Page 30 of The Sins That Bleed

Jealousy

VALESKA

I knew I should have checked the door was shut and locked, a stupid mistake and I don’t make mistakes.

I’d been too eager to get this man on his knees and bow to my every whim like I had been since I inserted myself into this case. I’d been foolish to even bring him up here, but when I got wind that he was in my building and using my girls to enjoy his weekend, I seized an opportunity.

I’m such a fucking fool.

Rai seeing his boss on his knees and lavishing my skin was not supposed to happen. I’d seen the shock and disgust in his eyes through the small slit in the door. I should ignore it, continue bending this man in front of me to my will in an exchange that he thinks is mutually beneficial.

So, why do I feel guilty?

Rai’s boss had met me before, many times, but he won’t remember the details.

He shares a lot more than he thinks he does about this case and leaves satisfied after touching me in some way.

He has a particular fetish for licking feet and legs, which is not something that would get in my way of finding out all the information I can—things Rai and Nico won’t have clearance for.

“That’s enough for today, you can go back to Cherry Poppers and enjoy yourself, on the house.”

I place my fingers under his chin. He’s looking up at me with lust filled eyes that I ignore.

He does nothing for me. I use his chin to raise him to standing and he follows my lead.

He’s shorter than me so I stay looking down at his blushing face.

He’s not an unattractive man, but there’s nothing special about him.

Not like mon chéri, Rai.

I brush his clothes down, smoothing them out and holding his shoulders.

I kiss both his cheeks to soften the blow; he won’t recognise me the next time he stands before me since I altered his memory whilst he’s been here.

I direct him out the door and toward the elevators with a mention to do this again soon.

I sigh once the doors close to take him back down to Cherry Poppers as I prepare myself to find Rai. I don’t owe him an explanation, we’re not an item, yet I know it needs to be done.

Curse these motherfucking feelings that have somehow grown around my rotting wasteland of a heart.

I’m turning soft.

I turn on my heel and march to his suite, making sure the halls are empty before I increase my speed to unnatural levels to get to him faster. From outside his room, I can hear him pacing and then the rustling of clothes. He’s packing.

Like hell will I let him walk out of here after Alaric Vonbarro had some of his goons target their apartments. He can hate me, think less of me and do whatever he wants, I don’t care, but he’s not leaving the safety of this tower. I’ll chain him to the bed if I have to.

I ignore the salacious images that pop into my mind at the thought.

I contemplate knocking but I know he’ll slam the door in my face, so I twist the handle and to my surprise, it’s not locked. The heavy door swings open and I step inside the room, the clicking of my heels on the marble floor giving me away as I close the door behind me.

Rai stops pacing, bag in hand, as he whirls toward the sound. I take an involuntary step back at the rage on his face as it reminds me of someone else. For a moment, I’m the na?ve woman that couldn’t understand why her husband turned out to be so cruel.

I fucking hate that Kian can still infiltrate my mind after all these years.

“Get the fuck out!” he snarls at me, dropping the bag and stalking toward me.

I square my shoulders and stand up tall. I’m not that person anymore and I refuse to be scared. He’s in here with me , not the other way around. I hold my ground as he comes closer, the fury rippling from him and pounding into me.

I can take it, I’ve had worse experiences.

“I said get the fuck out, Valeska .” He spits my name like I’m a démon before him.

“No.”

He balls his hands into fists as he stands before me. I don’t move a muscle as I stare into his hate-filled blue eyes, daring him to strike.

I hadn’t been lying to him the first night I visited him; I really do enjoy a good fight before fucking.

“I’m leaving, and there’s nothing you can say or do to stop me. I don’t even want to know why my boss was on his knees in your office, dragging his tongue up your legs, because I don’t fucking care anymore. Get out of my way.”

He’s close enough now that his nose is practically touching mine, his chest heaving with the anger vibrating through him. If this was the other way around, I’d probably feel like this too, but the other person would be dead already.

