His Dominancy...
The tears she had been trying so hard to hold back finally broke free, one slipping down her cheek. Joshua's eyes followed the tear as it traced a path down her face.
For a moment, something flickered in his gaze full of regret, maybe, or realization but it was soon gone almost as quickly as it appeared. He reached out, wiping the tear away with the back of his hand in a gesture that was disturbingly gentle, given the harshness of his words.
"What's the matter, Claire?" he asked, his voice suddenly softer, almost taunting. "Why are you crying?"
Claire looked up at him, her vision blurred by the tears that threatened to spill over. But beneath the sadness and the pain, a spark of anger ignited within her. She met his gaze with a fire in her eyes that hadn't been there before, her voice steady despite the turmoil in her heart.
"How dare you," she whispered, her voice shaking with restrained fury. "How dare you say that to me."