Page 4 of Empire of Ache & Ruin

“I’m here all the time.” She strolls inside, taking in the tall windows and the spectacular view of the city beneath us. “How about you get my money, and I’ll serve a couple of drinks?” She turns in place and stops when she spots the butler’s pantry.

“Sounds like a plan.” I saunter toward the main bedroom in the back.

I stand in front of the safe and punch in the four-digit code. The money I stashed in here a few days ago was meant for petty bribes. These days people don’t help others out of the kindness of their hearts. They all want to get paid. Once I count the bills and shove them in an envelope, I shut the safe, taking a handful of seconds to calm the fuck down.

The lust burning through my veins is something I’ve never felt before. It’s clouding my mind and all logic. The only way to solve this problem is to fuck her all night, and then, move on. A pitiful peptalk, but it will have to do. I return to the living area with cash in hand.

“I’ll trade you.” She offers me a glass of whiskey.

Fuck. Her eyes are serene pools of desire and allure. How can she look so innocent and so lustful at the same time? I take the tumbler and drink deeply from it while I let her take the cash from me.

“I’ve never met a man like you.” She puts the money on the table and gracefully closes the space between us. “You’re beautiful.” She cups my cheek. “I want to kiss you so badly.”

I want to devour her right here and now. But the pout of her lips seems, for lack of a better word, inexperienced. Or is that what I paid for? She’s so experienced at fucking men, she’s able to fool me into this fantasy where I’m the predator, and she’s my prey.

“I do too.” I finish the rest of my drink.

When I reach for her waist, her eyes widen in surprise. Her mouth forms a perfect “o” as she lets me guide her toward me. A willing participant, I fall for her game. I pull her gently toward me, and she delicately surrenders to my embrace. She trembles fisting the sleeve of my suit jacket. My cock fucking loves it.

Yes, I want to ravage her, to tear up her expensive dress, and suck on her tits until she comes. But I want this game too. I want her desire to boil over. I want her to beg for me.

Gently, I place my index finger under her chin and press my mouth to hers. Fucking ecstasy. She moans quietly and melts in my arms. I take her surrender as an invitation to coax her velvet tongue to meet mine. She tastes like whiskey and green apples. When her lips part to let me in, I deepen the kiss, claiming her mouth the way I plan to plunder her cunt in the next five minutes.

“I don’t think I did enough.” She pulls away, panting to catch her breath. “How are you still standing?”

Her words are like a spell. She’s no innocent maiden. She is a witch. My body knows what’s happening to me, but my brain and my cock are still hung up on her, refusing to see the truth. I fall to the floor with a heavy thud, and still, I can’t form the thought in my head.

“Little Dove,” I mumble.

She poisoned me?

I lie on the soft carpet unable to move, staring up at her. Her eyes go big like saucers in surprise or trepidation. I can’t fucking tell the difference anymore.

“Let’s go,” a male voice calls from somewhere near the door. “Now. Who knows how long the effects will last. He’s a beast.”

“I’m coming.” She touches her fingers to her lips. She looks lost and confused.

You can drop the act, Little Dove.

I glare at her with all the contempt I can muster.

“Why did you kiss him?” the man asks.

“I don’t know.” She smooths out her dress, her eyes never leaving mine. “Get the money.”

CHAPTER2

I PAID FOR HER

Tristan

My back burns like it’s on fire. It isn’t. It’s my down coat. I scream as the flames lick their way through the material and sear my skin. In the confusion, I don’t see Mom tackle me to the floor until my face hits the silky carpet and she pats my jacket with her bare hands. Someone bangs on the door, screaming in agony. And the stench of burned flesh is everywhere.

Mom’s palms are charred now as tears stream down her face. It’s like being in a car accident. We’re frozen in place while tongues of fire consume the walls around us. But at the same time, the world around us is collapsing so fast, I can’t wrap my mind around why this is happening to us, how we got here, or how we’re going to survive.

Survive. The word flashes in my head while Mom shields me with her body. The screams in the distance are from a man. Why won’t he stop screaming?

“Tristan. Please don’t be dead. Tristan.” A pair of small hands push at my chest with urgency.

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