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THREE

Micha

Ashley’s eyes were shut so tight they began to water under the pressure. The girl was absolutely terrified, and I exhilarated in the cloud of fear hovering over her head. It was delicious and no longer was there anything to stop me from taking my fill of the exotic treat.

The circumstances were rather unfortunate; this wasn’t what I’d had in mind. But I’d take advantage however I could, for as long as the fates would allow.

To think at one time, I’d strongly considered acquiring her as a human ward. I’d even thought about making her my personal assistant. The box cracked and I switched my grip, flexing my fingers.

As a vampire it was my right to keep her, if I chose to. As a demon, I had the extra bonus of not only drinking her precious blood and feasting on her flesh, but also that of devouring her soul.

Josiah and I mainly operated as vampires, as we felt it was our truer calling, but that didn’t stop me from indulging in my full range of powers and living the most abundant life possible. We were superior and took full advantage of that fact.

Ashley’s betrayal seared through me again and I thrust the container in her face. “Look inside the box,” I ordered. I hated repeating myself.

“You can't make me,” Ashley said.

I grabbed a fistful of the soft hair at the top of her head, weaving a clump through my fingers. She screeched, but opened her eyes, her pupils dilated. The hatred in her gaze mingling with want turned my cock to steel. A vision of shoving the organ between her lips made my pulse race and I parted my lips, sucking in her darker emotions.

The fucking girl was turned on . I’d been so angry I’d missed that beautiful truth.

Twisting my fingers in her tresses, I pulled some more. Soon, the scent of her desire drifted around my face, and I opened my mouth wider. Her eyes widened when her gaze dipped. I grinned.

Her legs kicked out when she saw my teeth and I laughed before I dragged my tongue against a sharp point, hard enough to draw my own blood. How I wished I could feed it to her—but she didn’t deserve that. If I’d let them fully descend, oh what fun that would’ve been. For now, she’d question what she thought she saw. I’d make sure of it, letting little things slip, just to feed off her reactions, before clouding her mind and destabilizing her sanity Her fear made it easy, opening the door wide for me to torment.

When it was clear she wasn’t going to cooperate, I let go of her hair and held my hand out. Her breath turned shallow over the realization she couldn’t move. I’d paralyzed her.

Perhaps she thought her own fear immobilized her? The sensation could pass for a panic attack. Not my problem if that happened but this was what she got because she bewitched and fooled me. I shouldn’t have trusted a human—they were as bad as the Collective, taking whatever they could seize. She hadn’t even attempted to lie about her actions. She was utterly shameless.

She looked deceptively cute, frozen as she was, her eyes darting around like Ping-Pong balls. She was trying to look anywhere except where I wanted her to.

“Did you ever meet a man named Mister Boccelli?” She would’ve shaken her head if she could’ve and I chuckled at the bewildered look in her eyes. “He was employed here, once. Until he stole from me. He’s still here but under different circumstances, conveniently. See? You’ll have to spend some time with him, I’m sure you’ll get along fantastically.”

I dipped my hand into the box and gathered the bones I’d saved from his fingers, dangling them in her face. “I’d show you his heart, but I couldn’t save it. It was a bit bitter, going down, but I’m not a wasteful man.”

This woman had wasted herself, thrown away what could’ve been something good. My heart twinged in my chest, thinking of all the time I’d spent watching her, wanting her. She’d been completely unaware, but I’d monitored for months, hiding in the shadows of her life and her dreams. I’d never interfered, but perhaps I should have. This all could have been so very different.

“Are you going to be a good girl for me?” I asked her, tilting my head. Her answer couldn’t come, not while I had her locked down like crown jewels. Snickering, I released the hold.

Ashley gasped, making noises like she was hyperventilating, fluid leaking from her mouth. I’d almost reached for her, but I refrained. She needed to realize the seriousness of her situation; she was strong enough. She could take it, I knew she could.

She lunged forward and I flung my arm out, instantly wrapping a hand around her neck. Her spit drooled down to my wrist and I quickly switched hands, forcing her to watch as I licked the saliva off my skin. It was salty and sweet, a mixture of her tears with a hint of cinnamon and apple, remnants of her morning coffee, I assumed. Her eyes dimmed in submission. Or maybe shock.

“If you fight me, you will die,” I whispered against her lips, letting my canines press against her succulent flesh. The woman whimpered at my warning and then remained silent.

“You know the conditions of your employment here; we’ve been very clear. You signed the documents. I am very disappointed in you,” I told her, though the latter words didn’t truly reflect how deeply she’d affected me.

I let go and leaned back against the dresser, gripping the edge. “What’s going to happen now, is you are going to do everything I tell you to. Without question, without hesitation. If I tell you to suck my dick, that’s precisely what you will do.” Her thighs pressed together, her aura glowing a deep red around her waist.

I was going much too easy on her, if I was still somehow turning her on. What the fuck was wrong with her? She wasn’t taking me seriously enough. I shook my head and caught the trepidation in her gaze.

“Would you prefer the other option?” I rubbed my chin for emphasis. “Or maybe I let Josiah know...”

My words had the desired effect.

“Please no! Leave Della alone, she doesn’t know.” A fresh wave of tears coursed down her cheeks, and against my better judgment, I was in front of her in a single stride. “Not Della,” she begged, trying to skirt to the side.

She fell backward on the mattress, and I bent over, pinning her and leaning on my elbows to lick the salt from her face. I just couldn’t help myself. For good measure, I tucked into her neck and suckled at her essence, noting the way her hands fisted the sheets. The woman wanted to flee; I could feel it, but she also wanted me closer and hated the fact that she did.

