Page 96 of Blood Day: Part One

“I… I want the strawberries more,” I admitted.

He nodded and handed me the bowl. “You’ll enjoy them more this time.”

I’d liked them just fine last time, but I didn’t tell him that. Instead, I popped one of the berries into my mouth and nearly groaned at the sweetness of the fruit.

Sweet yet tart.

Juicy.

Perfect.

He was right—I did like them more this time. He said nothing as I devoured the bowl, his dark eyes on me the whole time. I couldn’t even be bothered by his intrigue; my mouth was too pleased to let anything taint the moment.

When I finished, he stood with the tray and took it to the hallway. I heard him speaking again and assumed it was to the servant.

Her soft response confirmed it.

He gave a nod and returned to the room, then held out his hand for me. “Stand up and follow me. We need to wash the sand out of your hair.”

My insides flipped over at what that meant—another bath.

Except he walked right past the tub when we entered his bathroom.

And went to the giant walk-in shower instead.

Three showerheads came on at once, the rainfall effect rather hypnotic. I watched the droplets flow for a beat, my mind oddly at ease.

Until Master Cedric interrupted my view.

His eyes reminded me of a thunderstorm, all dark and ominous. Yet his touch was deceptively gentle as he brushed his knuckles across my cheek. “Take off your clothes, Lily.”

I almost reminded him that my name wasn’t Lily anymore, but it felt pointless to say. He enjoyed tormenting me and would probably reply with something to give me hope just so he could rip it away again later.

Sighing, I bent to remove my shoes. Then I slid off my athletic pants and stood upright to remove my shirt, leaving me naked before him.

Lightning flashed in his gaze as he surveyed my nude state.

I half expected him to try to eat me.

However, he surprised me by unbuttoning his dress shirt and laying it over a marble counter. He placed his shoes and socks beside mine. Then he unfastened his belt and pulled off his trousers before folding them both over his shirt.

His body was a work of art, all athletic, lean lines that flexed and moved in a manner that hypnotized me more than the showerheads had.

Then his thumbs hooked into the thin fabric hiding his groin and began to inch it down.

My mouth went dry.

He hadn’t done this the last time we’d been in here. He’d kept that small barrier between us.

But not anymore.

Now it was dragging down his strong thighs and long, muscular legs.

I swallowed.

Master Cedric was already hard to admire in a clothed state. Naked? He was like a god demanding to be worshipped.

My knees wobbled with the need to bend, to kneel, to pray for his touch.