Page 51 of Brutal Empire

I’d never really allowed myself to smell him because that would mean I would have to get close to him. He smelled divine—it was all man, and the way he looked right now, don’t ask me how I knew, but something in me told me this was the type of man the old me had dreamed of. My hands went to his shoulders, and he smirked.

He wasn’t angry, far from it. His breath mixed with mine, and his mouth started getting closer. I blinked, trying to get a hold of myself. I lifted my right knee and hit him between his legs.

“Fuck,” he groaned. “My dick.”

The pain of the impact had him releasing my hold. The moment my feet touched the ground, I was prepared to make a run for it. I turned around, ready to do just that, when his hands gripped my hips.

Every single nerve ending in my body came alive. I could feel his fingers slightly gripping, but not enough to harm me.

“Now, little Angel,” he mocked in my ear. “Since you hurt me, you should be the one to soothe me.”

I wriggled free from his hold, angry more than anything at his audacity.

“Let me go.” I seethed.

“Why?” he groaned as I wiggled uncontrollably, trying to escape. He turned me around so I was facing him. We both looked like we had just run a marathon.

“I’ll let you go if you answer me one thing.” His voice was low, precariously controlled.

I’d seen him a hundred times before, but up until this moment, I didn’t think I’d ever really seen him. He wasn’t as easygoing as he liked to pretend. Everything about him was a façade that was perfectly crafted so that you would keep your guard down. He wore his madness with a smile, and it was disarming.

At my refusal to speak, he smiled brightly, his teeth shining against the contrast of his dark beard.

“Was it me who you thought of?” Bastian’s voice dropped an octave, and he seemed to hold his breath, waiting for my answer.

“No,” I lied with a straight face, and the asshole laughed.

He took a step forward, forcing me to move back until the backs of my legs hit the edge of the sofa. I steeled myself to stay still, or else I would fall, and I had a feeling he would come with me.

Bas grabbed my hand again, causing my chest to press against him. I had two options, and I didn’t like either of them. I relaxed my body as he brought my fingertips to his lips.

“Did it feel good?” His tone was husky, and his tongue peeked out, just touching the tip of my finger.

Shivers went down my body, and the feeling I had felt earlier was back and stronger than ever before. Even as we spoke, I felt the change in my body. I used to run cold and freeze when a man got near me, but I was burning bright right now. I fought the urge to move or shift my legs because Bastian was a predator and was looking at a sign to pounce.

When I didn’t answer, Bastian smirked, and those dark eyes swallowed me whole. It felt like I had been here before, and I just didn’t know.

Bas licked my finger clean, and then he pulled it out of his mouth, the popping noise making me flinch. He blinked a few times, and then his voice went soft.

“All he did was cause you pain…”

His words hung in the air as my glare intensified, but he ignored it.

“All I want to do is give you pleasure.”

This time, when I went to pry my hand away, he let me.

“I hate y—”

“Remember our deal, Angel,” he mocked. “You’re not allowed to hate me.”

It was foolish to make a deal with the devil. The devil didn’t like to lose.

TWENTY-TWO

Fucking hell,I was losing my damn mind. If that was even possible since I didn’t think I’d been sane since the moment I embarked on this journey. What was I even doing? I felt myself pushing boundaries I shouldn’t, but God if I could help myself.

I didn’t even think sex would relieve my aching hard-on.

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