That defiant spark was something he liked about her, how strong she was, how resilient. He'd nearly shattered her, and look at her now. She wasn't cowering, wasn't screaming, was going toe to toe with him despite the fact that he could rip her to pieces.

His hand slid from her arm, up her shoulder to curl loosely at the side of her neck, thumb stroking up the front with just the slightest pressure until it settled on her jaw, holding her still that way.

He leaned in again, rubbing along the underside of her jaw until his lips met her ear. "Should I be?"