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Chapter Eight

Salt

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Sitting in the darkness, I waited not so patiently for my flower.

That's what she was, she was my flower.

I fucking hated the idea of another man with his hands all over her, his eyes greedily devouring her, trying to take her in ways that weren't meant for anyone else but me.

The second she walked in that door the first night, I knew instantly that I wanted her all for myself. No one else deserved her, not one man on this earth had earned the right to touch her the way I wanted to.

Clenching my jaw at the thought of someone else being skin deep inside her, I buried my fingers into my palms, ready to kill every last one of these motherfuckers inside the building.

She thought I should be afraid of them, but she had it all wrong.

Because I was the one who owned fear. It was mine to give and mine to take, just like the sweet flower I so kindly decided was mine without her permission.

The music was a thorn in my ear, twisting its thin talons into my brain and giving me a headache. I fucking hated this place. I never even wanted to step foot inside, but shit needed to get taken care of.

An empire had suddenly fallen into my hands. A business that I was born into, a world that was harsh, unforgiving, and perfect for me.

I never really questioned where the darkness in my soul came from, all I knew was that it was there, and it felt fucking good when I could unleash it.

The door split open and I watched silently as my flower entered. Her eyes were huge, trying desperately to seek me out in the room. Smirking to myself, I watched her cautiously close the door, unsure of who she was going to find.

Tonight I wanted more from her. And she was going to give it to me.

But I wouldn't take it by force, no I wouldn't have to.

She was going to give it to me willingly without a second thought.

The thin spikes on her heels made her calves pop as she walked, elongating her legs. My tongue traced my bottom lip as I pictured myself licking her from ankle to thigh, tasting her skin, devouring every inch of her body as she melted in my hands.

“You're back.” Her voice was light, filled with a sliver of happiness. “I wasn't sure I'd see you again.”

I liked the way she sounded right then. Her happiness was real, unlike the forced bravado she tried to use on me the first night. My pulse picked up, causing my cock to jerk at the sweet innocence in her tone.

“Mystery and wonder are funny things, they can make you feel so much, especially when you're not ready for it.” Smirking, I let my eyes lick her from head to toe. “I also enjoy watching your body come alive and your muscles tense when you realize it's me.”

“Alive—” Cutting herself off, she dipped her head into her chest. “I'm not sure that's what you're seeing. I don't know what it feels like to be alive anymore.”

You will, I promise you that.

The wordless promise sat on my brain like molasses, slowly dripping into every crevasse. I wanted to make her feel so much more than just that; I wanted her body to tremble as I touched it, I wanted her breath to hitch as my lips teased the surface of her skin. I wanted her to know what it felt like to be with a real man.

Her feet clicked over the hard floor as she made her way towards the stage. Climbing up, she ran her fingers through her hair, flipping it off her back. “I'm assuming you just want me to dance, am I right?”

I was infatuated by that girl. The woman with hair the color of copper and eyes so green, they glowed like a black cat's in a dark alley. I couldn't get her out of my fucking head.

But I wasn't there for that, I should have done what I came for right after the plane landed and been long gone, but this woman had dug her nails into my brain, refusing to let me go.

Sitting quietly, I didn't give her an answer.

Wrapping her hand around the pole, she spun in a circle, curling her body around the metal like a snake on a tree limb. Peering at me over her shoulder, she gave me her award winning fake smile.

“Don't,” I said, drawing my lips back into a thin frown.