflects me with his knee.
“You have a collar sweetheart. All you’re missing is a tag. Then again, weallknow you’re a bitch.”
He rips me off the sofa and my knees slam against the marble floors. They sting as he drags me by the collar across the floor. My brief triumph fleets and humiliation reigns.
I gasp as the collar tightens, cutting off blood flow in pulses. Lightheaded, I struggle to get my footing, but he drags me too fast.
“Cage!” I choke, trying to force out my voice.
Around us, girls summon their enthralled men—none of them dare get close.
Arella bursts through the doors and her face twists with rage and disbelief. She screams,“How are you free?!”
I scream as Cage lifts my body and hurls me across the room. I curl in on myself midair, saving my head from the impact.
