Like the beast readying to consume its prey, painfully slow. And I hope he does go slow. Drags out the torture of being caught between Zade's teeth. His hand drifts slowly up past my chest, gently grazing his fingers across the column of my neck. And then, in an instant, his hand is snapping around my throat, gripping tight. I gasp, my eyes widening as his lip curls into a sinister smile. “T can put a collar around this pretty neck of yours instead. Then you wouldn’t have the option to say no. You would just be my good little girl that does whatever your master says. Would you like that better, baby?” “No,” I snarl, but it tastes like a lie. “You don’t own me. You never will.” His eyes narrow, and my heart drops. “Take off my belt, Adeline.” I gape at him, and when I don’t make a move, his hand tightens. “Make me ask again and see what happens.” Clenching my jaw, I reach out and undo the black belt around his waist. I rip it off, not caring if it breaks. The movement jerks him, and he only grins in return. He’s evil. I dangle the belt between us like I’m holding a dead snake. With the grin still on his smug face, he grabs it from me and lets my throat go. Just as I suck in a deep breath, he’s wrapping the belt around my neck, looping it through the buckle, and pulling tight. My eyes bulge like a fish, the metal biting into my skin as the belt constricts. The snake wasn’t dead—it’s become a python wrapped around my throat. My hands instinctively claw at the belt, but Zade swats my hands away. “You can breathe, little mouse. Don’t panic.” It takes several seconds of hyperventilating to realize he’s right. I can breathe. Just not very well. When I calm, tears spring to my eyes as I glare heatedly at Zade. His grin only widens. “T think this will do for now,” he murmurs, observing my trembling body. Icy wind gusts, and I shiver in response, goosebumps smattered across my exposed flesh. “Now get on your knees.” Again, my eyes widen, though this time in outrage. “You’ve got to be fuck—” He tightens the belt again, and I cough from the strain. Glaring at him some more, I snap my mouth shut, lift up my dress and crouch down, making sure the fabric is gathered on my lap and away from the muddy ground. I’m not ruining this dress so he can get his power trip in. Keeping hold of the tail of the belt in one hand, Zade gestures to his pants. Growling, I unbutton and unzip him, nearly choking on my tongue when his cock springs free.