Page 88 of The Serpent's Bride
That was the problem with having staff. They were trying to be helpful by refilling her drinks without her asking. But if it was in front of her, she was going to drink it.
Get it together.She needed her faculties for this conversation.
With a breath, she headed down below decks to the master suite. The yacht was large, but it wasn’t enormous enough that getting lost was a real possibility. She reached the door. Should she knock?
Theyweremarried.
Sort of.
All right, well,hethought they were married.
Ivan was standing nearby. She glanced at him. “Knock or no knock, what do you think?”
The big guy cringed as if watching someone about to put their hand into an oven and knowing he couldn’t do anything to stop them. He shrugged.
No right answer. Nodding, she decided to get it over with. Twisting the handle, she was surprised to find it unlocked. She shut the door behind her, and braced herself for the worst.
The room was dominated by a large bed directly in front of her, swathed in black silk. The room was huge for a ship, and every surface was polished wood or gleaming metal. Doors on either side went out to a large, private balcony on the back of the boat, which was likely just below where she had just been on deck. Another door to her right revealed a bathroom with no one in it.
There was no sign of Raziel.
Until a hand settled on the back of her neck. Fingers on one side, thumb on the other, holding her in place.
She went rigid.
“Started the party without me, did you?”
Stunned for a moment, she stammered. “I—what?”
His grip tightened. “You smell of whiskey.”
“You left me alone and your staff isveryhelpful.” She shivered at his grasp. “I didn’t mean anything by it, I just…are you mad at me?” What was going on? Why was he sopissed?
Suddenly, a wave of panic washed over her.Does he know? Has he figured it out?Was she about to die?
His hand slid from the back of her neck to around the front of her throat. Grasping her underneath her chin, he pulled her back to his chest, tilting her head to look up at him. Those ruby-red eyes of his stared down at her.
There was no anger there.
Only hunger.
Onlyneed.
His thumb traced along the edge of her jawline. “Are you ready?”
She felt like the floor had dropped out from underneath her. Was she?
Swallowing the lump in her throat, she let out the breath she’d been holding. “Yes.”
The smile he gave her sent a chill through her. “Then let’s begin.”
TWENTY-FIVE
After she’d killed Luciento, when she and Raziel had made love—fucked like animals, to be honest—it had been in a moment of bloodlust and the shattering of the tension between them. Nadi knew that wasn’t exactly what he was…known for.
This was different.
This was premeditated.
