Page 15

CHAPTER 15

RAVEN

M y heart hammers against my ribs, each pulse echoing in my ears as I stand beside Karc, his warmth radiating through the thin fabric of my dress. The room feels electric, the air thick with the scent of sweat and expensive perfume, mixed with something darker, primal. The crowd around us is a sea of masks and silk, their eyes glittering with hunger as they focus on the couple in the center of the circle.

The tattooed man moves with a deliberate slowness, his hands gliding over the woman’s skin as he peels away the scraps of fabric that barely cover her. She shivers under his touch, her breath hitching as he cinches the leather sleeve around her arms, pinning them behind her back. The pony mask he slides over her head transforms her into something otherworldly, a creature of pure submission. He hooks the bridle to her mask, and she steps forward, her movements jerky, controlled. The crowd murmurs, a low hum of approval and arousal.

I should be horrified. I should be turning away, demanding we leave. But I can’t. My body betrays me, heat pooling low in my belly, my breath coming faster.

Karc’s hand slides up the back of my neck, his fingers tangling in my hair. He pulls my head back, and his mouth crashes into mine. The kiss is brutal, possessive, and I melt into it, my hands clutching at his shoulders. His tongue slips past my lips, claiming me, and I moan, the sound swallowed by him. The world shrinks to the feel of his mouth on mine, his body pressed against me, the taste of him flooding my senses.

When he finally pulls away, I’m dizzy, my lips swollen, my body thrumming with need.

“You okay?” he murmurs, his voice low, rough.

I nod, unable to speak, my thoughts a jumbled mess.

The tattooed man is leading the woman around now, the bridle tight in his grip, her movements exaggerated, almost theatrical. The crowd is loving it, their laughter and cheers rising like a Greek chorus.

The tattooed man takes the pony-hooded woman from behind, and something inside me snaps. My breath comes in shallow pants, my body betraying me as heat floods my core. I can’t tear my eyes away, even though I know I should. My cheeks burn, and I’m suddenly hyper-aware of the mask covering my face, the silk of my dress clinging to my skin. I grab Karc’s arm, my fingers digging into his sleeve, and turn to him with a look I don’t even fully understand. Pleading? Desperate? Both?

"Go ahead, Kirk," Giscard purrs, his voice slithering into my ears like smoke. "Take your fiancé and give her what she so obviously needs."

His words hit me like a slap, and I jerk back, my face burning hotter beneath the mask. I’m glad it’s there, hiding the shame that must be written all over me. The pony-hooded woman screams out an orgasm around her gag, the sound raw and primal, and Giscard’s laughter echoes through the room, low and mocking.

"You see, you’re not being rude," Giscard says, gesturing at the spectacle in the circle. "The show has already reached its…climax."

He assures us with a smile that we’ll have the utmost privacy in the dungeon. Maybe, he adds, in time, we’ll learn to share our passion with the other club members. But that’s for another time.

Karc’s hand is firm on my lower back as he leads me away from the circle, my legs trembling with every step. I lean in close, my lips brushing his ear as I whisper, "I know what you’re thinking, Karc, but you can’t go through that door yet."

He quirks an eyebrow, his golden eyes narrowing. "Why not?"

I glance around, making sure no one’s close enough to hear. "Because if you go through that door and there is a Grolgath base behind it, it’s going to get violent. And some of these people—" I gesture subtly to the crowd—"might be innocent bystanders."

He stops, turning to face me fully. The intensity in his gaze makes my knees weak. "Then what do you propose we do?" he asks, his voice a low rumble that vibrates through me.

We’ve reached the dungeon door, and I arch a brow, smirking despite the chaos inside me. "Why are you asking me? I’m not the one in charge."

The tension in my shoulders eases slightly, but it’s replaced by something else—something hot and simmering as Karc’s hand slides down my arm, his fingers intertwining with mine. He leads me deeper into the dungeon, and I wonder just how much of this is an act for him—and how much of it is real.

