Page 86 of Serpent King's Prisoner

“Oh, no. Do you want to–”

His eyes flickered back to my body, as clear as interruption as if he’d said it out loud. “Touch yourself,” he commanded, his voice rough, betraying no sign of joining me.

My fingers hesitated above the water, my mind racing.

So much for talking.

“Is that what you want?” I asked, fighting to keep my voice level.

“Yes.” There was a cold resolve in his answer, a distance that told me he wasn’t really here with me. He just wanted to watch.

My fingers curled tightly around the porcelain edge of the tub, the chill seeping into my bones. I forced a smile, convincing myself that this was just another trial to endure, another layer of Nathan Zhou to unravel. But…I wanted this, too. As soon as I had seen him standing there, my body had tingled with anticipation.

“Then watch.”

I slid my hand down my breasts, tracing the curve of my waist, teasing him with every languid movement. His dark eyes followed, intense and unblinking. A part of me reveled in this strange power, the ability to hold his attention hostage with just a touch.

With each passing second, the water seemed to grow hotter, steam rising in thick clouds that did nothing to hide me from his gaze. Heat bloomed under his unwavering scrutiny, spreading from my chest to the tips of my fingers and toes.

My fingers were on my clit and I was humming softly before I realized what I was doing. Nathan just watched, his gaze dark and hungry. A rush of power surged through me, the control intoxicating, almost more so than the self-inflicted pleasure. I was so wet, so close to coming already, even though I had just started, and Nathan was transfixed. I knew he wanted me, could practically feel the desire radiating off him.

“Keep going,” he said.

I pressed a finger inside myself. “Okay,” I said. “Is this why your day was bad? ‘Cause you wanted to rush and come back here?”

“No,” he breathed softly. His dark eyes never left my body, drinking me in as I continued to touch myself. “My day was bad because of other things. But seeing you...it’s the only good thing about it.”

I bit back a smile, my heart hammering wildly against my ribs. The water sloshed gently around me as I moved, making soft sounds that echoed in the steam-filled silence. His eyes were hot on my skin, they felt like they were setting me on fire.

“You’re sure you don’t want to get in with me?” I whispered.

He hesitated before shaking his head ever so slightly. He was still fully clothed whereas I was bared for him completely. “No...I want to watch you.”

“You sure? Because I think this bath has room for two.”

He smiled, softly, sadly even. “Watching you come...it’s my favorite thing in the world,” Nathan said, his voice a low rumble that seemed out of place in the quiet room. He walked over, sitting on the closed toilet, running his hand through his dark hair. “My day was bad because I talked to my dad. He’s under a lot of stress and...I don’t know. My father—his expectations are clear,” he began, his eyes never leaving mine. “He’d have preferred I killed you.”

The words hit me harder than any physical blow could. My hand stilled. My heart raced, not with desire, but with a sudden, chilling fear. “Do you think he’ll send someone after me?” I asked, trying to sound braver than I felt.

“Did I tell you you could stop?”

“No,” I murmured, forcing my hand back into motion. My fingers brushed against my clit, sending a jolt of pleasure spiraling through me. I tried to focus on that, the comforting rhythm that kept me grounded and distracted from the terrifying reality Nathan had just dumped in my lap.

He watched as I resumed, his gaze intense, his lips curled in a ghost of a smile. “You’re beautiful when you’re scared,” he said, his voice dangerously low. It was a haunting statement, one that sent a shudder down my spine.

I gasped, partly because of the escalating pleasure and partly from the rawness of his words. My free hand gripped the edge of the tub to steady myself as I quickened my pace.

But the fear lingered, gnawing at the edges of my mind. I forced it back, refusing to let it take over. “Nathan,” I whispered breathlessly. “Will your father kill me?”

Nathan shook his head slowly, his black eyes intense. “No. You’re back in play now. Killing you would just put a bullseye on our backs. You’re safe, Abby. I swear on my life, no one will touch you.”

His assurance should have comforted me, but instead, it left me feeling more rattled. My fingers stilled in the water, and I watched him warily. He was a man capable of unspeakable violence, yet here he was, vowing to protect me.

It made my head spin.

And it scared me–because, to my surprise, I was afraid of him getting hurt. I didn’t want to lose him.

“Thank you,” I managed to whisper, not trusting myself to say more. Nathan’s presence enveloped me, as potent and inescapable as the dark world we both inhabited. And despite the danger, I couldn’t deny the pull I felt towards him—a pull as reckless as it was irresistible.

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