Page 47 of Deadmen's Captive

He stepped closer, and I fought the urge to retreat. His presence was a tangible thing — oppressive and all-consuming. But beneath the fear, a traitorous warmth began to unfurl within me, a reminder of desires I dared not acknowledge.

"Silk suits you," he observed, his gaze not missing a single detail.

"Is that why it was in the dresser? Part of your induction gifts... Hades?" My hands clenched around the brush.

"Maybe. And here you can call me Bast.”

“Bast?”

“Sebastian Blake. Bast for short.” Ah, Tristan's other housemate.

He shut the door quietly behind him, and my breath caught in my throat at the thought of what he might be here to do. The room was shrouded in shadows, the only light spilling from an ornate lamp that cast a warm glow over the luxurious furnishings. My heart pounded, echoing the turmoil swirling inside me like a storm.

I stilled, and he moved closer, his very presence intimidating. He might be devastatingly handsome, but there was a cold edge about him that had me feeling nervous. He stepped closer, and motioned for me to turn around and face the mirror. For some reason I couldn’t fathom, I did as he said, my eyes fixing on him in the mirror as he came to stand behind me, even though I didn't want to acknowledge the power he held just by being there.

"Stay," he said, not a request but a command, as though I was some stray dog he’d found. My irritation bristled under my fear and I went to get up again, to rebel against him, but his hands came down warm and strong on my shoulders, pressing me down onto the seat.

“I said, stay.”

“I'm not a dog,” I glared at him in the mirror.

“No, indeed. In fact, with your cunning, I’d definitely say you were more cat-like,” he remarked, leaning forward to pick up the brush I had been using. With careful movements, he began to untangle the knots in my hair.

"Stop," I whispered, uncomfortable with how close he was. I could feel the warmth of his body brushing against my back, and I didn't like the strange feeling in my belly at the thought of it.

"Relax, Paige."

"Relax?" I met his gaze in the mirror, a flicker of defiance sparking despite myself. "How can I relax when you... when all of this..."

He didn't stop, his fingers deftly moving through my hair. I felt the strangest sense of surrender wash over me. The bristles glided through my long strands with unexpected gentleness, coaxing out the tangles left from earlier turmoil. I couldn't reconcile this tenderness with the man who commanded such fear in me before, who still intimidated me.

"In my office, I have your application."

My eyes snapped up to meet his in the mirror. "Application?"

"Your birthday is the 26th of February. You're a virgin. And your darkest fantasy..." He leaned in closer, his lips grazing the shell of my ear as he whispered words that painted my cheeks with heat. "...is being chased down and raped."

I stiffened. “That's not true.”

“Which part?”

“The… fantasy. I would never have written that.”

He continued to brush my hair, though the tangles were long gone. “That’s a shame. I would have enjoyed making that particular fantasy come true.”

Dark eyes met mine in the mirror, and my face flushed red.

"Who are you?" The question came out choked, my usual defiance dissolving under his calculated gaze.

"Someone who knows you more than you might care to admit," Bast replied, his fingers tracing the line of my jaw, sending a jolt of electricity through my veins.

“You're already treading on thin ground, considering what you and your friends did to me earlier, without my consent.”

“Without your consent?” Bast shook his head, his fingers starting to rub over my scalp. I fought the urge to purr with pleasure. “I told you, I have your application you filled out in detail, as well as your signed contract in my office. You consented to this, Paige. All of it. And so much more.”

More? The idea sent shivers of dread, and the slightest sliver of excitement through me.

"I never filled out any application," I whispered, my voice a shaky contradiction to the firmness I sought. "I didn't even know this place existed until..."

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