I want to ensure you don't miss key details and end too early or too late.That door has been haunting Karc’s attention ever since we walked into this den of sin, his sunset eyes flicking toward it every few seconds like a compass needle drawn to magnetic north. It’s suspicious as hell, plain and unadorned, standing out like a sore thumb in this palace of opulence. But he’s been holding back, playing the part of the dutiful fiancé, his fingers twitching with restraint.

Not anymore.

I slide in front of the door, my back pressing against it as I flash him a wicked smile. My heart’s racing, but this time it’s not fear driving it—it’s excitement, danger, and something far more primal.

"Eyes on me, big boy," I tease, my voice low and sultry. "You can do it. For the greater good."

Karc’s gaze snaps to me, his golden eyes narrowing, the heat in them unmistakable. He steps closer, his voice a low growl that sends shivers down my spine. "For the greater good. But be careful not to fly too close to the sun, little bird."

I chuckle, the sound giddy and unrestrained. "What happens if I do? You gonna catch me?"

"I’ll always catch you," he says, his voice resonating with a command that makes my knees weak. He’s undoing his cufflinks now, his movements deliberate, his eyes never leaving mine. "Strip. You must be naked before I finish undoing my cufflinks."

I laugh again, crossing my arms over my chest. "What happens if I’m not?"

"Then you’ll be punished," he replies, his voice dark with promise. "I’ve already finished this sleeve."

The challenge in his eyes sets my blood on fire. I don’t hesitate, shimmying out of my dress and panties in record time, the fabric pooling at my feet. I stand before him, naked and unashamed, my breath quickening as his eyes rake over me.

"I win," I say, tilting my chin up, daring him.

"You lose," he counters, his lips curling into a smirk as he finishes the second cufflink.

"What? You’re not seriously going to count the mask, are you?" I pout, though the corner of my mouth twitches with a smile.

"No," he says, his voice dropping to a low purr. "But I’m going to count the shoes."

I glance down at my feet, still clad in strappy heels, and let out a groan of mock frustration. "You’re impossible."

"Come here," he commands, his voice brooking no argument.

I start to move toward him, but he stops me with a single word. "No. Crawl to me, Raven."

The room seems to narrow, the world shrinking to just him and me. My breath catches, my pulse racing as I drop to my knees. The cool floor beneath me contrasts with the heat building inside, and I move slowly, deliberately, my eyes never leaving his. Every inch forward feels like an eternity, my body trembling with anticipation.

Karc watches me with a predator’s intensity, his chest rising and falling with each measured breath. His shirt’s off now, and I can see him as he truly is—his golden scales, the faint ridges along his torso, the power coiled in every muscle. He’s breathtaking, and I admire him. I’ve learned to see through his human disguise, and I’m surprised to find I prefer him like this—raw, untamed, and utterly alien.

"Good girl," he murmurs as I reach him, his hand caressing my cheek, his touch sending sparks through me.

I look up at him, my body humming with need, and whisper, "What now?"

Karc’s kiss is electric. His lips crash into mine with a fire that burns through everything else—the noise, the crowd, the swirling chaos of the Hellfire Club. My hands claw into his shoulders for balance, my legs trembling as I’m swept into it. When he pulls back, his golden eyes burn into mine. “Trust me, Raven.”

Those words shatter something inside me, but there’s no time to untangle it. All I can do is nod, my voice stolen by the weight of his touch. Something about him makes me feel safe even when the rest of the world feels like a minefield I’m trying to navigate blindfolded. I wonder if trusting him with my heart would feel this easy, or if it’s just my body that’s already surrendered fully to him.

He leads me to the St. Andrew’s cross, and the leather cuffs glint under the dim light. I don’t even hesitate. I’m stepping into the frame before he says a word. He secures my wrists first, his scales brushing against my skin in a way that sends shivers up my spine. Every clasp of the cuff ratchets my arousal higher, and by the time he’s at my ankles, I’m squirming against the restraints.

