Page 57 of Their Reckless Thief
Dorian stroked my back, his touch soothing me. “You’re surviving. And I’m going to make sure you keep doing that. I need you to survive.”
We stayed like that, the quiet settling around us, and I let myself relax into his arms. His presence was a lifeline I didn’t know I needed.
The door creaked open, and I tensed, turning to see Vivian standing in the doorway, her eyes wide with shock.
“Uh… am I interrupting something?” she asked, though from her expression she knew she was doing exactly that.
Dorian shot her a cheeky grin. “Everything’s fine,” he said, far too casually.
Vivian’s face flushed with anger as she backed up. “Perfect,” she muttered before slamming the door.
I sighed and pulled away from Dorian. “I should go talk to her.”
Dorian watched me, concern in his eyes, but he didn’t try to stop me. I walked out into the hallway, where Vivian was pacing, her arms crossed over her chest.
“Viv—”
“I recognize him,” she hissed, her eyes blazing with a mix of anger and disbelief. “That’s fucking Dorian Voss. From Roberto’s wall of mafia men. What the hell are you thinking?”
I ran a hand through my hair. “I… I have it under control.”
“Clearly,” she snapped, shaking her head. “You’re getting romantically involved with one of Vincenzo’s men, Celeste.Someone who’s really fucking dangerous in his own right! What the hell are you doing?”
I had no answer. I didn’t know what I was doing, or why everything had spiraled so far out of my control. “I’m just… I don’t know, Viv.”
The door behind me creaked open, and Dorian popped his head out. “Is everything okay out here?” he asked, looking between us with a lopsided grin.
“Everything’s just great,” Vivian muttered before storming off down the hallway.
Sighing, I rubbed my hand over my face and went back into my room. Dorian lounged on the bed, looking far too amused.
I curled up next to him and rested my head on his chest. “I don’t know what I’m doing,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Vivian’s losing faith in me. I can see it in her eyes. She doesn’t know who I am anymore, either.”
Dorian wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer to him. “You don’t have to figure it all out right now,” he murmured as he rubbed my back. “Just… breathe.”
I reached over to my nightstand and grabbed the vial of Phantomine. As I swallowed it down, the familiar calm settled over me, but it didn’t take the confusion away. I let out a shaky breath as Dorian’s warmth and scent surrounded me. I hated how comforting it was, how safe he made me feel even when my world was falling apart.
Dorian ran his hand through my hair, his fingers tangling in the strands. I melted into him, feeling his heartbeat under my palm, his breath hot against my neck as our legs intertwined. He breathed me in deeply, holding me like he never wanted to let go. My gut told me it felt right, even though my brain screamed it was so very wrong.
“Don’t worry, Celeste,” he whispered, his voice soft and full of something I couldn’t quite place. “I’ve got you.”
Maybe that was the problem.
17
DORIAN
Bass vibratedthrough the walls as I made my way through Obsidian Eclipse, one of my grittier nightclubs. It wasn’t at all like the casino or the upscale bars where I blended luxury and power. No, this place was raw, wild, and undeniably taboo. The women who worked here did more than entertain. They chose their clients, deciding who got the privilege of spending money on them and, if they wanted, who they would take to bed for the right price. It was business, yes, but it was about control. It was about empowerment.
The club was packed tonight. Neon lights bathed the room in purple and red, casting a glow over the dancers writhing on their poles. Women in glittering thongs and pasties moved with an alluring grace, their skin shimmering like gold under the lights. Magic lingered in the air, a subtle throb of succubus allure and enchantments from the witches, drawing the men in deeper.
Their eyes were glued to the stage, mouths practically hanging open as they salivated over the performers. The lust in the air was thick enough to taste, and it reeked of desperation from the men who couldn’t pull their gazes away. Some of them leaned forward in their seats, white-knuckling their drinks. Others had cigars hanging from their lips, eyes dark withhunger. None of that mattered to me. The whole place could burn, for all I cared. I was here for one thing, and it wasn’t the entertainment.
I walked through the crowd without sparing the dancers a second glance. A few of the women winked or threw flirtatious looks my way, but I didn’t stop.
I made my way to the back, where the music was more subdued, and knocked on a door labeledAlessia. I didn’t need an invitation. This was my club, but respect was important, especially when it came to one of my most successful employees.
Alessia opened the door, a vision of seduction. She was a succubus, and one of the best. Her body was all curves, perfectly accentuated by the fact that she was only wearing a thong. Her dark hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, and her breasts, impossible to ignore, gleamed under the soft lighting. It was the succubus allure, the effortless temptation that radiated from her.
