Page 60 of Seducing a Stranger

Only to find her sleeping peacefully.

Her dark hair flared on the pillow, shining like a phantom halo of ebony around her delicate features. Her hand was draped next to her cheek, relaxed into a little cup, as if he might give her something precious.

A stark pang of yearning pierced him as the smooth side of his bed beckoned to him. Here she was, a strange and seductive fantasy sleeping the sleep of the innocent.

And she was his.

A dark desire welled within him with such ferocity he shuddered with it. He wanted to own her. To claim her, body and soul. To plant himself inside of her and pleasure her until she was mindless, until she was boneless, replete with satisfaction.

He wanted to feed her from his hands. To nourish her and the life within. He wanted to buy her things to adorn her loveliness. Gems and ribbons, silk and precious metals. A storm of errant whims and desires swirled and eddied within him until he felt as though his flesh could no longer contain the strength of it.

He. Wanted. Her.

He wanted…everything.

“Don’t tempt me,” he whispered once more.

He’d meant it in jest before, but now it was a plea.

She was nothing but a temptation. One he couldn’t resist for much longer. One that could bring his entire world down upon him.

And still he’d use the last of his bloody, broken remains to shelter her.