“Still with me?” he rasps, his voice low and rough, his breath warm against my ear.

“I’m here,” I breathe, my voice shaky but clear.

He leans in, his lips brushing against the curve of my neck. “Good girl.”

The blindfold comes next, and the world vanishes behind the silk. Every sound, every touch becomes sharper, more vivid. His hands glide over my body, the scales on his palms surprisingly soft. When they brush over my nipples, I gasp, arching into his touch. Without warning, his nails rake down my sides, sharp and deliciously cruel.

The sensation sends a jolt through me, and I yelp. “Careful, Kirk,” I tease. “I might start to think you like this.”

“Oh, I do,” he rumbles, his claws grazing my thigh. “But not as much as you, little bird.”

My retort dies on my lips as his hands cup my breasts, kneading them with a firmness that leaves me breathless. His tongue flicks against my nipple, and I moan, my head falling back against the cross. Another orgasm looms on the horizon already, and this game we’re playing is only making it harder to hold back.

“Fuck, Kirk…” I groan, the words slipping out like a desperate plea.

He chuckles, the sound vibrating against my skin as his lips trail down my stomach. “Such filthy language from a lady. I think someone needs to be taught a lesson.”

Before I can think of a witty reply, he’s on his knees, his face buried between my thighs. His tongue is wicked, curling inside me with a skill that leaves me gasping. One hand keeps me pinned to the cross, the other plays with my clit until I’m shaking, teetering on the edge.

“Hold it back,” he orders, his voice commanding even as he laps at me like a starved man. “You’ll come when I tell you.”

“Kirk— I can’t—” My words dissolve into a whimper as his fingers thrust into me, merciless and unyielding.

“You will,” he growls, his voice leaving no room for refusal.

My orgasm hits me like a wave, crashing through every nerve in my body. I squirt, the flood of pleasure so overwhelming that I nearly black out. Karc drinks it eagerly, his groan muffled against my skin.

When I finally come down, trembling and breathless, he stands, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. His grin is feral. “Good girl.”

Karc releases my ankles from the cross, his hands firm but gentle as he unbuckles the leather cuffs. The moment my feet hit the floor, he’s on me, lifting my thighs with ease and pressing me against the cross. His scaled cock brushes against my entrance, and I gasp, my body arching into his.

“Karc—” I start, but the words dissolve into a moan as he thrusts into me, filling me completely. His scales press against my inner walls, a sensation unlike anything I’ve ever felt. My nails dig into his shoulders as he begins to move, each stroke sending waves of pleasure through me.

“Wrap your legs around me,” he growls, his voice low and commanding.

I obey without hesitation, locking my ankles behind his back. His hands grip my hips, his claws pressing into my skin as he picks up the pace. Every thrust is deliberate, calculated to drive me wild, and it’s working. My breath comes in short, sharp gasps, my body trembling with the intensity of it all.

“Fuck, Karc,” I moan, my head falling back. “You feel incredible.”

“Good,” he rumbles, his breath hot against my neck. His teeth graze my skin, sending a shiver down my spine. “Let go, Raven. Come for me.”

The command sends me over the edge, my body convulsing with pleasure as I cry out his name. He follows me moments later, his seed flooding me as he buries himself deep inside. I cling to him, my body still trembling with aftershocks as he slowly lowers me to the floor.

“Best covert operation ever?” I ask, my voice dreamy and sated.

He laughs, the sound warm and rich as he pulls me into his arms. “The best ever.”

I rest my head against his chest, his heartbeat a steady rhythm beneath my ear. For the first time in what feels like forever, I’m completely at peace, wrapped in the warmth of his embrace.

“We should probably get out of here before someone walks in,” I murmur, though I make no move to leave his arms.

“Probably,” he agrees, his hand stroking my hair. “But just a few more minutes.”

I smile, leaning into his touch. For now, everything is perfect, and I’m not ready to let it go just yet.