Page 10 of Forever Touched

Tossing my phone and keys onto the glass table just inside the door, I shucked off my clothes on the way to the bathroom. I’d been looking forward to thisallday. After dealing with the Faircrofts for the past several hours, this slight reprieve was a little slice of heaven.

On my way over to the elegant clawfoot tub, I grabbed a toothbrush and got to work making myself “presentable.” Mistress didn’t care what I looked like during the daytime. In fact, the scruffier I looked, the better. Less chance of being recognized that way. But at night, not even a single hair out of place was acceptable.

I didn’t mind this part of my day, though. Pampering myself. Scrubbing my skin so raw that I could almost feelcleanagain.

When the tub was adequately filled, I turned off the water andslipped inside. The temperature was just below scalding, exactly how I liked it. Despite the heat, I barely flinched. Submerging myself in hot water felt like I was melting thetaintoff my body.

If only it could melt away the taint on the inside.

Nudging the impossible thought aside, I rested against the tub and breathed in the lavender-scented steam. I let my eyes close, but falling asleep wasn’t an option. After a moment, I forced myself into motion again, blindly reaching for my loofa on the cart beside the tub.

When I found a large hand instead, I yanked my eyes open with a startled squeak. A hulking vampire grinned back, snatching up my hand before I could pull it back.

“Good evening, Star. You’re looking as beautiful as ever.” The sandy-haired brute dipped his head and kissed my knuckles.

“Heath,” I gasped out, shocked to find him kneeling beside my tub. “What are you doing here?”

“This is my club, Star,” he replied, as if that was all the explanation I needed.

As he continued to run his lips over my knuckles, I tried to tug my hand back. His grip tightened.

“I need . . . I need to get ready.” Silently cursing my stutter, I struggled to slow my racing pulse. Vampires loved nothing more than frightened prey.

“I can help you. My hands might be big, but I’ve been told they can be quite gentle.”

At the insinuation, my blood ran cold.

“I think you should leave, Heath,” I said before I could stop myself.

He tensed, and so did I. This was bad. This wasreallybad. I was an employee. Aservant. One wrong move in this bloodthirsty worldcould cost me my life, and rejecting the club’s owner was definitely one of them.

Not knowing what to do, I held still, barely daring to breathe.

After a moment, he slowly raised his head to look at me. He wasn’t grinning anymore, but he didn’t look angry either. More like amused that the little witch had attempted to defend herself. His cloudy gray eyes trailed over my face, then lower, boldly peering into the water to take in my naked body. I didn’t move a muscle, not even to cover myself. Doing so would only make me look more vulnerable.

Finally, he met my gaze again and said, “Don’t forget, Star. While you work under this roof, you’re half mine. If I wanted to, I could order you into my bed with a few simple words. I’d have every right.” He lifted his other hand and touched my cheek. I stopped breathing, willing myself not to pull away. To not so much as flinch. “It’s no secret that I crave you. Watching you dance night after night for the past three years has been torture. But if I had evenonetaste, I know that I wouldn’t be able to stop. I would take everything and leave nothing for the others, and that’s just bad business.”

At his confession, I inwardly recoiled. My body held perfectly still, but he must have seen the disgust in my eyes. Faster than I could blink, he grabbed my head and shoved me beneath the water. I screamed, lashing out with my arms and feet, but he was too strong. As the oxygen raced from my lungs, I grew desperate and willed magic to my fingertips. It readily flowed through my veins, coming to my aid. But before it could blast from me, it stopped.

Just stopped.

I was no longer in control of it. The magic didn’t obey me. It obeyedthem.

When I stopped flailing, on the verge of passing out, Heath finally released my head.

I popped back up, gasping and coughing as I struggled to refill my lungs. He pushed the wet hair off my face, and I flinched this time, but he didn’t seem to notice. His grin was back, softer than before. Relaxed.

Content. He wascontent.

Apparently, he got off on drowning girls half to death.

“Shhh, it’s okay, Star,” he said in soothing tones, letting his fingers roam over my face, then lower. I stiffened all over, but knew better than to reject him a second time. Thankfully, he stopped at my neck, pausing to press his thumb over my racing pulse. “Mmm, I bet you taste exquisite right now.”

My heart stopped as his fingers curled around my neck and slowly drew me toward him. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for what was to come.

Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid, I ordered myself, waiting for the inevitable.

Warmth hit my throat as his breath fanned over my skin. He inhaled deeply, drawing my scent into his lungs. The hissing sound he emitted was almost my undoing. I balled my hands into fists, refusing to push him away.

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