Page 16 of The Bell’s Toll (Wanderlust Emporium Presents, Season One)

chapter Eleven

Nasiah

I ’ve read the same line in this book four times. Finally, having had enough, I close the urban romance and place it down beside me.

My gaze flies to the clock on the wall. Only three minutes have passed since the last time I looked at it. Looking over at the door expectantly, I wait for it to open. Usually, Raziel is here by now.

“Seriously, Nasiah? Are you waiting for this man to come home?”

Since that day three days ago when Raziel came home and had a seafood boil with me, things have changed. I’m still locked in this damn house, but for some reason my desire to be in his presence has grown.

I can tell the moment he leaves the apartment even if I’m asleep.

The moment he walks out that door, a sinking feeling hits my gut.

It remains until he walks back in. It isn’t just this longing feeling that has changed.

I actually enjoy his company. In no way is Raziel a gentleman, but he’s funny and straightforward.

Most importantly, he seems to enjoy me. Which is not something I’m used to.

I’m so conditioned to accept that I’m just someone people deal with, like a chore you don’t really want to do but can’t skip. Although Jamieson made me feel loved, there were moments in our relationship that even he seemed as if he’d rather be somewhere else.

The only person who has ever made me feel as if I mattered to them was Tanisha. Raziel has this way of watching me as I speak as if the next word out of my mouth is his only reason to live.

He seems to want my presence as much as I want his. I’m the first person he seeks when he arrives. He will literally sit with me until I fall asleep. We don’t even have to talk. I could be reading a book, and he will sit silently here with me.

Clearly, I’m suffering from Stockholm syndrome. That’s the only reason I’m feeling like this. Standing from my lounge chair, I slip my feet back into my slippers and march toward the door. I need to get out of this house. I was losing my mind.

Just as I make it to the door of the library, it opens. My heart races in my chest until I spot the intruder.

Erazel is a giant of a man. He has to be nearly 6’5”. He’s completely bald, with deep tan skin and muscles on top of muscles. This man could be a wrestler if he wanted to. In fact, he reminded me of a certain wrestler turned actor.

I take a step back as soon as he enters. He grins down at me. Although our first few encounters were rocky, I’ve gotten used to the big guy.

“Jeez, Era. You can’t just walk up on me like that.”

He chuckles. “I’ve got good news. Boss said get dressed.”

Lifting a brow, I stare at my bodyguard. “Why?”

“You’re going out tonight.”

Instead of sprinting to get dressed so I can finally get out of this house, I pause. This sounds too good to be true.

Erazel folds his arms over his wide chest. “Want me to tell him you don’t want to go?”

That gave me the kick that I needed. I rush past him toward the large bedroom. His loud laughter follows behind me.

Since Raziel gave me freedom of his home, I’ve been all over this place.

He has a library, an office, a media room, two other bedrooms, and a gym.

However, none of the other bedrooms look used.

Which leads me to wonder where he sleeps.

I’ve never seen him even take a nap. I know for a fact he doesn’t climb in bed with me.

I make it to the primary bedroom, and lying on the large bed is a gorgeous brown caramel dress.

The color will look amazing against my pecan-brown skin.

It’s a shoulder-less, form-fitting bodycon type of design.

The length falls below my knees, giving me a sophisticated yet sexy style.

The ruche style dress does well with accentuating my curves.

Of course, he even thought of the shoes.

The strappy nude heels will go great with the dress.

It made me smile to see how much thought he put into my outfit. Even the clothes he already had here for me were all my correct size and style. There isn’t one thing in that closet that I wouldn’t have bought for myself.

Feeling excited, I rush into the bathroom to shower and get dressed.

“Wow, this place is nice,” I say as Erazel escorts me into the club.

This isn’t like the clubs I visited in college. There is an upstairs and a downstairs. The lights were low and gave the room a warm sepia color. It wasn’t dark like most clubs. The ceiling was very high.

The most stunning thing was the light fixture. Hundreds of pendant lights covered the ceiling like icicles. They formed a wave style, some being shorter than the others.

The seats are dark leather with round, short glass tables. This was more of an upscale lounge than an actual club.

The fully stocked bar took up the entire back wall. In front of the room was a stage. Tonight’s performer was a stunning dark-skinned woman with a buttery voice.

