Page 16 of Twisted Empire: King's Gambit

“Is there anything else you need?” Nikita asks, pulling me from my thoughts.

“No, thank you,” I reply, and with a nod, she leaves.

But I’m not alone for long, because the door opens again and Mikhail saunters inside. My heart drops when I see him and my mouth goes dry when I see him removing his tie, then his cufflinks.

“Mikhail…” I trail off as a cold stab of fear embeds in my heart. “Please, don’t do this.”

“I’m not doing anything,Malyshka,” he says as he unbuttons his shirt and walks over to me. I take a tentative step backwards and he grins. “I told you, I’m not taking what you’re not willing to give.”

“I’m not giving you this!” I exclaim, but he only chuckles.

“Oh, you will…” he says, then he removes something from his pocket and my heart fucking drops.

GABRIETTE

Aknife.

The blade is pitch black, tapering sharply to a pointed tip. One side of the blade is smoothly honed, gleaming faintly, while the other side features serrations, suggesting its capacity to tear through material with ease.

My heart bottoms out and I can feel my eyes welling up with tears. I’m sure I must look terrified right now, but Mikhail has a look in his eyes that suggests he loves what he’s seeing.

“What … what are you going to—”

“You’re probably thinking I’m about to rape you at knifepoint, correct?” he says with a chuckle and shakes his head. “Oh, but there are plenty of fun things you can do with a knife other than threaten. Observe.”

He says, before taking the front of my dress in his hands and, in one swift motion, drags it down. The fabric slips and lands in a pool at my feet, causing me to gasp.

I’m left standing there in a lacy white corset and thong, while Mikhail’s hungry gaze sweeps over my body. I might as well be naked with how he’s looking at me, and I can’t even get myself to move.

“Turn around,Malyshka,” he orders in a husky lilt that shouldn’t send a shiver down my spine.

Swallowing deep, I do as he asks. Then he lets out an appreciative hum at the back of his throat before he whispers something in Russian.

Piece by piece, I feel him cutting away the restricting corset laces until the ruined garment follows the same route as the dress.

When he doesn’t do anything else after a few seconds, anticipation coils deep in my stomach … and I am shocked at myself for not feeling dread instead.

Why am I feeling like this? Why am I not more terrified, considering—

“Mikhail—”

“Shh, I’m admiring your body,” he interjects, shutting me up immediately, then I feel his hard, muscular chest pressing up against my back. “And God, what a view.”

Strong arms snake around my middle, making me tremble, and when one of his meaty hands gently grasps my breast, I stiffen up. Leaning forward, he kisses the nape of my neck, right next to my ear.

“I won’t take what you won’t give me, Gabriette,” he says, his breath hot against my skin. “But I can make you want it just as badly as I do.”

He skims the pad of his thumbs lightly over my nipples, causing them to harden and I bite my bottom lip so I can’t make a noise. But then he gently nips at my earlobe and I shiver.

“Don’t fight me. You can go back to hating me tomorrow,” he says as he slips his hand down my belly toward my mons.

“I—”

“What, you don’t want me to fuck you?” he says, chuckling.

I’m about to say yes when I feel his fingers slipping through my folds and I throw my head back against his shoulder at the sudden invasion.

“That’s it…” he trails off as he circles a finger around my clit. “Give in to me, Gabriette … Just for tonight.”

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