Dollars (Dollar #2)(32)

My nostrils flared.

It didn’t work like that. Michaels had found me at my weakest. He’d been kind to me, and I respected that kindness. It wasn’t a weakness to answer him.

A curse fell from Elder’s lips. “I’d hoped not to see you again until your tongue was healed. Do you know why?” His gaze shot me with ebony arrows.

That question demanded a yes or no answer, but still, I remained mute.

“Because,” he snarled, “if I knew your tongue was better, I would force you to speak. You expect me to hurt you? Well, perhaps I will if it means you’ll finally tell me what I want.”

You do, and it will make you just like him.

I bared my teeth, showing more emotion than I meant.

You do, and I’ll clamp up and never utter a word to you.

He sighed, his face softening. “That would make me just like him, wouldn’t it?”

I breathed hard as he battled for calmness.

“And then I wouldn’t deserve your voice.” Pushing off the rail, he came closer. The moon shone behind him, etching him in silver silhouette. “Fine, silent mouse. Keep your quietness a little longer; let me prove to you I do deserve your voice.”

Ever so slowly, he took my hand, pulling it away from my knee with a sharp tug. I couldn’t fight him, even though I tried.

My suspicions about his intentions flared. Was this the first point of initiation? Did he hate that I’d trespassed on his time out here and would make me pay for it?

Only, his fingers slipped through mine—cool and slightly sticky from sea water. “This isn’t working…for either of us.”

I sucked my bottom lip as he curled his hand tighter, holding it like any normal introduction—like the introduction I’d refused when Alrik had ordered me to shake his hand.

“I think we should start again, don’t you?” His fingers tightened around mine, activating the warmth inside me into a scalding heat. “I think you should stop doubting me. Learn to know me with no judgment clouding your mind.”

I tugged, but he didn’t let me go.

“In return, I’ll give you the time you need. I won’t force you. And I won’t get angry when you deny me my answers.” His lips pulled into half a smile. “For a short while, at least.”

Our hands grew hot, searing together the longer we touched. Fire licked down my arm, tickling and foreign, hissing through my spine and into my already hot belly.

“Do we have a deal?”

Just like the decision to nod for Michaels was hard, this was even harder.

Harder because there was no going back from this. It wasn’t just a nod but an oath to trust him, and I hadn’t trusted anyone in so long. Those I had trusted turned out to hurt me the most.

Don’t fear the future.

Only endure the present.

Michaels’ wisdom was what made me squeeze his hand in return and very reluctantly nod.

Elder sucked in a breath, a sinful smile on his face. “Thank you. For finally agreeing to give me a chance.”

Memories of him coming back for me, of his livid anger at my bleeding tongue, and tender strength as he carried me out of hell wrenched through my doubt.

In my twisted emotions, I’d forgotten one thing.

How to be grateful.

He deserved my thanks, and I hadn’t given it to him. I’d been rude and distrustful and ruined his property. Yet, he hadn’t raised a hand to me.

Trust would be very hard to earn from me, but short-term thanks wouldn’t be. My mother had raised me better than that. I had manners…somewhere. I just had to remember how to use them.

Pulling my hand from his, I paused, then, ever so hesitantly, I placed my fingertips on his damp chest, right where the snout of his dragon protected his heart.

I let thanks fill my gaze. I tightened my fingers a little, sinking my fingernails into his skin. Not to draw blood but to show the depth of what I wanted to say.

Thank you…Elder.

He shuddered beneath my touch, his black eyes an eclipse.

He didn’t remove my touch, barrelling his way through our locked gaze as if he heard every syllable I didn’t utter.

Finally, his lips smiled in the darkness. His voice wrapped around me, promising a better tomorrow now we’d drawn battle lines.

“You’re welcome, Pimlico.”

*

Lying in bed that night, I couldn’t stop Elder from starring in my thoughts.

After we’d lingered under the moonlight and he’d accepted my gratitude, he grabbed my wrist and pulled my touch away. Without a word, he strolled down the deck and disappeared downstairs.

I followed a few minutes afterward, still lost and afraid but not quite as rageful as I’d been.

Unable to fall asleep, even after an emotionally draining few days, I pulled the notepad and pen toward me and poured my heart to the one friend who I trusted impeccably.



Dear No One,

My life has changed.

How many times did I wish for that?

But what happens if the change wasn’t what I expected? What if I didn’t get to go home to my family? What if I now face yet another trial, another man, another ownership?

Was it stupid of me to admit that if Elder stole me to protect me from Alrik, I would be content to be his? Is it wrong of me to back out of such an admission so soon?

I have so many questions, No One, and nobody to ask.