As I followed Erazel through the club toward the stairs, all eyes seemed to turn to me. For a moment, I thought I was overthinking, but when one man damn near sniffed the air like a bloodhound in my direction, I knew I wasn’t tripping.

“Why are they staring at me?” I ask Erazel.

He chuckles. “Because you’re human,” he simply replies.

Immediately, my stomach sinks. Wait, am I surrounded by forsaken? I move a little closer to Erazel.

“Is it safe for me to be here?” I ask after we walk past a woman with red hair whose eyes go completely black when she watches me.

Erazel holds out his hand toward the stairs in a silent suggestion for me to go up before him.

“Trust me, no one would dare fuck with you here.”

I look over my shoulder at him as I ascend the stairs.

“Why?”

He grins. “Because he would kill them.”

I didn’t have to ask who the “he” was because the moment I reached the top of the stairs I saw him. The way my heart stutters in my chest and my mouth goes dry at the sight of him should be studied. It’s not hard to believe this man was once an angel because he is too damn fine.

That dusting of dark facial hair along with his dark brown eyes and curly hair.

He has lips the perfect size for kissing, a Greek nose, and amazing bone structure.

If his looks weren’t enough, the way he carried himself was an added bonus.

His all-black attire made the dark hair and eyes stand out even more.

“Hello Beautiful. Welcome to Club Greed.” With one hand stuffed in his front pocket, he holds out a single long-stemmed rose in his other.

After taking the rose from him, he wraps his arm around my waist, bringing my body into his. The scent of this man should come with a warning sign. Like, one sniff could cause hoe-like behavior.

When his lips brush the delicate skin behind my ear, I have to hold my breath to fight back the moan.

I still haven’t mastered fighting off my body’s reaction to him.

Since the day he devoured my pussy, the reaction has been tenfold.

I have no doubt that Raziel could make me cum with just his touch.

I step away from him, trying to put distance and a little sanity between us.

“This place is nice.”

He stares at me, his eyes and smirk telling me he knows what he does to me.

“Thank you.”

“Wait, this is your place?” I was impressed.

He chuckles. “Yes, Club Greed is one of many clubs I own.”

With a hand placed at my back, he escorts me over to the leather chair. The moment I sit down, a female in short black shorts and a button-up places a napkin down along with a glass of some type of drink.

“Are all your clubs named after a sin?” I ask as I pick up my glass and take a sip.

My eyes widen. It’s a lemon drop, my favorite drink.

“Not all,” he says, taking the seat beside me. Just like when I sat down, the waitress quickly places a glass of something dark in front of him.

“I swear I learn something new about you every day. An ex-angel turned club owner.”

He shrugs. “I own twenty-five clubs across five states. Six casinos, and a handful of restaurants.”

I have to admit I was a little impressed by this. I didn’t take him for a businessman, not a legit one anyway.

“So you do more than just kidnap women and hold them hostage?” I fight to keep the smile off my face.

His eyes narrow at me before he grins. “The kidnapping is just a side gig.”

I roll my eyes and laugh. “Well, I hope this fancy club serves food. I’m starving.”

Raziel leans back in his seat. He holds up a hand, and the same server that brought us the drinks appears. The girl must have flashed over here because she came out of nowhere.

“Bring her one of everything.” The waitress lowers her head before she vanishes right before my eyes.

“Razzy, I’m not going to eat all that food.”

His eyes darken. For a minute I think I’ve said something wrong. However, the grin that lifts his cheeks and softens his features tells me different.

“I see we have advanced in our relationship. You’re giving me nicknames.”

I didn’t even realize what I’d said until now. No offense, but saying Raziel was a mouthful. Hell, it’s why most of my family called me Siah.

“Well, seeing as you don’t seem to be letting me go anytime soon, I might as well figure out an easier name.” I take a sip of my lemon-drop.

“As I’ve told you, Beauty, you are free to go. But a soul for a soul.”

I glare at him. He grins at me.

“Whatever,” I say, not wanting to discuss his rule.

I couldn’t, with a good conscience, accept my freedom at the risk of ending one of my family member’s lives. I wasn’t that selfish. Raziel knows this, which is why he keeps offering that out.

“Have you thought anymore about me going back to work next week?”

The moment my question is out, his jaw tenses. I was coming to terms with this agreement and understood that there was no getting out of it. However, that didn’t mean I wanted to be locked away in his penthouse forever.