Escaping The Beast: A Darkhills Romance (The Darkhills Series Book 2) by Elizabeth Greene (young adult books to read TXT) 📕

Annoyingly, she found she didn’t need to put up much of a fight as he released her hands immediately. Still high on pleasure, she used her newfound freedom to grab at his head, tangling her hands in his hair while she kissed him fiercely. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to shove him away or pull him closer, but her lips fought his for dominance as she attacked his mouth with harsh bites and growls of frustration.

“You bastard. I hate you.” She hissed as she ground herself against him, greedily seeking more. She cried out as if stung when he pulled his hand away from her aching and needy core.

“Why, Katherine? Why do you hate me? Why did you fight to tell me?” Lucian pulled away from her kiss and looked down at her with a mixture of desperation and hunger.

“You lied to me, it's obvious. You said I could make reasonable requests during my stay here, you said I was free to leave to explore the estate. When I tried both of those things I was denied. If you weren’t able to figure that out for yourself, then why should I make life easy for you and tell you when you sure as Hell aren’t making life easy for me.”

Katherine seethed at him, her body still high on adrenaline and her mind gearing up for another fight. She wanted to launch herself at him. She just didn’t know whether it was to attack him or straddle his lap, so she kept as still as she could muster.

“I have denied you nothing. I said I would see to it that your belongings were acquired for you and I have never tried to stop you from leaving to explore the estate.” Confusion marred his brow, as he eased himself away from her, to sit upright on the edge of the bed.

“I don’t want my belongings fetched for me. I want to be able to get them myself. I don’t want some stranger going through my things. And if you’ve supposedly never tried to stop me from leaving, why was the front door locked? Why was it that I have no way of looking outside of this prison to see my surroundings? Why is it I am taunted by the sight of a beautiful courtyard filled with roses but I’m kept from being able to even walk among them,” Katherine argued, sitting up to mirror his movements.

Lucian ran an exasperated and abashed hand over his face.

“The doors should not have been locked.”

“Well, they were, trust me I know.”

“No, no, I believe you. Mr. Jones usually ensures the building is secured during the day. It is my error for not instructing him to leave them unlocked,” he shook his head and looked apologetically at her. The look of honesty took the wind out of her sails instantly.

“It was just a mistake? You made a mistake?” Katherine questioned.

“Yes, as much as I don’t like to admit it, I made a mistake. Please, Katherine, accept my sincerest apologies. I never meant for you to feel like you were imprisoned here with me.”

“Aren’t I though?” Katherine countered, not quite ready to accept his apology.

“What do you mean?”

“I am under contract to stay at Tumbricane for two months, or until my father comes up with the goods, which let us be honest; isn’t likely to happen in that time. You’ve effectively forced me to put my life on pause while we wait for him to sort his mess out. I have none of my own things, I am unable to do the things that I want to do; like continue my studies, or do the stuff I enjoy,”

“What do you enjoy?”

“I don’t know,” Katherine threw her hands up in the air in exasperation. “Going for a run, watching a movie. The point is Lord Nightingale: I may have a comfortable bed, I may get fed delicious pancakes for breakfast, I may receive the most mind-blowing orgasms of my life, but I’m still not free to live my life. I am still being punished for the actions of my father.” She looked away into the fire that burned in the hearth, “It feels like no matter what, I am always going to be punished because of my parents.”

The silence stretched between them for a long minute, while Katherine held a deep breath. She was tired. So very tired and honestly couldn’t face fighting with him anymore.

“If you’re planning on biting me and drinking my blood, can you either get it over with or can we postpone it until tomorrow? I’d like to return to my room now, please.”

“Of course, Katherine,” Lucian said quietly, standing to offer her his hand to help her rise from the bed.

She took his hand, feeling like there was little point in being stubbornly resistant anymore. They both knew he could charm his way around her willpower, much to her own self-loathing.

They walked in silence as Lucian led her down a spiral stone staircase that brought them to the heavy tapestry in the great hall. He held the fabric aside as he guided her out into the hall.

So that’s where it led to. Katherine mused absently as she followed where Lord Nightingale led her across the room.

“The doors will not be locked tomorrow, I give you my word,” he vowed from beside her.

She glanced his way not sure whether to trust him on his word, only to frown at his appearance. He remained shirtless, his hair still mussed up from where her hands had tangled in the long lengths on top during the aftermath of her pleasure.

“Aren’t you cold? You should probably put something on, after cleaning that wound up, that is,” she suggested quietly, trying to forget their moment of passion.

“I am cold, but it doesn’t bother me so much. As much as I appreciate your concern, I do not feel as though I deserve it. Please, do not worry yourself anymore with my injury, as I said; it’ll