Page 66 of Beautiful Cruelty

"Of course." Aria brightens. "And if you so choose, we also have a private room where clients can try on these more intimate pieces. Would you like me to show you?"

Before Lacey can object, I answer smoothly, "Please do."

"I'll gather our selection and then we'll be on our way." Aria heads toward the back room, heels clicking as she leaves us alone.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Lacey hisses, her earlier bravado cracking. That slight quiver in her voice has my cock twitching in response.

In anticipation.

In victory.

"What am I doing?" I lean in close, breathing in her intoxicating scent. "I thought this was what you wanted,zvyozdochka.To try them on for my thorough inspection?"

Her eyes widen when she hears the steady tone of seriousness in my voice.

"You wouldn't dare." Her whisper comes out breathy, uncertain.

"I think both of us know that I would." My fingers trace up her spine, making her shiver. "What you should be asking is which ones should we start with. The nipples?" My hand slides around to brush the side of her breast before it moves in a line down herbody towards the tantalizing wet patch of heat between her legs. "Or perhaps somewhere more... intimate?"

My fingers drift lower, tracing the smooth silk of her altered dress. The slit she added makes it dangerously easy to access what lies beneath. I should thank her for that later.

Her breath hitches as I press my fingers against her clit through the damp silk. "Vadim..."

"Yes,zvyozdochka?" I circle slowly, feeling her grow wetter.

"Aria is in the backroom. She'll be back any second," Lacey whispers, but her thighs part slightly as my hand slides between them.

"Then you'll have to be very quiet." The heat of her through the thin material of her panties makes my cock throb. "Won't you?"

Instead of answering, she reaches for my wrist—not to stop me, but to press me harder against her. Her head tilts back, exposing that delicate neck I've been dying to mark since I first saw her, and her teeth scrapes her lower lip.

"Someone could walk in," she protests weakly, even as her hips rock against my hand.

I slip my fingers beneath the edge of her panties, finding her slick and ready. "Have you forgotten I've booked out the entire place?"

A small whimper escapes her as I slide one finger inside. Her inner walls clench around me, pulling me deeper. When I add a second finger, her nails dig into my arm.

"We shouldn't..." But her body betrays her words as she grinds down on my hand.

"Shouldn't what?" I curl my fingers, finding that spot that makes her gasp. "Lie about the jewelry we want? Or about non-existent holes?"

Her only response is to bite her lip to keep from moaning as I increase my pace, feeling her wetness coating my fingers, and running down to pool in the palm of my hand.

"Vadim…" Lacey's voice turns thick and coarse. Her face flushes, and her breath starts to quicken into uneven ragged pants. "I'm… I'm…"

The click of Aria's heels sends me withdrawing my hand from between Lacey's thighs.

Lacey staggers back, catching herself on her crutches as her knees buckle. The flush across her face and her rapid breathing tell me exactly how close she was.

Shame.

I bring my fingers to my mouth, my eyes never leaving hers as I savor her taste. Lacey's lower lip quivers as she spares me one last glare, takes a deep breath to steady herself, and turn away from me.

"Here we are." Aria sets the case on the counter and opens it with practiced efficiency. "Our most exclusive collection of intimate jewelry pieces."

Inside, nestled in black velvet, lies an array of exquisite pieces that would make most respectable jewelers blush. Delicate gold bars studded with diamonds catch the light. Some feature intricate patterns of precious stones forming flowers or abstract designs.

"Remarkable." I pick up a set of matching nipple rings. The bars are white gold, with tiny diamonds arranged in a spiral pattern leading to a larger stone at each end.

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