Page 47 of Beautiful Cruelty

Okay. Have fun and stay safe! Don't forget to take lots of pictures!

I put the phone down. That's one less loose end.

I dial Demyon's number, and within minutes, he appears at my office door.

"Got something you need to see." I turn my laptop screen toward him, showing the journalist's profile picture from the Seattle Voice website. "Megan Huang."

Demyon leans in closer, a slow grin spreading across his face. "Not bad looking at all. You want me to bring her in for questioning?"

"No." I scroll through more photos of the dark-haired reporter. "I need information on her connections to Lacey McKinney. They appear to be sisters, but the last names don't match."

"Adoption maybe?" Demyon's eyebrows raise.

“Maybe. But I need you to confirm it.” I close the laptop. "Get me everything. Background, family connections, daily routines. But observe only. No contact."

"You're taking quite an interest in Lacey McKinney." Demyon's tone carries a hint of amusement. "For someone who says she’s only a means to an end.”

"Just get me the information." My voice leaves no room for discussion. "And Demyon. I mean it about keeping your distance. Watch, but don't engage."

"Crystal clear, boss." He nods and heads for the door. "I'll have something for you by tonight."

"One more thing," I say as he turns around at the door. "If she tries to come anywhere near Pankration, discourage her."

Once I'm alone again, I close out all the messages and navigate to Lacey's photo gallery.

The photos she took wearing my suit jacket. My breath catches as I scroll through them. Each one more daring than the last.

The early shots are tentative, almost shy—just her in my jacket, covering what needs to be covered. But as the sequence continues, her confidence grows. She lets the jacket fall open, revealing the curves of her breasts. Her lips are parted, caught between desire and uncertainty.

And then I see that familiar final photo.

She's spread across the bed, legs open, her thin fingers dipping into her pussy.The jacket has fallen completely open now, framing her body like a gift waiting to be unwrapped.

My breath quickens as I stare at the image. The way she's positioned herself, how she's looking at the camera—she knew exactly what she was doing. What it would do to me.

Slowly, I reach down, unzip my pants, and free my cock.

I stroke myself slowly as I flick through each picture. I imagine her sliding further up the bed in the photos until her back is against the headboard. In my mind, her eyes close as she slowly shrugs my suit jacket off her shoulders.

"Do you like stripping for me,zvyozdochka?" I murmur, my voice thick with desire.

In my mind, I'm whispering dirty words of encouragement in her ear as I trail my fingers over her skin. I picture her biting her lip, a soft moan escaping as I circle her nipple, teasing it with my thumb.

"Do you like opening yourself up to me?"

In my fantasy, she nods, her eyes still closed as she arches into my touch. I imagine her breath quickening as I skim lower, my fingers dipping between her legs, finding her wet and ready for me.

"Admit it, you want me to do more than this." I growl, my cock throbbing in my hand as I stroke faster.

I imagine her surrendering to me, body opening further to my fingers circling her clit. In my mind, she cries out, body trembling as I bring her to the edge. I picture her legs wrapping around my waist as I plunge into her, claiming her as my own.

I grunt, my cock pulsing in my hand as I imagine how good it’ll feel to fill her, to mark her as mine. A single savage word rises in my mind like liturgy, and repeats again and again and again.

Mine.

With a final stroke, I spill all over my hand, my body shuddering with release as I imagine her nails digging into my back, her legs squeezing me to keep me inside, and her breath turning quick and sharp as she comes apart in my arms.

I lean back in my chair, my breath ragged as I stare at the phone screen. Slowly, I become aware of my surroundings again—the quiet of my office, and the faint scent of my cum.

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