Page 25 of Darkest Desire

“You’re not afraid to eat in front of me. That’s good.”

I still, my spoon halfway to my mouth. “I’m just hungry.” But now I’m self-conscious. Does Nico not like how I eat? Does he think less of me now?

Living with Denis for the past year has really wrecked my self-esteem. He would criticize everything I did, from the way I dressed to the way I walked to, yes, the way I would eat.

I know rationally that all of those things are normal about me but he would just constantly get on my case about it. It was his way of tearing me down and I hate to admit it but it did work in some regards.

“I can tell your hungry,” Nico comments.

“Is that a bad thing? Am I supposed to starve myself?”

He offers me a genuinely kind smile – the kindest he’s given me. “How you’re eating is more than fine, Sasha. I was just saying that I liked that you’re not afraid to eat in front of me. I’ve dated some women in the past who were self-conscious about it.”

“I’m just hungry,” I say again. “I didn’t even think about it.”

“I apologize if I made you uncomfortable.”

“No you’re not.”

“You’re right. I’m not.”

I think Nico lives off making others uncomfortable. He wants me to squirm. He enjoys it.

I finish my plate more slowly, keeping my eyes on Nico. He looks right back at me as he eats. It’s a challenge between us though I’m not sure exactly how.

Once we’re finished with dinner, Nico leads me upstairs to our room but I stop on the stairs as I look out through the windows to the large backyard. There’s a huge hedge maze in it. When I sayhuge, I mean I can’t even see where it ends from here.

“Has anyone ever gotten lost in there?” I ask.

Nico comes back down the stairs to stand right behind me. I don’t move for fear of bumping into him. His presence is so present that it’s hard for me to even think of anything else. “Many people have.”

“Have they ever come out?” I joke.

“Some of them.”

I glance at him and he winks, letting me know he’s joking too. I calm down – just a little.

“Usually I send one of my guards into the maze to search for missing people. They always help them out. But it’s also a good place to go hunting.” His voice lowers on the word.

“Hunting?” I practically squeak. “You mean… animals, yes?”

“If you want to think of it that way, then sure. Animals. Some men are animals.”

I shudder. “You hunt them in the maze how exactly?”

“I’m surprised you want to know. You don’t like that I’m a murderer.”

“But you are my husband and I should know everything there is to know about you.”Mostly so I can prepare myself for the worst.

“Well, if there’s anyone who pisses me off – who doesn’t pay me on time or who’s an enemy looking to take me down – I’ll make them run into the maze. If they manage to make it out without me finding them, then they’re free to go. But if they don’t make it out in time…”

“You find them,” I whisper.

“I do find them.” His fingers brush against my arm, making me startle. I hate how goosebumps break out on my skin.

“Do you really let the people who escape go? You don’t trick them?”

“They are free to go but so far, no one has ever escaped my maze.”