Page 4 of In The Dark

I crane my neck to peer around him, the corridor still shadowed and empty, before flicking my eyes back. Although dark, I can make outsomeof his features. The mask conceals from his brows to the bottom of his nose, which I see is pointed from our height difference—he’s perhaps six foot three.

His hood remains up, but shadows dance across his face from the lanterns hanging off the walls, accentuating his jawline. Something shiny sits across his top lip—a scar, maybe—and he’s noticeably attractive regardless of what I can’t fully see.

But I don’t recognize him. No. I would have remembered his voice if we had crossed paths before.

“Did I make you feel uncomfortable?” He chuckles quietly. “I’m not here with anyone. I do have a meeting, though.” He nods to one of the private rooms nearby, but the way his eyes meet mine leaves me to believe he’s rethinking his own plans. “Are you waiting on the male?”

My eyes dart past to the empty wall behind him as a small grin pulls at my mouth. “I was waiting for the female.”

Then an odd wave of familiarity skitters across my skin when the faint earthy scent of him drifts by. I can’t quite place why when he—very noticeably—scans me with his eyes.

“You’re waiting on the female?” he asks.

“Females know how to please better.” Nothing could convince me that males are better lovers when females know exactly what you need.

His eyes track the way I cross my arms, staring at me in a way that makes me feel like he can see me without my mask. My neck flushes, and I find myself suddenly unsure of my movements, which is unlike me.

His mouth slowly rises into a cocky smirk. “Is that so? Well, if you’re going in there with her, I want to watch.”

Words suddenly fail me, my cheeks flushing. No one’s ever wanted to watch before. His words are arrogant—even a little ridiculous—but the way he says them has my core heating and my head tilting to the side. A sudden curiosity blooms in my chest, and it takes me a few breaths to gather my thoughts before I offer him a slow, curious grin.

“You’re bold,” I say.

He only chuckles, casually placing his hands in his pockets. “Maybe a little. You must not have much experience if you think females are the only ones capable of giving adequate pleasure,” he says with a lazy grin, but then it falls, a seriousness coating his tone for a breath. “Would you like for me to change your mind? I’d love to show you what real pleasure is like.” He leans down, whispering inches from me, “Wearein a brothel.”

Oh, heisbold. And very cocky, it seems. Yet my eyes narrow as I step back again, giving him another casual once-over.

“Maybe some other time,” I say, his eyes flicking to my lips. My breath hitches, and I’m suddenly unable to stop my tongue from grazing my bottom lip. Like I can’t help myself.

A lingering silence hangs between us, my pulse skyrocketing as his intense stare meets mine. My eyes dart across the sharp lines of his mask, trying to decide if he’s toying with me or if he actually wants to follow through with that promise.

A promise that’s suddenly enticing to me the longer I stand here. He has an enthralling, commanding energy, and I findmyself wondering what a male like him is doing at the Painted Bird.

Lips parting, I eye the faint scar rising on the right side of his lip, realizing that he must feel the charged space between us too. His chest heaves. His mouth hovers over mine, inches from me.

But why do I suddenly want to brush my lips across his?What an odd, unfamiliar feeling…

My fingers twitch as the wild thoughts whirl in my head, and I suddenly find myself wanting to touch him. Without a second thought, I reach up to graze his scar with my fingers, closing the distance.

I suck in a sharp breath, my stomach dipping when his hand shoots out with a low growl, catching mine before I can graze my fingers along the hard lines of his face.

With a small tug, I attempt to pull back, but our hands remain frozen in the air, our eyes locking with challenge.

Is he angry or curious? It’s hard to tell with these damn masks, but my brow arches at his refusal to let me go. Without warning, he backs me against a wall, bracing a hand beside my face with a low, heated hum.

My breath catches in my throat when my hand goes cold—icy, almost—forcing my gaze to his chest. Then my brows pinch, my eyes landing on what look to be shadows skimming my?—

“And you said I was bold,” he mumbles, forcing my gaze back up. “I really want to see where this goes, but I’m late for my meeting. What are you doing tomorrow night? I’m in town for a few days.”

He wants to meet tomorrow? A low chuckle escapes me as I study him, my eyes raking over his masked face. I’m suddenly unsure about this exchange. Not only do Inotlinger after visiting the brothel, but relationships outside of the brotherhood are strictly forbidden. We aren’t even allowed sexual relationshipswithinthe brotherhood. King Elion doesn’t like distractions—anything that pulls our focus away from hismissions—so if we have needs, the brothel is where we go. But it’s clear that this male doesn’t work here, as he’s also wearing a mask.

“I have… things to do,” I quip.

“Things… like what?”

“Notyou,” I reply sarcastically, adding emphasis to theyoupart, but I can tell he doesn’t believe me. “There’s no need to come back for someone’s sloppy seconds. I’m sure you could find someone else to satisfy you tomorrow, so why don’t you do that instead?”

“I know I could, but I don’t want to. And I can assure you, nothing I give is eversloppy.” His gaze lands on my lips. “What can I say? I’m… curious.”