Free Desecrated Beauty (Twisted Fairy Tales #1) by Kyleigh Castronaro

been around…”
    He smiled mysteriously at her before taking her hand and lacing their fingers together, “come along then.” This time when he touched her she jerked away in disgust. Remembering earlier that night when he had pinned her to the car, his body pressed tightly to hers like he possessed it.
    “No. Where are you taking me?”
    “To your room. You didn’t give me a lot of time to prepare it. You’ll have to forgive me for the people who are milling around it right now, but I assure you you’ll have privacy once they’re finished.”
    “And what happens once I have a room? Do you lock me in it?”
    He laughed and shook his head, turning to look at her again, “do you think that is what happens?”
    “I have no idea what’s going to happen to me now. I have no idea who you are. You’ve told me nothing except the fact that you have taken women against their will before and would be willing to do so with me.”
    “Lord Nero-” They both turned to face Clovis, who stood at attention in the doorway. Nero. Something about his name struck her, not because it was antique and unusual but that it felt familiar.
    “Not now Clovis.” The servant, because surely now this was what he was to “Nero”, bowed his head and backed out closing the doors on them. She was now locked in this room with a man who wanted her, was intrigued by her and more than happy to take what he wanted whether she wanted him to take it or not.
    “Nero.” She practiced his name, watching him turn to look at her. She dared to describe what played on his face as a smile, one eyebrow arched in question. They stared at each other for a few minutes, Quill’s stomach in a tight knot. Her instincts were fired up but why, she had no idea.
    Something about this mysterious man scared her, intrigued her, worried her and turned her on. But each conflicting emotion made it harder than ever to carry on her tough-as-nails act. He seemed to read her like a see-through book.
    “Yes?” Nero broke the silence, amusement hinting on his tone at her distraction.
    “What is this place?” She shook herself free from the reverie by forcing herself to walking away from him, letting her eyes roam on the objects decorating the room instead of on his face. It was a diversionary question, something that made her feel like she was back in control. There was other things she wanted to know from him, more important issues than discerning the truth of this place that was as much on the fringes as the compound was.
    “My home, for now,” he said, making her roll her eyes.
    “You know that’s not what I meant. These people, the guards, the servants… the fact that you live outside of the city walls without consequence.”
    He followed her with his eyes, watching how she gingerly touched a vase from the 18th century in the Rococo style. He’d taken it from Versailles during a raid.
    “They’re not my servants,” he said, “they’re family.”
    “You boss family around?”
    “They are family owing me a debt I should say. They work for me to pay it off, but I take care of them so it’s a fair exchange.”
    “You take care of them, how?”
    “Food, house, clothe. The essentials.”
    “And they’re completely incapable of doing that without you?” She finally turned, knocking the vase over with her movement. With lightning fast speed, Nero was beside her, hand catching the vase before it could hit the floor and smash. That was all Quill needed.
    “What the hell!” She gasped and backed away from him like he was a devil.
    Nero admired her eyes and how wide they went, the way the flecks of green sparkled in her hazel eyes like light bouncing off an emerald. He didn’t seem bothered by her fear as he smiled, setting the vase back down in its original position.
    “They could survive, I’m sure, but they would have to live under the council rules and here they are free to live as I choose.”
    Quill wasn’t listening, she was backed against the