“No, you’re not. It’s not safe for you out there.” My voice is calm as I speak.

I will do whatever it takes to keep him safe.

He storms away from me, snatching the bag off the ground and throwing the strap over his shoulder. I don’t move, just watch him as he scans the room for any of his other belongings before turning back to me.

Muscles flexing, he marches toward me for the second time and the intent is clear on his face. I either get out of the way or he’ll make me, but I’m not about to let that happen. I won’t make this easy for him.

“Move, now, or I’ll fucking make you,” he spits.

I shake my head and brace myself for his touch. His arms snake out and grab me by the shoulders, his grip is firm but not painful, and I relax a little. He’s nothing like my dead husband. He tries to move me sideways so he can get out the door.

I move with lightning speed as I shake his grip, snatching his wrist and twisting him around. I have his hands behind his back and his body pressed up against the door he’s so desperate to leave through.

“You’re not leaving, Rai. If I have to chain you to the bed to keep you safe then I will. Hate me all you want, but don’t get yourself hurt because of it, think of Nico.”

He fights against my hold. He’s a strong guy and if I wasn’t a vampire this would be going very differently.

“Keep Nico’s name out of your filthy mouth. You disgust me, using your body like that for what? Information? Maybe you’ve been fucking him all this time and using me as a pawn in your games. Well, I want no fucking part in it.”

His words sting against my skin as he intended them to. He breaks free of my hold and it’s my turn to be caught up in his hands. He grips both hands behind my back at the base of my spine using only one of his, as his other sinks into my hair and pulls tight.

Tears prick at my eyes from the sting, but I refuse to let them fall.

I have no choice but to tip my head up but I can’t see him. He doesn’t want me to so I close my eyes and enjoy the closeness of him. This might be the last time I feel him against me like this and I’ll be damned if I won’t enjoy it.

“Be disgusted all you want, Rai. Assume the worst about me, but you’re not going anywhere.

You know nothing about me or why I do the things I do.

You think I like using my body to gain the upper hand?

It’s all I fucking know! Most men are vile, arrogant fucks when you need something from them, and they take whatever they want.

So shoot me for playing them at their own fucking game! ”

My chest heaves with fury, a lifetime of pent-up anger spilling over before I can shove it back down into the dark pit of despair in my mind.

His grip loosens at my words, at the hurt in them, and I pull myself away from him.

I need to get out of here and away from him before I reveal too much of myself.

I head towards the door, preparing to lock him in myself, but I barely have it open before it slams shut.

I look up and see Rai’s large hand flat against the door.

“What do you mean it’s all you know, Valeska?” His words are soft, dangerous, and it’s making me want to confess my sins.

“It doesn’t matter, you don’t like me, and I don’t like you. Let’s go back to hating each other while you stay safe inside this tower and forget about everything else.” I tug on the door but of course it doesn’t budge, I don’t have any fight in me left.

“Tell me what you meant.” He uses a free hand to turn me against the door.

It’s too late to stop the tear from falling down my face and he sees it, tracking the wet trail before using his thumb to swipe it away. I don’t want to cry, I don’t want him to see me weak and vulnerable when he already hates me so much.

“Talk to me, mon cauchemar. Help me to understand you better, please ?” He practically begs me, his face shifting from rage to concern as soon as more tears fall.

So much for keeping them in.

“All my life men have used my body at their will, to fuck me, hurt me, use me and control me. So I’m not going to apologise for using my body to do the same.

I would never force someone else to have their body subjected to the things I have for gain; they consent to it because I know what it’s like to have no fucking choice!

” I scream the words at him and he stumbles back.

The tears fall faster now; I need to get out of here before I completely break into millions of pieces in front of the one man I never wanted to see the true darkness inside of me. I grip the door handle behind me and tug, slipping through the small gap and slamming it closed.

“Valeska wait?—”

I ignore Rai as I turn and I run.