I nod.

I can feel him smile. “I’m a monster … remember? I don’t play nice.”

“I’m not asking you to,” I reply.

“Good. Because I am not about to listen,” he says, his voice gruff and demanding as he takes my earlobe into his mouth and sucks. Then bites.

Hard enough for it to hurt, but soft enough for it not to bleed.

“Think you can handle me?” he muses. “That you can taunt me like that and get away with it?”

I shake my head, but he pulls my hair harshly, forcing my head back and exposing my neck.

His lips make a trail down towards the base of my neck, where he plants a hot kiss filled with desire … and something else. A hunger for bad things.

He wraps his free arm around my waist and pulls me close while his tongue dips out to lick my skin.

My legs quake. I feel something between my legs … excitement … something I haven’t felt in a very long time.

“I’m not gentle. I’m not nice,” he whispers, sinking his teeth into my skin.

I hiss, but still don’t reply.

“You’ve pushed me too far now, Syrena,” he groans. “I’m going to take what belongs to me now. Inch by inch, your body will be mine.”