Page 42 of Barbi and the Villain

I nod eagerly. He did save me. If there’s anything I can do for him, I will.

“Come here,” he demands in a curt voice.

“Here?”

I slide closer to him until I’m right by his side.

“Closer,” he murmurs.

“W-what?”

“I cannot move, female. You will have to move for me,” he bites out. “Now come closer.”

“I don’t understand…”

“Sit on my lap.”

My eyes widen and I release a scandalized gasp.

He shakes his head wearily.

“Do I look like I am fit to do anything to you?” he asks drily.

I have to concede that he has a point. Besides, I was on his lap not too long ago when I stumbled over his body. It’s not as if this is any different.

But that was when you didn’t know what he looked like; when you thought he was a mummy.

So what if he’s not a mummy? Or that he happens to have a stunning face that models would kill for? He’s chained to a wall and he can barely move. It’s impossible for him to take advantage of me. If anything, I could take advantage of him—not that I would. I pride myself on being a law-abiding citizen—most days. And though I might borrow his face for my dreams where I might or might not indulge in some fantasies, it’s not as if I’m directly doing anything to him. Right…?

I shake my head at my foolishness. This is a life and death situation—where a man actually died, though good riddance. I need to get a grip on myself.

Slowly, I take a seat on his lap, holding on to his shoulders. The heat of his body penetrates mine, and instinctively, I want to wrap myself in it. I am too traumatized right now to think straight, and he’s my only tether. So I hold on, soaking in his warmth and that tantalizing scent that’s now even more intoxicating.

I blink slowly as I raise my gaze to his. Our eyes lock, and a tremor goes down my back.

“And now?” I bite my lip as I glance coyly at him.

“You agree to help me?” he asks again, the vibrations from his voice traveling straight through me.

“Yes. What do you need?”

He nods at me with his chin to come closer.

I do, and his hot breath brushes against my ear, making me shiver.

“We do not have much time. The rest of the guards are on their way here.”

I gulp down.

“I need to feed to regain my strength and get out of here. If you help me, I will get you out of here too.”

“You want to eat me?” I ask breathlessly. Images dance in my brain, very much non PG-13 images. “Isn’t that too soon? I mean, we haven’t even been on a date and frankly, I wouldn’t let you do that even after a third date. Maybe I will allow you a peck on the cheek. But?—”

“What are you rambling about, female?”

My lashes flutter in confusion.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to eat…me? I don’t know how that will help you regain your strength, but?—”

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