Page 24 of Trapping His Darling

Giving the stranger’s high-handed behavior a pass, I rolled my eyes and headed to the bathroom.

Adjoining the opulent bedroom was a bathroom that could only be described as excessive. The black color scheme continued from the bedroom, and marble floors gleamed under soft lighting. That was fine. However, a colossal floating bathtub dominated the center of the bathroom, with its sleek black surface and gleaming silver accents. It could easily have accommodated ten people. Intricate carvings adorned the edges, adding ornate luxury to the modern design.

Next to the bathtub was a spa-like shower area with multiple rainfall showerheads and mosaic tiles in shades of gray and black. Silver fixtures gleamed against the dark backdrop, adding a touch of refinement. The bathroom windows were generously sized, framed by heavy black curtains, allowing just enough ambient light to not need the lamps overhead.

I bypassed the tub for the shower. Strange, he used the same shampoo as me.

I kept it quick, and once done, wrapped myself in a heated towel that was large and fluffy enough to be a blanket. I threw all my clothes in the trash. It sucked to lose my panty and bra set, but I wasn’t going to put dirty underwear back on. I didn’t mind going commando anyway.

Back at the bed, I reached for the shirt when the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. I was being watched.

I turned to see the stranger leaning against the wall, waiting for me. He had changed out of his finery into casual clothing, butthis wardrobe swap did not make him any less intimidating. The fitted shirt, half unbuttoned in that stylish way, stretched over broad shoulders and hard muscle. Damn, he was hot.

His cold eyes were calculating, as they flicked up and down my form. “You are more beautiful than your photo.”

My eyebrows rose. “You’ve seen my photo?”

“I approved the staff for this party.”

“Oh.” I removed the towel and reached for the shirt. Being naked in front of men was not a big deal to me at this point. After all, most of my encounters got to some state of undress before the man died.

“Stop,” the stranger ordered.

I froze in place.

The man moved toward me, his aura feeling overly predatory in the opulent space. His steps were silent, his breath too quiet for a man engulfed in lust. Calm, focused, he exuded a danger I had never encountered before. Most of my victims were sloppy in their assault, too excited to appreciate the moment where life converged with death.

His gaze took in my damp skin. “You are a work of art. Covering your beauty should be a crime.”

I offered a small smile and blushed at the compliment. His eyes were mesmerizing. “You think I should navigate the world naked?”

“No,” he clipped. “I would be forced to kill every man whose eyes fell upon you. As it is, I will need a list of your past lovers, so I might remove them from this reality. I cannot bear knowing another man walks this earth with a memory of your perfection.”

I shouldn’t feel this flattered. “That was… I have never heard something so beautiful,” I whispered.

Fuck me. I was going to fall in love. I just knew it.

He reached forth to tangle a lone curl around his finger. “You already saved me the trouble of dispatching Sasha, yes?”

The question was spoken so quietly, so eloquently, I almost tumbled into his trap. I broke eye contact and cleared my throat. “I don’t know what you mean.”

His free hand cupped my jaw as he pressed close, his thumb parting my lips as his hard chest pressed into my naked breasts. He lifted my chin so he could look down into my eyes. I felt breathless, drowning in the clear, icy blue pools that were his irises.

He forced me to suck his thumb into my mouth. I obliged, drawing upon it like I would a cock; his, if he’d let me. This was the first time I’d ever felt like I wanted to please a man.

My tongue swirled around the finger before he carefully withdrew it from my mouth. He gently rubbed my lower lip. And my heart pounded loudly in my chest.

“If you ever lie to me again, I will cut out your tongue,” he murmured.

Oh God! Fuck!

Gasping, I literally fell into him, my legs suddenly too weak to hold my weight. My womb pulsed, and tingles enveloped my body, as I panted through the event. I trembled in his embrace. Was this an orgasm? Was I having one for the first time? From his twisted words alone?

His arms effortlessly bore my weight. “Mmm,” he cooed against my lips as he inhaled my scent. “I will definitely need that list.”

Oh, how I wanted to tell him that there wasn’t one, that I was a virgin, and any random man who ever touched me like this was already dead. But that would be foolish of me. Why would I dare reveal my secrets to this enigmatic and commanding stranger whose name I had yet to learn?

But, fuck me, I wanted to.

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