Velvet Chain

en's

ght between instinct and desire. She was barefoot, wrapped in a pale sweater two sizes

ica B

ntrac

gly placed her throat

whispered, her voice

n the prize." I closed the door behind me wit

ve. Not away.

o

ning the art of stil

every second. I didn't reach for her yet. No.

aid. My voice was

s lifted

ned. The cloc

for half a s

n us could've ignited the air. "Unless you'd li

thing. She turned on her heel a

mir

ient, s

e hadn't vanished. It

would

ld tr

ld ow

ery gasp, every

t even seen t

-

nica

d clothes into the only de

hell wa

Breathing my air. And I.

rror, excitement, shame, want. God, I wanted to scream. Or c

ouldn't

ronger t

voice echoe

dy own t

tared at my reflection

s this

her eyes were wide wi

ked...

ot br

t

standing by the window, hands behind his

e he

tsteps and his eyes dropped to t

d gi

id those two words feel like

ng the bag from me withou

old life ended with a c

-

en's

quiet in

ked

er questions inside. I could see her chewing her bottom lip raw

offer her

was a

soon-I wasn't in th

e business

ebuil

r, the iron gates yawning open like the mouth of some ancient

mil

my world, l

that velvet chains could b

-

nica

seen anyth

ll steel edges, shadowed glass, and impossible size. There were n

life uniformed servant

pped

ar, leather, and somethi

s Damien motioned

t felt like a corridor in a museum

he open

bigger than my e

le floors. A bed bi

u'll stay," he sa

t

our

i

ade of o

ed, then immediately regre

u haven't seen

ply, trying to read

wasn

-

en's

yes w

as-the spa

d. Not the kind

nd tha

pped

ul

inked.

low them. Say yes, Si

rted, caugh

ait

h. A he

r," she

. That would'v

dresser and open

ded precise

Lace.

ga

en you're in this house, you we

sitate

ace. Close enough for

everything stops. Otherwise..." I leaned in

shiv

Yes,

lled

t battle

said

game tr

-

nica

p of silk that barely counted as clothing. The fabric clung to me, cool and o

't feel li

ike a sa

was a

efore I could sec

like he owned the

pt over me-a

und," he

di

hind me, so close I could feel the

ngers slid

l

ibe

ses

lowed

like tem

am," I

d dangerous. "Then

-

en's

linch when I

aned i

o

ng to give her w

t

and walked aro

d," I said.

caught, but

sheets. Back expo

he didn't use

e off with

ghtly, just enough

moment she

e didn

't s

wa

uti

die

rif

belt-but di

leather trail over

was not e

ntici

had earn

-

nica

eyes shut, bra

never

y h

per of leathe

. playin

w my body

the not-knowing

s shallow, m

e didn't tou

, fisting my hair, lift

was a grow

long to

ak easily,"

asy," he growle

et m

om wen

ned m

as alrea

ehind onl

omise in

-

en's

her a

inten

er si

her

e office, her trembling form curled on t

fighting

rf

would b

she'

or re

for

fi

door pulled me

n envelope marked with

om Ver

Julia

ly, the ga

only one watch