Page 29

It had been a couple days since he chased her through the castle.

Ivy had been hiding from Vice all day. It was part of her plan to try and seduce him.

She had put on some sexy lingerie, now that the sun had set, it was finally time to put her plan into action.

She went to Vice's bedroom to wait for him.

She checked the room, making sure it was clear, her nerves were a tight ball in her chest as she snuck into his room.

But she was determined to see this through.

She quickly hid behind the curtains next to his bed.

She tried to slow her breathing down, while her pulse pounded in her ears.

She couldn’t believe she was doing this.

"Find her!" Vice roared at the servants. They scrambled away. The door flew open, and the sound of splintering wood filled the air as he kicked the door open.

Ivy’s body tensed, a flicker of doubt crept into her mind. What if this wouldn’t work and she’d just made things worse for herself. She thought. The scent of his anger lingered.

Vice's eyes searched the room, narrowed in rage. His powerful frame, taut with unbridled fury, casted a long shadow that danced menacingly across the stone floor. He was a force of nature, and the room felt smaller with his presence.

With a snarl, he brought his fist down on the solid oak table in the center of the room.

It didn't stand a chance. The wood splintered and cracked, giving way to his immense strength, sending shards flying in every direction.

The table's legs buckled, and it collapsed into a heap at his feet.

His rage was a living, breathing entity, pulsing through the air like a heartbeat.

"Where the fuck is she?" he roared, the sound reverberating off the stone walls. The candlelight flickered, casting eerie shadows across the floor. "When I get my hands on that girl."

He threw a chair; it hit and shattered a window that was right next to Ivy. The pane shattered, raining glass down onto the cobblestone below.

Startled she let out a gasped, her breath hitched in her throat. The soft skin of her hand brushed against her full lips as she covered her gasp. Her emerald eyes widened in fear.

Vice's head snapped toward the noise. His gaze zeroed in on the curtain that she had hoped would be her sanctuary.

With a feral growl, he stalked towards it, his boots thudding rhythmically on the ground, the sound akin to a predator closing in on its prey.

She was about to find out if she made a mistake.

He ripped the curtain back with such force that the curtain ripped, revealing Ivy's shapely figure.

She was leaning against the cold stone wall, one leg straight and the other bent at the knee, her delicate foot resting just in front of the other.

The pose was casually seductive, her hand idly playing with the tiny bow adorning the front of her black, lacy bra.

Her gothic style lingerie, a stark contrast to the room's destruction, clung to her curves like a shadow.

Her long straight black hair fell over her shoulders like a waterfall of ink, the candlelight playing across its glossy surface. A single strand laid across her face, hiding one of her emerald eyes that now stared directly into his.

"Vice," she said, her voice a sultry purr, "What's got you all worked up?"

For a split second, his anger seemed to dissipate, replaced by a flicker of confusion.

He hadn't expected to find her here, let alone looking like she'd just stepped out of his darkest fantasy.

The room's destruction momentarily forgotten, he took a step closer, his boots crunching on the debris of the shattered window.

"Where the hell have you been?" he demanded, his eyes burning with a mix of anger and curiosity. "I've been looking for you all day.”

"I’ve been around," she said, her voice a sultry whisper that wraps around him like a silk scarf.

She runs a finger along the lace of her lingerie, tracing the intricate pattern with a knowing smirk.

"You didn't miss me that much, did you?" Vice's eyes narrowed at her nonchalant tone, his jaw clenching tightly.

"Don't play games with me, Ivy," he warned, his voice a low growl that seems to rumble through the stones of the room.

Yet despite the menace in his tone, there's a flicker in his gaze that suggests his curiosity is piqued by her seductive attire.

"What are you doing, Ivy?" he asked, he wrapped his hand around her throat.

Her eyes closed slightly, as her lips parted.

She could feel the heat of his palm and the throb of his pulse against her skin.

But the way his thumb stroked the side of her neck was almost tender, completely opposite from the fury that was in his eyes.

"Answer me," he growled, his voice dropped low. His grip slightly tightened.

"I've been waiting for you," she breathed out, as she tried to keep her voice from trembling. She placed her hands on his arm.

