Page 35 of My Bloody Valentine

Adrian reaches into his pocket and pulls out a single chocolate truffle, its surface gleaming in the dim light. My stomach churns as he holds it to my lips.

“Open.” His voice brooks no argument.

I clamp my mouth shut, turning my head away. “Fuck no.”

His fingers grip my jaw, forcing me to face him. “I said open your mouth, Maya. Don’t make me ask again.”

The pressure increases until my lips part. He places the chocolate on my tongue, his fingertips lingering against my bottom lip.

The moment it touches my tongue, I know what’s in it. That familiar salty-sweet taste mixed with rich dark chocolate. Heat floods my core even as disgust wars with longing. My cheeks burn as I realize how wet I get from tasting Adrian’s cum in his chocolate.

But there’s something else. Something stronger than before. My vision starts to blur around the edges as another wave of sedative hits my system.

“What...” My tongue feels heavy. “Why...”

“Shhh.” Adrian strokes my hair as blackness creeps in. “You need time to accept your new reality. When you wake up, we’ll have that Valentine’s date I promised you.”

I try to fight it, but consciousness slips away like water through my fingers. The last thing I feel is Adrian’s lips brushing my forehead as everything fades to black.

16

ADRIAN

Iadjust my white skull mask, ensuring it fits perfectly against my face. The black lines trace ancient patterns across the bone-white surface. My fingers trail over the smooth material as I watch Maya’s sleeping form on the bed.

There are three minutes and twenty seconds left until the sedative wears off. I’ve perfected the timing through careful experimentation and knowing Maya’s weight from the medical records I found.

The mask represents everything I no longer need to hide. No more careful smiles or measured responses. No more pretending to be the polite chocolatier who caters to Chicago’s elite. I can finally show Maya my true nature in this space, locked away from prying eyes.

Her chest rises and falls in a steady rhythm. The silk sheets drape over her curves, and I imagine how her skin will flush when she opens her eyes to find me transformed. Will she scream? Or will something deeper stir within her.

I settle into the leather chair beside the bed, crossing one leg over the other. My fingers drum against the armrest as I count down the seconds. Maya’s eyelids flutter—right on schedule. The sedative is releasing its hold.

“Welcome back,” I say, my voice different behind the mask. Deeper, raspier. “I hope you’re eager to delve into those fantasies you’ve been suppressing.”

She blinks, trying to focus. When her gaze lands on my mask, her pupils dilate. Fear? Arousal? Both feed the same innate response. I lean forward, letting the light catch the mask’s angular planes.

“You’ve been hiding from yourself. But I see it. I sense it in every reaction to my chocolates. Tonight, we’ll unlock those fantasies you’re too afraid to acknowledge.”

Her breath catches. I can practically taste her confusion, her terror, and underneath it all, that delicious thread of anticipation.

I trail my knife along Maya’s inner thigh, drinking in the way her muscles tense beneath the cold steel. Her wrists strain against the silk bonds, but I’ve secured them perfectly—tight enough to hold, loose enough not to mark her delicate skin.

“Shhh, little critic. I won’t cut you.” The blade glides up her stomach, catching the light. Her chest heaves with each rapid breath. “Your fear is exquisite, but I have no interest in damaging such a rare specimen.”

A whimper escapes her lips as I trace the knife’s tip between her breasts. Her nipples harden, and I can’t help but smile behind my mask. Even terrified, her body responds to my touch.

“Please,” she whispers, voice trembling.

I press the flat of the blade against her throat. Not enough pressure to hurt, but just enough to remind her of her vulnerability. “Please, what, Maya? Please stop? Please more? Your body seems confused about what it wants.”

Her pulse races visibly in her neck. I lean down, my mask inches from her face. “I can practically taste your fear in the air. It’s exhilarating. But do you know what’s even better?” I drag the knife down her side, watching goosebumps rise in its wake.“Knowing that this fear is unnecessary. That you’re safe in your terror.”

Maya’s eyes lock onto mine through the mask’s holes. In them, I see understanding dawn—the realization that despite her helplessness, despite the knife, she will emerge unharmed. Her fear is a gift she’s giving me, not something I take by force.

“Good girl. You’re beginning to understand.” With deliberate care, I set the knife on the nightstand, my fingers lingering on its handle. “We’ll explore that particular pleasure later.”

My cock strains against my slacks as I drink in Maya’s bound form. Seven days. Seven endless days since I first buried myself inside her. The memory of her tight heat has haunted my every waking moment, disrupting my focus in the kitchen and leaving my latest creations lacking their usual finesse.

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