You Are Mine by Jackie Ashenden Read Free Book Online Page A

ask again.”
    â€œOh Christ. You’re not my damn father, Zac, so quit telling me what to do.”
    She was stalling, that much was obvious. Which meant he was going to have to push her again and this time go further.
    The time had come for him to stop protecting her from himself.
    Slowly, he got up from the chair and rose to his full height.
    Her head tipped back as she tracked the movement, and he caught the fleeting apprehension that crossed her face. Then as quickly as it had appeared, the expression vanished, her usual sarcastic, prickly mask firmly back in place.
    â€œI think,” he said gently, “that it’s time someone told you what to do more often. And that you should listen.”
    â€œOr what?” She was operating on sheer bravado now, he could see it. “Are you trying to intimidate me? Is that what you’re trying to do?” She took a step toward him, then another. “Nice way to treat your friends, asshole.”
    All the color had leached away from her face now, her cheeks pale as ashes. Her eyes glittered, fear bright in them despite her tough words.
    That was the problem with his angel. She was a fighter; it was her greatest strength. Yet it was also her greatest flaw. Because she didn’t know when to stop. That sometimes there was more strength in surrendering than in fighting.
    You can teach her how to do that.
    Oh, yes. He could. There were so many things he could teach her if she’d only let him. But of course, she was never going to let him.
    Zac took the last step, closing the distance between them, getting right into her personal space. He wasn’t touching her, but they were only inches apart. It was a tactic he used to intimidate and overwhelm. To assert his authority, his dominance.
    Because if there was one thing Eva King had to learn it was that he was the one in charge now. Yes, her anger was preferable but her fear was also a useful tool, and use it he would. To break her.
    It wasn’t something he relished doing; it was necessary in order to protect her and the lives of their friends.
    Bullshit. You do get off on it. The Dom in you wants the challenge, it always has.
    He ignored that thought, crushed the reflexive surge of desire as her eyes widened at his nearness, as she held her ground in front of him. Good Christ, she was nothing if not brave.
    He’d never been this close to her before since she didn’t like to be touched. So close he could feel the warmth of her slight body, see the quickened beat of her pulse at her throat, smell the sweet, subtle scent of the jasmine and vanilla body lotion he knew she favored.
    Desire rolled and stretched out inside him, lazy and hot. Fuck, she smelled delicious. It woke all the urges that should have been awakened by the sub in Limbo days ago but hadn’t.
    Not a good sign. Because as much has he wanted to, he wasn’t here to dominate her. She wasn’t ready even if she’d shown an interest in him. And she’d never shown an interest. Not once.
    No, he couldn’t satisfy those urges. Information any way he could get it, that’s all he was here for.
    â€œAre you challenging me?” Zac murmured softly, looking down into Eva’s white face. “Because if you are, you’re making a mistake. I’m not a man you want to challenge.”
    Her chin came up, courageous to the last. “Yeah and why is that? What are you going to do? You can’t force me, Zac.”
    He smiled and deliberately let the mask of the gentleman drop. “Oh I won’t have to force you, angel. There are ways and means, and believe me, I know all the ways. I can make you want to give it to me.” He let his smile turn savage. “I can make you want to give me everything.”
    *   *   *
    Eva couldn’t move. She could barely breathe. Her fear battered against the walls of her control, demanding she run, screaming at her to back away, throw herself