Page 25 of His Darkest Obsession

"You’ve drawn my blood twice now without consequence.” His lips brush against my ear and his voice rumbles in my head and my back. “Once with your hands, and once with your mouth."

I try to maintain my defiance, struggling against his grip just enough to seem like I'm not giving in.

"And I'll do it again if I have to," I snap.

"I don’t doubt that you will." A low chuckle shakes me against his chest and his hot breath tickles at my ear. "Which is why I’m going to warn you once and only once."

His hand begins winding in my hair—once, twice—before he gives it another yank to expose my neck.

"That after the third time, therewillbe consequences.”

Something dark and twisted unwinds in my belly, tangling with something else. Something that leaves my face burning hot and my pulse racing in his hand. And instead of fighting to free myself, all I want to know is just what those consequences are.

His grip suddenly releases, and I stumble forward, catching myself against the window. My scalp tingles where his fingers were tangled in my hair just moments ago. The ghost of his touch still smolders on my skin.

"Tomorrow," he says. "We're going to get you fitted for a wedding dress."

I whirl around to face him, but he's already stepping away. The distance between us feels simultaneously too far yet not far enough.

"In the meantime, I recommend that you don’t do anything stupid." His eyes never leave mine, but somehow, I feel completely naked despite being fully clothed.

Before I can even open my mouth to respond, he slams the door shut.

My legs give out, and I slide down the cool glass until I hit the floor. My heart pounds against my ribs, and my body trembles with leftover adrenaline, fear, and... something else. Something that makes me press my thighs together.

What just happened?

I press my hands against my burning cheeks, trying to make sense of everything. Of the way my body betrayed me. Of the way Iwantedhim to?—

No.

I can't think about that. I won't.

Instead, I focus on what he said. A wedding dress fitting. Tomorrow.

This is real.

This is happening.

I'm getting married to a complete stranger—adangerousstranger—in two days.

8

INDIGO

I thoughtmy life had reached an absolute rock bottom two years ago.

But now, less than twenty-four hours after meeting Anatoly Baryshev, after he shot three men dead in front of me, and after whatever thefuckjust happened between us, I realize just how much worse everything can still get.

I look out the massive window, heart still thumping fast against my chest, as I finally have a chance to take stock of just where the hell Anatoly has brought me.

The view of the outside is even more beautiful from up here.

The mansion perches off the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea, and waves crash against the rocks in hypnotic rhythm. There's a path that winds its way from the rear of the mansion through carefully manicured terraced gardens flowing down toward the cliff's edge.

Each garden seems to be filled with a specific color of flowers, and the effect is bands of carefully chosen colors cascading all the way down towards the cold angry sea.

Everything about place is precise and controlled.