Page 15

At last, she was unraveling, gradually giving in to the glint of desire I saw each time I looked into her green eyes. The way her breath quickened when around me and the way her gaze lingered a moment too long before snapping away were all testaments that her high walls were starting to crumble.

This was an unexpected turn of events for her, and I could see her struggling to stay in control. She fought herself every day in an attempt to mask this newfound emotion that just wouldn’t go away.

The other night, when she sat by the window, gazing at the cityscape, I felt the way her body moved in response to my touch. Scarlett couldn’t help it; she melted at the feeling of my fingers easing the tension in her muscles. She loved it. She loved every bit of it.

I’d asked her a simple question that she couldn’t answer, and her inability to do so only meant one thing: uncertainty.

A few weeks ago, Scarlett knew exactly what she wanted: to get the hell out of this “hellhole” by any means necessary. She’d spend hours, almost the whole day, studying the mansion, searching for means to escape. That version of her knew who she was and where she ought to be.

However, lately, her eyes held a hint of something else, something that seemed to overshadow that burning determination, that zeal to escape this place. Dark desire. That was what she’d been fighting this whole time. That was the reason for her uncertainty.

Scarlett wasn’t sure what she wanted, so she was unable to give me an answer. But how true was that? Did she really not know what she wanted, or was she just lying to herself, too afraid to face the truth?

I, for one, knew what she wanted.

Me.

Of course, she’d never admit it. She already hated herself for having such desires for the man she claimed to loathe, the same man who’d stolen the life she could have had. But there was only one way to find out what was really on her mind, and tonight, I’d push until she broke.

My eyes darted toward the wall clock; it was almost midnight, and she wasn’t in bed with me. With a slight groan, I got up, sitting on the edge of the bed, my mind calculating the possible places in the mansion she’d be by this time.

I rose to my feet, stripped to the waist and clad in nothing but black joggers. My fingers combed through my hair as I headed out of the master bedroom, my feet soundless against the marble floor.

I strolled down the hallway to the staircase, where I descended with a hand in my pocket, my footsteps quiet on the plush carpet. Reaching the bottom step, I turned toward the living room, expecting to see her lounged on a sofa, or maybe sitting at the fireplace or the minibar. But the room was empty, with just the soft crackle of dying embers filling it.

My eyes scanned the opulent space, taking in the familiar interior: the contours of the furniture, the rich texture of the upholstery, and the warm, muted colors of the wall. Still, no sign of Scarlett.

Just as I turned to check the kitchen, my gaze fell upon the library door, which stood slightly ajar. A warm, golden light spilled through the narrow slit, casting an inviting glow on the floor. Someone was in there, and as I drew closer, Scarlett’s signature scent invaded my senses, a testament that my search was over.

With a gentle push, the door opened, and I stepped inside, my eyes adjusting to the warm, golden light that enveloped me. The air was tinged with the scent of aged paper as towering bookshelves seemed to stretch up to the ceiling, their leather-bound volumes gleaming in the soft light.

In this cozy sanctuary, Scarlett sat on a plush sofa, her legs crossed in a relaxed pose that exuded confidence. Lost in the pages of a book, she didn’t hear me walk in, her eyes scanning the text with rapt attention. What a perfect distraction from her reality!

Perched on that sofa like she owned the place, soft light danced across her features, illuminating the delicate curve of her neck and the gentle swell of her breasts.

My eyes narrowed at the sight of her, glowing with elegance at this time of night—sexy in every way. I paused in my tracks, drinking in her beauty as my gaze swept over her endearing physique.

The fabric of her nightgown was a soft, silken whisper that seemed to cling to her skin, accentuating the gentle curves of her body. Its loose strap slid off her left shoulder, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of her skin that made my mouth water.

I stood there, mesmerized by the vision of elegance in front of me, watching her turn a page, her finger brushing against the paper with a soft, delicate touch. My eyes fell back to her gentle swells, and I could feel my shaft twitching in my pants. A sudden wave of heat spread across my body, and a flame of passion ignited within me. At that moment, I knew for sure that I wanted her; I craved her.

The plan was to find her, push her to her limit, and make her give in to her own desires, and this was the perfect motivation.

I cleared my throat conspicuously, drawing her attention to my looming presence.

“Jesus Christ!” she yelped, almost jumping out of her skin. Her hand flew to her chest, eyes widening in fear. “Don’t you know how to knock?” she snapped, a faint glare flickering in her gaze.

My lips curled in a self-satisfied grin. “You really should stop being so afraid.” I drew closer to her.

“And you should really stop scaring the shit outta me,” she replied, her eyes never leaving mine.

I halted in front of her, retaining my smirk. “What’re you reading?” I asked, my voice smooth and easy.

“None of your business—hey!” she exclaimed, rising to her feet when I snatched the book from her grasp. “Give it back.” She stretched her hand, trying to reach it, but I was taller.

I held the book slightly above my head, enjoying her struggles to retrieve it. “You’ve been avoiding me,” I said, gazing down at her face. “Why?”

She stopped, her arms crossed over her chest. “It’s hard to avoid the man who has me trapped in his house, don’t you agree?”

My lips twitched in amusement, my eyes never leaving her face as I leaned forward, caging her against the couch. “You make it sound so cruel,” I whispered.

“That’s because it is,” she replied, her arms dropping sideways. Her chest heaved with slower breaths.

“Is it, though?” I questioned, my eyes boring into hers and my tone deep and husky.

She swallowed, her jaw tightening as she held my gaze without breaking eye contact.

I reached for her face, my finger brushing along her smooth skin. “Wanna know what I think?” My gaze dropped to her bosom, drinking in the sight of her gentle swells nestled behind the fabric of her dress. I looked into her eyes again. “I think we both know that you don’t hate this as much as you pretend to.”

Her scowl deepened but was quickly replaced by something more vulnerable, and I caught a slight hitch in her breath. She withdrew from me, her face a mask of fear and ecstasy.

After dropping the book, I grabbed her wrist and pulled her to myself, one hand around her waist while staring into those green eyes of hers. Scarlett’s pulse quickened, and I could almost hear the rapid pounding of her heart. Her gaze held a glint of a silent plea, and her body trembled as I ran my thumb along her lower lip.

She stood there, frozen in shock, shaking like a leaf, too weak, too numb to react. I could see the vulnerability in her dilating pupils. Scarlett was horny, and I could swear that she was already wet between her legs.

“You want this. I know you do,” I whispered against her skin, my finger gliding down her neck.

Scarlett’s breath hitched as I approached her cleavage, her chest heaving rapidly. She broke eye contact, but I grasped her chin and directed her face back to mine. Scarlett pleaded with her eyes, but her lips produced no sound.

“Go on,” I whispered, challenging her to pull away. “Tell me to stop.” My finger dared to caress her hard nipple over the fabric of her dress.

A sweet, soft moan escaped her mouth, and her body shuddered at my touch, betraying her arousal.

“Tell me you don’t want this, and I’ll leave you be,” I added, reveling in her impending defeat, my fingers deliciously pinching her nipple.

She bit her lower lip, and her face contorted in pleasure. Desire flashed in her eyes, and I knew there and then that I’d gotten her.

She was mine for the taking.