Her confusion, her desire, and her fear were all bundled together in a bright, shiny package like Christmas morning.

This was going to be fun; I could work with this. Too bad it wouldn’t be forever.

Ashley silently followed me out of the apartment and back into my office, keeping her head down.

“Stand beside me. No, stand here,” I rumbled at her, taking her by the shoulders and directing her when she faltered. Her eyes kept flicking toward the door, plotting an escape that would never come.

Settling behind my desk, I checked my notifications and as I expected, a request for a replacement key for Karissa came through. I replied with instructions to send the woman here, to my office.

Next, I picked up my phone. “Ashley won’t be reporting for work anymore.” I heard her suck in a breath, and I shot her a warning glance that instantly slammed her lips together.

Brandon, her floor manager, was the one who’d answered the phone. “That’s a shame,” he replied. “Sucks for us. She was fantastic.”

“Yes, for you. She is now in service to me personally. Thank you.”

Hanging up, I swiveled my chair to face my new pet. It was adorable, the look of loathing she graced me, with her quivering lip. All while fidgeting with a silver band around her thumb. Snatching her hand, I tugged the ring free and slipped it into my pocket. Her focus would be on me and what I wanted her to do. No crutches.

“Get under my desk,” I snapped at her.

Disbelief filled her eyes. “What?”

“I believe I was clear with my order.” I smoothed my tie and adjusted the clip. “Now.”

Like the bastard I was, I didn’t move. She brushed her ass against my thighs and as much as I wanted to grab a handful, I didn’t. That wasn’t what this was about.

Ashley faltered, not wanting to touch me anymore than she had to, likely not trusting her physical response to my proximity. I could see her trying to figure out how she’d climb down and tuck herself inside the small space. She bent, holding the back of her skirt and climbed below. It was stunning that she didn’t fight my request very hard. I had to wonder what she was up to.

Much to my amusement there was no comfortable or decent way for her to sit. My desk was large, but the leg area was too small for an adult to spend any time under there. She had to arrange herself with her lower limbs spread and bent at the knees. My Italian leather shoes rested right by her crotch and her head was securely between my thighs. She was precisely where she should be.

I was adjusting myself and lazily playing with my belt buckle when Karissa arrived. She walked in, wearing a green blouse faintly Victorian in style and a knee-length black skirt. She looked like a seductive librarian with her excessively long, wavy hair and coy outfit. The tresses were a hazard. If I wasn’t about to let her go, I’d force her to chop them off. We couldn’t have her hair contaminating any of our products.

My mood was poor enough I still might have made her, regardless.

“Sir?” she prompted, not lifting her gaze.

“I’d thank you for following protocol, but you know you haven’t.” I sensed Ashley tensing, her jaw grinding against my knee and her hands squeezing my thighs. Karissa twitched and rocked back slightly on her heels.

“Sir?” she inquired again. “I don’t know how my card went missing, I’m sorry.”

“You do know what happens now, don’t you?” I leaned forward, placing my elbows on the desk surface. Ashley’s hands let go and she slapped at my legs, trying to get my attention.

Karissa started, “Please, I like working here, you guys have been great?—”

I interrupted, “You’ve read and signed the contracts. We’ve even hired employees based on your recommendations.” Ashley was one of them. I slid a foot forward until it pressed against the woman contorted against me. “You were fully informed of the rules, and the agreement is legally binding.”

“But—” Karissa tried to speak again.

“You understand what termination entails, correct?” Ashley’s little fists had begun pounding against my thighs, beating the muscles as hard as she could. It wasn’t much, as there was no room for the leverage she would need to even begin to bother me. She might as well have been a chipmunk under there for all the damage she could do.

As if she knew she was getting nowhere, she started banging on her enclosure. I squeezed my legs together. The disturbance quickly ended. Karissa’s eyes had dipped to the front end of the desk. “Karissa. Eyes on me.” I kept my voice low.

I picked up my phone. “Send them in,” I said, setting the receiver back on its base firmer than necessary for emphasis. The woman standing before me jumped slightly, and the one below ceased all movement. The tension in the air was a mouthwatering buffet I couldn’t help but savor.

Ashley’s head hit the wood slightly when she suddenly leaned forward. Intrigued, I didn’t stop her.

Until I felt her seize my cock with a vise grip and then twist. Her tiny hands were strong.

Reaching under the desk, I squeezed her wrist and kicked at her, a thump resounding against the wood the same time I roared at Karissa, “Get out!”

The poor girl squeaked and dashed for the door, wrenching it open. With perfect timing, our security was right there waiting to escort her from the building.

Shoving my chair back and then leaning down, I grabbed Ashley and dragged her out. She fell against my thigh and glanced up. “If you want my cock, all you have to do is ask for it,” I ground out, holding her by the chin. It was a wonder she hadn’t yelled for Karissa to help her. Had she, it would’ve been for naught as her potential savior was much too timid. On the other hand, she was likely scared I would hurt her friend in retaliation.

Ashley trembled, her jaw vibrating in my palm. She was like a little mouse—fragile, breakable, and to my delight, entirely under my control. If only she knew how badly I wanted her choking around me, her eye shadow dripping over her cheekbones, and her thighs sopping wet.

Ashley didn’t know I wasn’t human, and she had no idea how badly I could break her. She was supposed to be in bed with me, crying from multiple orgasms, not because she was on death row. Not because she’d betrayed me and caused more pain than I’d ever known.

She’d turned me into a daydreaming, mooning mess, hopelessly besotted with her, and then she’d burned my heart to ash because she was a lying, thieving bitch.