Page 109 of Stalked By Seduction and Shadows

“It’s okay,” I told her. “I’ll see you in there.”

The blonde nodded, as if silently saying good choice. The hall we were in was dark and ornate, golden chandeliers hovering above. The hum of a crowd poured from our left.

Snow sighed in defeat. When she turned away from me, I followed the blonde in the opposite direction, away from the noise of hundreds of bodies gathered in a sprawling theater.

The heat on my neck burned my skin, my body moving on its own accord. It was as though Rune was pulling me toward him by an invisible leash.

I barely noticed the door slamming shut behind me or my dimly lit surroundings in an orchestral rehearsal space. Because when Rune, dressed in all black, his inky tattoos pulsing with power as they crawled down his wrists and up his neck, turned to me… his stare crumbled me like a strike of lightning piercing a tower.

It felt like the first time he’d looked at me, with such indescribable intensity, as if he’d been waiting an eternity for me to step into Odessa and into his life.

We stayed like this for a moment, our eyes roaming over each other’s bodies as his shadows darkened the room. The warmth on my neck crawled down my spine, wrapping around my torso and creeping between my thighs. I gasped, shifting on my feet.

In a rush of wind, he stood before me. He trailed two fingers down my temple, slowly bringing them to my lips and making them part. The moment of tenderness was over when he forcefully grabbed my throat, his touch searing as I stared up and into his dark eyes.

“I’ve missed you, Little Flame,” he said darkly.

I shrugged. “You’ve barely crossed my mind.”

He grinned, bending down to be at eye-level. His power was so potent my body seized up, my breathing growing rapid.

“Were you thinking of me when you were speaking to Jack? When his hand touched what belongs to me?” His free hand skimmed my shoulder, exactly where Jack had touched. Rune held me in place as he bent to kiss there next, and when his fangs skimmed my skin, I went rigid, holding my next breath.

“No,” I lied.

Rune chuckled, and I could nearly sense his sadistic streak awakening at my provocation.

“I have half a mind to claim you right now, sink my teeth into your skin and finally taste the blood I will be addicted to for an eternity.” His whisper feathered across my skin, and I shivered. Then he grabbed my face, forcing me to stare hard into his wrathful eyes. “I would much rather you watch the opera bound and in my lap, letting you feel my hard cock pressing against you as I teased and tormented you for two hours.” He sighed, his grip softening. “I want to watch you experience something you’ve dreamed of for so long, see your eyes light up and your pulse quicken, goosebumps rising on your skin. I hate that I will only get to do that from afar.”

He glanced down at my form again, soaking me in. “You look more beautiful in this dress than I ever could’ve imagined.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, still reeling from his disorienting intertwining of sinful and sweet words. My body pulsed with desire, my limbs itching to reach and tangle up in his.

“Oh, so now we have some manners?” His sigh billowed over my face, and I inhaled his intoxicating scent, like dark wintry woods. “How many times have you lied to me since you entered this room?”

I bit my lip, refusing to answer him. As soon I started to smile at him, he gripped my hair near the base of my scalp. I cried out, and he grabbed me and held me against his chest as he dragged me over to a nearby wooden bench.

He let me go and sat down. “Lay over my lap, ass up.” His imposing form spread across the seat, an evil smile on his lips as he gestured with his fingers. “Now.”

I stared at him in disbelief, even as my body moved on its own accord, subconsciously bound by the power behind his tone. I climbed over top of him, and Rune made a hum of approval.

“Hands behind your back.”

My cheek pressed into the cushion as I slowly obeyed, humiliation rising to my face and arousal sinking between my thighs.

He was gentle when he hiked up my dress, which was appreciated. Money might not have mattered much to the ruler of Aristelle, but ruining such a beautiful piece of art would’ve been excessive, even for him.

“Rune,” I mumbled, tensing at what was to come. I jolted when his large hand grasped my ass and forcefully squeezed. I gasped.

“Yes, Little Flame?” One hand held tight to my wrists at the base of my back while the other roamed over my exposed backside.

I stayed silent. He was going to punish me, as he always promised. I could’ve told him that such an act was unconscionable, degrading, and dehumanizing. And maybe it was all of those things, but if I told him I didn’t want his fucked-up games and wickedness, then I’d be lying a third time.

51

SCARLETT

When his fingers snuck between my legs, my breath hitched. “Already?” he taunted, collecting my wetness on his fingers and dragging it across my inner thigh. He massaged me again, a throaty growl escaping his lips. “This ass—my ass—is utterly perfect. I could think of no better canvas for my cruelty.”

---