But her spirit was reviving. It was not her way to submit meekly to the mastery of any man. Very suddenly she rose and faced him. “This is more than I will endure,” she said, speaking briefly and clearly. “Nothing on earth shall keep me in this room against my will!”
She needed to pass him to reach the door into the passage. He stood squarely in her path. She heard him draw a hard breath.
“There is such a thing as brute force,” he said.
She looked him straight in the eyes. “You wouldn’t dare!”
His eyes leaped to flame, holding hers. “Don’t tempt me!” he said, between his teeth.
That checked her for a moment. Something seemed to clutch at her heart. Then pride leaped up full-armed, and she flung it from her. She laughed in his face.
“Do you think you are going to treat me as one of your slaves?” she said contemptuously, and made to pass him.
He flung out an arm before her. His voice came, low and passionate. It was as if the locked doors were opening. She felt the scorching heat behind.
“If you attempt to pass me—you do it at your own risk,” he said.
She stopped. His eyes seemed to be consuming her. In spite of herself, she shrank, averting her own.