He dropped her on something soft but rolled her before she could try to evaluate where she was. She tossed her head, freeing it of the blanket, to find herself on a bed. She twisted enough to stare up at Darkness. He grimly regarded her.

“Tell me the human’s name. Let’s not do this, Kat.”

“Damn it, Darkness, I already said too much. How many prisoners do you have here? Look into all of them. At least that way it will look random and won’t pin a target on my back if you come up with something.”

“I appreciate it. Now understand this. I’m going to make you tell me everything. No more games or half-truths. No more dropping hints. You’re going to start at the beginning and tell me everything. Otherwise…” His voice trailed off.

It pissed her off. “I’m sorry I tried to help you. I thought we were friends.”

He shook his head. “Never.”

The stabbing pain that one word created really hurt. She raised her chin. “Fine. My name is Kathryn Decker and I work for the Bakersfield crime lab. You can take your rules and shove them up your ass.”

“Understood.”

He crossed the room to his closet, yanked open the door and disappeared inside. She fought tears. She’d slept with him and started to care about him. He’d obviously felt nothing for her in return. She glanced at the window. Patrols went by often but it would be dangerous to throw herself through the glass, even tempered glass, and hope an officer heard the noise and came to her rescue. She would likely end up in their medical facility. Darkness would still get his hands on her. They’d just turn her over to their number-one interrogator.

He exited the closet with a bag and dropped it on the floor. She stared at it and then watched him stomp out of the room. Her attention returned to the bag. Those were his tools. What did he plan to do to her? The possibilities were horrible and limitless. He could break bones, yank out teeth or carve her up with a knife. She shivered, feeling exposed.

He might be bluffing. She hoped so. He returned, carrying an office chair. She frowned when he slammed it down on the floor and straightened. He stormed over to her and bent, grabbing her around her waist. She gasped as he lifted her and dropped her into the chair.

“What are you going to do?”

He dropped to his knees next to her, reached out, hooked the bag and dragged it closer. “Stay still.”

She shot up, trying to flee. Her hands might be behind her back but that didn’t mean she was helpless. He moved faster than she would have thought possible. One arm hooked around her waist and she gasped as she was thrown back into the chair. He snarled at her, fury flashing in his look.

“I said sit.”

“Fuck you. I’m not playing this game. I told you what I could.”

He withdrew elastic ties and, though she struggled, secured her at the elbows to the arms of the chair, at the back. He easily subdued her. He rose and went to the bed, grabbed a pillow and returned. He got behind her and she gasped when he shoved the pillow between her lower back and the chair. He straightened, came around and dropped to his knees in front of her. He got more elastic ties from the bag.

“Don’t make me bruise you.”

That was a good indication that he didn’t want to inflict pain.

“Spread your legs a little. Heels against the chair.”

He was going to make certain she didn’t get out of the chair. She hesitated but did it. Her fear level had dropped considerably. “You’re frustrated. I get that. Why don’t we both just calm down a bit and rethink this?”

He secured her ankles to the chair legs so she couldn’t lift them. He reached around her and hooked her waist, yanking her ass to the edge. He adjusted the pillow then let go and shoved her thighs wide apart, exposing her pu**y. She tried to wiggle back but the pillow wouldn’t allow it.

“Is this going to be sexual torture? As opposed to just seducing it out of me, like last time? Okay, new approach. This is starting to look a bit kinky.” She tried to use humor.

He arched one eyebrow.

“I’d prefer that over real torture. The whole bleeding-and-in-pain thing would suck.” She allowed her feelings to show. “I’d never forgive you.”

“Nor would I,” he muttered.

“I’m glad we agree.”

His mouth twisted and he frowned. “Do you think I’d really hurt you? That I could?”

“I hope not.”

His features hardened and all emotion was wiped away. “I could but I wouldn’t. Don’t ever forget that.”

It reaffirmed her faith in him and the feelings she’d started to have for him. He bent a little and reached into the bag once more. He straightened and held out a ball gag. She’d seen them in sex films. “No way.”

“Open your mouth.”

“I thought you wanted me to talk.”

“I don’t want anyone to hear you scream. Species have excellent hearing.”

“Then it’s a ‘hell no’.” She clenched her teeth and showed him that she had by parting her lips.

He grinned. “Really?”

She nodded.

He dropped the gag and reached into his bag again, pulled out duct tape. “This hurts coming off. Your lips are sensitive, Kat. One way or another, I’m going to have to muffle you.”

“You wouldn’t.”

One eyebrow arched.

“Why are you doing this? We both know there are limits on what we can say to each other. That’s been an understanding between us.”