I'm A Menace

I stayed pinned over his chest, my hands holding his wrists against the mattress while my knees squeezed tight against his hips. From this angle, I had complete control over him.

I smirked down at his face, letting my gaze drift slowly from his dark eyes to his mouth. "What's the matter, husband? Not going to order me off you?"

Rowan didn't struggle against my grip, but I could feel the solid muscle beneath his shirt. His chest rose and fell at a steady pace right against mine.

"Would you listen if I did?" he asked, his voice low and completely composed.

"Not a chance," I chuckled, leaning down until the tip of my nose almost brushed his cheek. "I like you right where you are. Trapped."

I loosened my grip on one of his wrists just enough to trace my fingers down his arm, letting my sharp fingernails drag lightly over his sleeve. I wanted to see him sweat. I wanted to hear his heart hammering like a trapped bird inside his ribcage.

Humans were supposed to be fragile, easily frightened creatures when faced with a vampire, especially a dark noble like me. But Rowan just lay there, staring up at me with those unbothered gray eyes.

"You really think you have the upper hand here, don't you, Rapunzel?" he murmured.

I froze for a split second, my eyes narrowing. "What did you just call me?"

"Rapunzel."

A loud, mocking laugh burst out of my mouth. "Rapunzel? Are you serious right now? That sweet, pathetic girl locked in a tower from the fairy tales?" I leaned in closer, my fangs gleaming right above his neck. "Take a good look at me, Prince Rowan. Do I look like some helpless saint waiting for a man to rescue her?"

"No," he said calmly, his gaze dropping to my lips before rising back to my eyes. "You look normal."

"I am a menace," I corrected proudly, grinning down at him. "I'm the nightmare my family tried to hide away for sixteen years. I bite, I scratch, and I destroy whatever pisses me off. So if you think you can treat me like some soft, fragile bride, you're going to lose your head."

I expected that to shut him up. I expected him to realize how dangerous I was and back down. Instead, the corner of his mouth twitched upward into a faint, knowing smile.

That small smile set off an instant spark of irritation in my chest. What the hell was wrong with this man? Why wasn't he afraid of me?

Before I could process what was happening, Rowan shifted his weight.

It happened so fast my mind barely caught up with my body. In one fluid, powerful motion, he grabbed my waist with his free hand, kicked his leg over, and rolled us completely across the mattress. The world spun around for a fraction of a second, and before I could even brace myself, my back slammed into the soft bed.