If only Dick hadn’t been such a beast. If only he hadn’t been so nice about being such a beast—he might have wanted to really hurt her, but he sucked at it. She remembered him pulling out of her when he thought he was too big for her…remembered the excellent food, and the large quantities of it. The absurd marriage proposal. Absurd because…well, just because.

If he wasn’t such a dick, she could start to like him. But nobody—fucking nobody—snatched Janet Lupo from the street, tied her down like a dog, and did whatever he wanted. He’d pay. She would have to wait for her chance, but it would eventually present itself. And then he’d better watch out for his guts, because she meant to have them on the floor.

The smell of eggs basted in butter woke her up. Before she could open her eyes, she realized Dick was under the blankets with her. Then she felt his mouth on her neck and felt brief pain as his fangs broke the skin. She tried to push him away, but he pinned her down and held her to the bed while he drank. She had no leverage and could only lie beneath him while he took from her.

“You piece of shit,” she said directly into his ear.

He laughed against her throat. “That’s the problem, Jane m’love. If you screamed or fainted or cried, I’d have no interest in you—I’d want to be rid of you as quickly as possible. But you’re fearless, and furious, and it works on me like an aphrodisiac. Which is why you have to be my wife.”

“I’d rather eat my own heart.”

He licked the bite mark on her neck and then nuzzled the tender spot. “That’s a rather disturbing visual. Did you sleep well? I admit I was astonished you weren’t lying in wait ready to strangle me with the sash from one of your robes.”

“I’d rather wait until you dropped your guard. Then you’ll be sorry,” she said with total confidence.

He rested his forehead against hers. “God, you’re delightful.”

“I’m going to skin you alive, you fucking undead monkey. Then I’m going to set your skin on fire. Then I’m going to roast your skinless body over the fire I made with your skin.”

“And so ladylike, too! Umm…” His cool mouth closed over one of her nipples, and she brought her fist down on top of his head, hard. Then she yelped when he bit her. “Sorry,” he said, rubbing the top of his head. “That was you, not me. You hit me so hard my teeth nearly clacked together.”

“Just you wait,” she said ominously.

He kissed her wrist, her pulse point, and then the crook of her elbow. She balled a fist and got ready to sock him again.