Serena couldn't speak. She wanted to, but she was afraid her voice would betray her, just like her body was already doing.
"Tsk. I don't even know what to do with you," Lucian shook his head, his voice a low, dangerous murmur. "You insist on testing my patience without realizing that I've got very little of it. If I say don't touch me, I mean don't touch me. The next time I say you shouldn't do something and you do it, there will be repercussions." His fingers flexed slightly against her skin. "Do you understand?"
Serena frowned instead of answering the question, her lips pressed into a thin line, and Lucian tightened his grip further around her neck.
"Do you understand?" he repeated, his voice colder now, and this time she nodded her head, the movement stiff and reluctant.
"Words," he said, "I want words."
"Yes," Serena finally spoke, the single syllable forced out between clenched teeth.
"Yes, what?"
"Yes, I understand."
