“Sit down.” He made sure his voice didn’t give her a chance to argue. She lowered herself into her seat. He released her hand, and she pulled her legs up around her, hugging them to her body.
“Now, you’re safe here. The men follow me. You’re a fertile woman, Ashley, and that means you’re going to come with a certain want.”
She shook her head. He couldn’t deny it. He wanted her, to spread those thighs and to have a taste of her virgin pussy. To tear through that virgin wall, make her his, and fill her with his child.
This world wasn’t going to repair itself any time soon. They all had to make the most of what they wanted.
“Out there you will be nothing more than a vessel. A place for a guy to fuck and breed.”
“That’s what you want,” she said, the accusation clear in her voice.
He got to his feet, trapping her in the chair she sat in as he hovered over her. There was nowhere for her to go. Compared to his sheer size she was nothing more than a slip of a woman. His training also put him ahead of most men.
She gritted her teeth, and he saw her taking deep breaths. Fear flashed in her eyes, but she quickly disguised it.
“I will protect and care for you, Ashley. All I ask is for a mere kiss so you can read the book. Is that so bad? Others would ask for far more.”
She stared where he’d placed the book. So harmless.
All it would take was a kiss.
Men had never given her a reason to trust them, but maybe she was wrong this time. Could Draven be different? Was she judging him unfairly? It was hard to trust anyone anymore, let alone men. At least he hadn’t attacked them.
“I won’t hurt you. I’ll take care of you.” He stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers and hated how she flinched away. “I see we’re going to have to work on that.”
He took his seat again. Picking up the book, he held it in his hand. “I guess I’ll have to prove to you that I mean you no harm. Once I’ve done that and you’ve given me the kiss I want, I’ll let you read it.”
With that, he didn’t say another word. He walked to the door, left the room, and flicked the lock into place.
“What are you doing? Let me out.” She slammed her hands against the door, and he smiled. Not a chance.
He’d seen the hungry look in the other men’s eyes when they caught sight of her. Being the strongest, the king, he got what he wanted, not his men.
Whistling to himself, he made his way back down to the main room. At the foot of the stairs sat Luanna, the woman that had been with Ashley.
She stood up the moment she caught sight of him. She was a pretty thing but nothing compared to Ashley.
“Why have you taken her?” Luanna asked.
“I’m going to keep her safe.”
“I heard this place was a safe haven for women. That you protected us and yet, you take her and don’t care about her own needs. I want her returned. We’ll leave here and be out of your hair.”
“That’s not going to happen. You can leave by all means but not her.”
“How dare you? You’re not her father. You’re nothing to her. She’s not yours. She’s her own person, not an animal.”
“You want to take her out of this place. You think that’s wise? You know what it’s like to have your choice taken from you. To be raped. You want that same kind of life for her?”
“What are you doing to her now? You want her, and rather than give her time, you’re going to rape her.”
“I don’t rape women.”
“Then let me see her.”
“No.”
“You’re a horrible man. Horrible, horrible man.”
She stood in his way, and he found himself growing ever more bored with this conversation. “You done?”
“I don’t know how anyone would want to follow such a vile person. Give me back Ashley.”
She charged toward him. He gripped her around the throat and pinned her against the wall. She started fighting him, but he simply squeezed, shocking her into silence.
“Listen to me closely. This is a safe haven for women. No one is to force themselves on you. The men and women here freely explore each other. I have never forced myself onto a woman, and I never will. Ashley is mine. She’s a fertile, which makes her life more valuable than yours. You think she’ll be safe with my men here? Not all of them will be able to control themselves knowing there’s a woman with a fertile future. I will never harm her. I will never force her. I’m the best chance she has in this world, and I will take her.”
“Do you even hear yourself?” she asked.
He’d released her neck long enough for her to speak.
“I hear myself loud and clear. This world is a fucked-up mess, and I’m doing the best I can with what I’ve got, and believe me, take a look around you—it’s not a lot. This is what we call home. Now stay, or fucking leave, but don’t ever call me a rapist again.” He threw her aside and walked back toward the library.
She clearly didn’t understand how valuable Ashley was in the grand scheme of things. This was his world. His rules.
As he closed the library doors, the scent of musty old books filled the air, comforting him.
Ever since the virus had been released in the air, he’d only been surviving, moving from place to place until he found this mansion. Along the way he picked up a few strays, and they’d formed a sort of pack.
He took a seat in the worn leather armchair and stared out across the entire land of books. There were so many, and that was one of the reasons he loved this place. Of course, the security was tight.
The person who’d been here before had died. Their body had been in the hallway, and it looked like they were reaching out, trying to escape the death that wanted to claim them. He’d dug a grave and laid the body to rest far from the house before claiming the place. Washing every square inch of the building, he’d made it theirs.
Now there was a woman in his room.
A woman he wanted.
The sight of her alone had his dick hard. He couldn’t recall a time he’d reacted this way to a woman.
Getting to his feet, he found the romance section and wondered if that would appeal to her sweet side. Picking up two romance books, he made his way back through the house, going toward his bedroom.
He entered his room and paused as he found her on the floor, curled up in a ball. She looked absolutely exhausted, and he saw the wet lines down her face from where she’d been crying.
Making her cry hadn’t been his intention.
Locking the door, he put the books down on the small table and moved toward her. Compared to him she was incredibly small, fragile, vulnerable. Everything he loved in a woman.
He scooped her up in his arms and carried her over to his bed. She didn’t wake, and he could only imagine the exhaustion she must be feeling. The world out there wasn’t fit for most men, let alone women.
She’d come a long way, and he would do everything in his power to win her trust. There’s no way he’d ever allow another man to claim her, to touch her. She wouldn’t feel fear.
Putting the blanket over her body, he teased back a few strands of hair. “You will always be taken care of. You have my vow on that, sweetheart.”
He wasn’t a bad man, not really. He only wanted her.