Page 69 of In Shadows We Dance

“No?” He angles the camera screen toward me, forcing me to look. There I am—sprawled across my bed, shirt pushed up, eyes dark with desire, lips parted.

A stranger wearing my face. A girl I don’t recognize.

“Should I send this to Daddy? Let him see how his perfect little girl falls apart for me?”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Ohhh, don’t dare me, Ileana.” His fingers thread into my hair again, holding me still as he takes another picture. “One text, and they’d all know. Everyone would see exactly what you become in my hands.” His mouth presses against my ear. “How desperate you are for my touch.”

My pulse is a drumbeat against my ribs, the darkness in his eyes leaving no doubt—he would do it. He’d ruin me without hesitation. The certainty terrifies me as much as being at his mercy turns me on.

“Or maybe …” His hand slides lower, fingers teasing just beneath the waistband of my shorts. “Maybe I should just wake Daddy up. Let him find you like this. Let him watch what I do to you.”

“Stop—”

“That’s not what your body’s saying.” His fingers move lower, feather-light and maddening. “Every inch of you is begging for more, even while you pretend to resist. I bet if I touched you now, you’d come before I even got my fingers inside you.”

Shame scorches through me, but it can’t drown out the truth. He’s right. Even now, I can’t stop the need he’s building inside me.

“You’re coming with me.” His voice leaves no room for argument. “You’ll let me see you. Touch you. Take you apart.” His mouth finds my nipple again, tongue flicking over it, sendingsparks through my entire body. “You’re going to let me play with you until there’s nothing left but this.”

He steps back, and the air chills my skin, goosebumps rising. I move to cover myself, but his eyes narrow.

“I said don’t.” The command in his voice freezes me. “You try to hide, and these photos go straight to Daddy. Every last one.”

The threat shouldn’t send warmth pooling low in my stomach, shouldn’t make my pulse quicken, but it does. And I hate myself for it.

“Stand up.”

My legs are shaking as I slide off the bed, the camera capturing every shaky movement, every second of my shame.

“Beautiful.” He circles me, eyes devouring every inch of skin I can’t hide. “Turn for me.”

I swallow, slowly turning, my skin heating under his scrutiny.

“Hold there. Look at me.”

The shutter clicks again, and the sound is deafening. I’m too aware of my bare skin, the cool air drawing my nipples even tighter.

“Please, Wren.” I don’t know what I’m begging for anymore. To cover myself? To feel his hands on me again? To end this, or for it never to stop?

“No more hiding.” He catches my chin, forcing my gaze up to meet his. “No more pretending.” His thumb pushes between my lips.

Everything feels twisted, wrong, like he’s uncovering pieces of me I never knew existed.

“Every second you hesitate is another second closer to Daddy seeing you like this.”

The words bind me, and I move. The window opens, and cool night air washes over my skin, making everything feel unreal—except the heat of Wren’s body pressing into my back as I climb through.

His arm wraps around my waist, fingers sliding up to cup mybreast again, squeezing, tugging at my nipple. The cold air, the open space, the knowledge that anyone could see us sends a pulse of heat between my legs. The thought should terrify me—instead, it’s like a spark catching dry kindling, burning hotter.

“That’s it,” he whispers. “Stop fighting what you need. I like it when you’re a good girl for me.”

And God help me, I want to be good for him.

CHAPTER 36

Night's Possession