"Why?" he barked, his grip on her neck tightening just enough to make her gasp. His eyes searched hers for a clue, a hint of what she was up to. "What do you want?"

"You," she said, her eyes locked onto his, a seductive smile playing on her lips. "What do you want?"

Vice's eyes rake over her body, the anger slowly morphing into something darker, more primal. "I want answers," he growled, his hands balling into fists at his sides.

Ivy's smile widened as she reached behind her back and slowly unhooked her bra. "Is that all?" she teased, her eyes gleamed with challenge. “Then I guess I won’t need this.”

Vice's eyes followed her movements hungrily as the fabric started to fall away, revealing her bare skin. He tries to keep his anger in check, but the sight of her is too tempting.

"Why are you really here?" he asked, his voice gruff. But his eyes are devouring her, leaving no doubt as to what he really wants.

"I told you," Ivy murmured, letting the lingerie fall to the floor.

Her words hang in the air, a silent challenge that seems to resonate through the very walls of the castle.

The tension in the room spiked, thick and palpable.

She is enjoying the heat coming off of him, a stark contrast to the cool air in the room.

His eyes are dark with lust, and she knows she has to keep him there.

Vice let’s go of her throat and watches as she slowly saunters towards the bed, the moonlight casting a silvery glow on her naked body.

She knows exactly how to move to get his attention, and she's not afraid to use it.

As she reaches the edge of the bed, with a flick of her wrist, the last piece of her lingerie—her panties—drop to the floor.

Her body is the most tantalizing sight he’s ever seen and it's all for him.

She bends over the bed, her long hair cascading down her back, and his eyes are drawn to the glistening wetness between her legs.

He can't help but lick his lips at the sight.

He's surprised by his own response, but he's not about to admit it.

Quickly his face twists into anger once more. "You think you can just waltz in here and seduce me?" he snarls, his voice thick with lust he's trying to suppress.

"Isn't that what you wanted?" she asks, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She looks back over her shoulder as she brings her fingers up to her mouth biting her fingertips teasingly.

Vice's gaze follows the path of her hand, his own desire growing stronger. He's torn between his pride and his desperate need for her. "You think you can just play with me like this?" he said, his voice strained.

"If you don't want me, I'll leave," she said, her voice as cool and smooth as the moonlit night outside. She starts to get off the bed. Trying to hide the disappointment she felt.

Vice's eyes flash with something akin to panic. "I didn't say that" he said quickly, his voice a rough whisper. He reaches out, his hand grabbing her throat. He's rougher than she expected him to be, but she doesn't pull away.

"Then what do you want?" she asked, her voice still playful. She ran her hand slowly up his abs, her breasts pressing against his chest.

His grip on her throat unyielding, his breath hot and ragged. "To know,” he paused for a moment. “Are you scared of me?” His question had thrown her off guard, but she didn't let it show.

"Terrified," Ivy murmured, her voice was seductive, that sent need surging threw him. Her eyes never left his, a hint of fear played across her features, yet her resolve remained unshaken. She felt his pulse quicken, his power a palpable force that surrounded them both.

Vice's thumb stroked the tender skin where his mark was, as his other hand moved to gently push a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

His touch is surprisingly tender, a stark contrast to his earlier ferocity.

He brought his face to hers. His lips brushed against hers.

"Then why do you challenge me?" he whispered, the heat of his breath mingling with hers. As his hands roamed over her body.

Ivy's heart skipped a beat, but she held his gaze, her own eyes smoldered.

She reached up and caressed his jaw lightly.

"Because you need to be reminded that you're not invincible," she replied, her voice serious with a hint of seduction.

She can feel his arousal pressing against her stomach, and she knew she's getting to him.

"And what makes you think you can do that?" he dug his nails into the soft flesh of her back, slowly dragging them downwards. Causing Ivy to arch into him. A small gasped leaving her lips. A shiver going up her spine.

Ivy's smile turns into a grin. "Because I know what you really want," she murmured, her voice a seductive whisper. "What you crave." She trailed her fingertips down his chest, feeling his heart thunder beneath her touch. "What you've been denied."