Rook’s sharp stare did not waver as he climbed onto the bed. One knee settled to her left, the other to her right, caging her in with a predatory grace that sent a shiver down her spine.
Last night she had him tangled in her web of deceit. He was her prey, and she had him right where she wanted him. Their roles reversed, it felt like the universe was playing a cruel joke on her.
His weight was supported by one powerful arm braced beside her head. His proximity was smothering, the heat from his body seeping into her bones. Her heart beat wildly in her chest, trying to break free of its cage.
“You look nervous,” he murmured.
“Do I?” Proving his point, her voice came out in a high-pitched squeak. Still, she blinked up at him defiantly.
A grin ghosted across his lips, “Yes.”
Shifting his weight, he leaned further back. His hand stretched towards her, slow and deliberate, as if allowing her the chance to stop him. When she did not, his knuckles brushed against her cheekbone.
The gesture was surprisingly tender. Dark curls framed his brutal features as he watched her lay beneath him, committing every inch of her to memory.
Lumi flushed beneath his scrutiny.
“Why does it feel like we’ve been here before?”
She didn’t understand what he meant by that. She had never been in this particular position before. Not with any man, certainly not him. He wasn’t looking for an answer. The question hung in the air, more for himself than for her.
His calloused fingers traced a languid path. Across her plump bottom lip, along the curve of her jaw. Then lower, fingertips tracing the columns of her throat. They lingered there, his palm wrapping around her windpipe.
Lumi’s eyes widened.
The pressure he applied drew a sharp breath from her lips. Her pulse drummed against his touch as realization dawned—her life was quite literally in the palm of his hand.
“I like you like this,” he murmured, “At my mercy.”
A thrill shot through her.
She could do it now—she should. Her dagger was within reach. A swift slash across his throat would end him. It would also end her misery.
Two birds, one stone.
Before that thought could solidify, his head dipped. His lips brushed her cheek. Hot, and tender. A ragged breath left her. Her eyes flickered shut.
He released her throat. His hand slid to the back of her head, fingers tangling in her tresses, holding her in place. He pressed searing kisses along her cheek, the underside of her jaw. His lips left an inferno that lingered long after they departed.
An abrupt tug at her hair exposed the delicate curve of her throat, allowing his mouth better access. He descended, continuing his cruel ministrations.
When he bit down on the sensitive flesh where her pulse thundered, a gasp tore from her lips. A jolt zipped through her, raw and electrifying. She had never been touched like this. Never been handled with such passion, such control.
Her instincts screamed to shove him away, to end this before she lost herself completely. But when her hand met the fabric of his shirt, she faltered. Instead of pushing at his chest, her fingers curled. She clutched the garment and pulled him closer.
“You,” he rasped against her neck, “Are mouthwatering.”
His mouth traveled further. His lips, his teeth, his tongue explored the hollow between her neck and shoulder, leaving her breathless. Lower still, he descended to where the tight lace of her corset had her breasts pushed up. His teeth closed over the sensitive flesh, leaving a bite she knew would bloom by morning. His hot tongue swiped over the spot, soothing the ache there.
Lumi shuddered, clinging to him. He rose, leaving her empty and wanting. She blinked her eyes open, meeting his haunting stare.
“I want to see you,” he grumbled, voice thick with frustration, “All of you. Out of this ridiculous costume.”
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He flipped her over effortlessly, his strength intoxicating her further. He could shape her into whatever he wanted. She was utterly pliant in his hands.
His fingers worked at the strings of her corset, every tug and pull loosening the constraints that bound her ribs and waist. The fabric slid away, leaving her exposed to him. When his tongue licked a line up her spine, heat pooled beneath her skin.
She despised him, but his touch…Those hands, calloused yet skilled. Those lips, hot and insistent. He was unraveling something within her. She wanted to hate this, but her body betrayed her, responding in ways she couldn’t understand.
When he turned her on her back, she was bared to him. Her breaths came faster, her chest rose and fell in quick successions, her nipples tightened beneath his scorching stare.
His hand traced up her stomach, every touch setting her nerves on fire. When his thumb grazed her hardened nipple, a helpless whimper escaped her.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered, his voice low and intimate, as if those words were a confession meant for her ears alone.
Her chest tightened, “Don’t say that.”
“It’s the truth.” Every syllable he uttered dragged her deeper into a snare she hadn’t realized she’s stepped into.
Before she could argue further, he bent his head down and wrapped his mouth around her other nipple. His lips licked, and nipped, and sucked on the puckered nub. Heat coiled low in her belly, rising like a tide she couldn’t stop. When he bit down, she shattered.
