Page 35 of No Mercy In Red

The way he purred my name made me flush, heat spreading through my entire body as he took my hand, twirling me in a circle to take me in.

“Can I?” He asked gently, holding up a small necklace box, his voice suddenly tender.

I nodded, instinctively turning to allow him access to my neck, but his hand stopped me.

“No, my little fox, this one fastens at the front.”

I stayed still, my breath hitching as he stepped up to me, placing the necklace around my throat, securing it with a smallclick.I glanced down at the small black heart that fastened the necklace closed. He turned me to face the bathroom mirror, his chest pressed against my back, one hand idly stroking the necklace, the other holding a tiny key up beside me.

“To everyone else, it’s just a necklace. But anyone brave enough to get close will see its actually a lock,” he murmured into my ear, his hand trailing from the necklace up to my throat, staring into my eyes through the mirror. “You’re mine now, Max. Permanently.”

Before I could even react, he tossed the key into the toilet and flushed, my heart hammering wildly. He turned me to face him, his eyes possessive.

“I don’t share, Maxine.” He cupped my jaw, tilting my chin to look directly into his eyes. “I’m past the point of willing to let you go, and now you’re branded, wearing a piece of me forever.”

His possessiveness should’ve scared me, but instead, it sent a thrill rushing through my veins as desire burned hot between us. He turned me back toward the mirror one last time, his fingers brushing the side of my throat, grazing my pulse.

“Doesn’t your throat look so much prettier with a collar around it, princess?” He asked.

I nodded, swallowing hard as I watching his fingers trail across my neck.

“Mine.” He growled.

“Yours.” I whispered in return.

He led me down to the awaiting cab, his hand never leaving the small of my back. Every touch I felt his possessive claim on me, the necklace a burning reminder of who I truly belonged to. Him. I was his. He had well and truly laid his claim on me, and I was more than willing to let him.

The private dinner was stunning – a sleek penthouse at the highest point of the city, with floor to ceiling windows that bathed the room in golden lights as the sun began to descend. This view overlooked everything, the world seemed to stretch endlessly around us; a sprawling landscape of shimmering lights, the ocean in the distance, all set beneath a velvet sky. Connor stood behind me, strong arms wrapped protectively around my waist as I gazed out the window.

“I know you dream of travelling,”. He whispered in my ear. “That’s why I brought you here, so you can feel like you’re on top of the world.”

I turned, my brow furrowing slightly. “How did you—”

He hesitated, his eyes flickering for a fraction of a second, before a playful smile curved his mouth. “You told me, sleepily, after the last time I fucked you into oblivion.”

My face flushed hotly. I didn’t quite believe him, but the heat of his body pressed against mine melted away any suspicions instantly. I leaned back into him, breathing him in and surrendering to the feeling of being so wholly possessed. His fingers traced slowly up my thigh, up beneath the dangerously high slit of my dress. I gasped softly as his thumb brushed teasingly against my skin, heat pooling deep in my belly. His breathing grew heavy as his hand climbed higher.

“There’s nowhere you could go that I wouldn’t follow,” his words were breathy against my throat, his teeth scraping softly against my sensitiveskin. “I’d burn down this entire fucking world just to keep you within my grasp.”

A shiver of pleasure raced through me, mixing with a small thrilling edge of fear. “Someone could see…” I whispered breathlessly.

“Let them watch,” he rasped darkly. “Let them see who owns you. Let them see who gets to fuck the most beautiful woman in the world, Maxine.”

A moan escaped my lips when his finger slipped inside me, my body betraying any logic. My knees nearly gave out beneath me as he slid in a second, holding me tightly against him by my throat. My hands pressed against the window as he relentlessly working me until I shattered in his arms, legs trembling me as he effortlessly held me upright.

“Such a good girl,” he whispered, gently kissing my temple before sliding his fingers into his mouth, savouring my taste with a wicked grin. “Fucking delicious.”

We spent the evening dining on incredible food and drinking expensive wine, our laughter mingling effortlessly as he opened up a whole new side to me. Conner was charming, witting, attentive in ways I never expected. The ruthless, obsessive stalker had vanished, replaced by a man who seemed utterly fucking normal, despite looking like he was created by the mind of Michelangelo.

“So,” I murmured, swallowing a mouthful of wine. “Just how far does the stalking go?”

He paused, glancing up at me from his own glass. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, Connor, how far does it go. What boundaries have you crossed, I need to know if you want me to trust you.”

He inhaled, “It started when I saw you at the café. You caught my attention instantly. From there, I asked Mel a few questions, where youworked, how often you came here...” he continued, “I have a problem when I become interested, I get a little... obsessive.”

“Yeah, no shit” I gestured to the necklace.

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