Her body convulsed, waves of pleasure dragging her under. She clung to him, her hands in his hair, her legs wrapping around his hips.
He was the only solid thing she could find—a lifeline in the storm he’s created within her. She gripped him with all her might as ecstasy racked through her.
When she returned to herself, trembling and dazed, she realized he had gone still. He hovered above her, jaw firm, dark eyes boring into her.
“Did you just…” his rough words trailed off into a charged silence.
Lumi’s face burned. Had she done something wrong? She swallowed hard as panic stirred in her belly, “W-what?”
“Did you come?”
His blunt question sent a shockwave through her. She parted her lips, but no words came.
“I…” she began, but trailed off.
His gaze darkened further, a storm gathering in the depths of those sable eyes. “You’re not a pleasuremaiden, are you?”
She hesitated, then the lie tumbled from her lips, “Of course, I am.”
“No.” He shook his head, “You’ve never done this before. I can tell.”
Shame burned hotter than any flame. She sat up and pulled the discarded corset over her chest, desperate to shield herself. To shield not only her body, but also the other parts of herself she’d exposed.
“We’ve already talked about this, Lumi,” his voice was thick with authority, “Don’t hide from me.”
He lay back against the pillows, pulling her to him. Her head fit into the crook of his neck, and his arm wrapped around her, keeping her close at his side.
The proximity allowed her to see parts of him she hadn’t noticed before. A faint scar etched at the corner of his mouth, almost entirely healed over, but not quite. A soft scattering of freckles across his nose and cheekbones. Eyelashes brushed his cheeks with every blink, dense and impossibly dark.
“What do you want from me?” she demanded.
She needed to know. Needed to understand.
“There are many things I want from you.” His hand stroked her bare back. He tilted his head to get a better look at her, his gaze settling over her flushed face, “The things I could do to you…”
Her blush deepened. She was mortified by the way her body betrayed her. Embarrassment clawed at her chest, but beneath it, a spark of want burned. Damn it, she wanted more. She wanted everything he was offering, and it infuriated her.
“All in good time,” his lips curled into a knowing grin, “For now, I want you to skip tea tomorrow morning.”
“What?” She blinked, the abrupt shift snapping her out of her haze. Her brows drew together, suspicion coiling deep within her. She propped herself on one elbow, searching his face for answers, “How do you even know about that?”
Th intimacy of their position kept a constant blush on her face. Her skin still buzzed with the memory of his touch.
“It doesn’t matter how I know. Do as I say.”
His command scraped against her nerves, sparking indignation “Why should I?”
His jaw tightened, the faintest tick betraying his irritation. “There’s something I’m curious about. Trust me on this.”
Her laugh was bitter. “Trust you? You’ve given me no reason to.”
He was silent for a moment, his eyes narrowing on her, “I have reason to believe Sol has been poisoning you.”
The words hit her like a blow to the chest. Her breath caught in her throat, her chest tightened, “That’s ridiculous…”
But even as the words left her mouth, doubt flooded her. Lady Sol’s instance on tea every morning. Her watchful eyes as Lumi drank…
“Skip the tea, Lumi. Just once.” His tone softened, coaxing her into submission, “If I’m wrong, you lose nothing. If I’m right…you’ll thank me.”
“Why do you care about any of this?” she blurted, unable to contain the burning question.
His sudden interest in her made no sense. They were strangers yesterday. He had no right to barge into her life like this and make demands.
“You remind me of someone,” he said simply.
“Who?”
His pensive gaze flicked past her, to the balcony, where curtains stirred in the saltwater breeze. “I’m not sure.”
She scoffed, “I remind you of someone, but you don’t know who? How convenient.”
He ignored the jab, sitting up and reaching into his pocket. He pulled a brittle sheet of parchment. Lumi’s stomach twisted, recognizing it. The map she’d stolen and returned. He unrolled it, his hands steady as he held it open for her
“You claim to read this script?”
Her gaze flickered to the faded letters, “Yes.”
“Tell me what it says.”
“Is this why you paid for my time?” Her tone sharpened, “So I could read for you?”
“You’re mine for the night. Do as I say. Don’t be difficult.”
She leaned in closer, squinting at the withered ink, “Here at the top it says—The Kingdom of Dracule. There are three territories—Myrn, Zeth, Skol. And here…”
Her voice trailed off as she moved nearer, her breath brushing the parchment as she read aloud, “Blood City.”
a/n: hi readers! i hope you liked this one. if you did, please consider leaving a like, or a review, or a sun emoji in the comments so i know im not writing into the void.
28 chapters are already up on patreon, so if you'd like to unlock early access, you can find me there! happy reading (:
