Grace lets out a squeak as I dive under the covers, but doesn’t try to move away as I position my head above her center. Leaning in, I take deep lungfuls of her scent, my mouth salivating at the thought of tasting her again.
“Fuck.” Her breath comes hard and fast, but she doesn’t move, doesn’t pull away—and when I place my palms on her thighs to pry them apart, she’s pliant beneath my touch, as desperate to feel me as I am her.
The bottom half of my mask slides up, exposing my mouth, and I dip lower, dragging my tongue up the center of her slit. Grace cries out, her legs shuddering on either side of my head as I lap at her arousal, getting drunk off her taste.
She reaches lower, her fingertips curling in my hair. Grace holds tight, using her leverage to hold me in place as she moves her hips against my tongue, desperately trying to reach her release.
“Fuck!” she screams, her back arching as liquid explodes over my tongue. Her release soaks my face and runs down my neck as she keeps riding me, her pleasure-filled cries sweet music to my ears. I drink my fill of her, memorizing the taste of her on my tongue for later. With a few more jerks of her hips, her fingersrelease their vice grip on my head, and Grace’s orgasm is over—which means I need to leave.
“I’ll be back for you,” I whisper, placing a long, lingering kiss at the apex of her pussy. While she’s coming down, I slip out from under the covers, keeping to the shadows so she doesn’t notice me leaving. Grace is still convulsing on the mattress by the time I’m out her door, whimpers that claw beneath my skin and into my heart.
It’s cruel, and a little vindictive, but I needed to get out of there. I was dangerously close to snapping, to wrecking everything I’ve worked for these past two weeks. Touching Grace,tastingher… that was not the plan for tonight. My lack of impulse control could have ruined everything.
I let out an angry snarl as I walk to the apartment next door to Grace’s. When Viktor showed up at my apartment last night, I realized it would be a good idea to possess a different location where I could watch Grace with absolute privacy. So early this morning, I broke into the unit next to hers and disposed of the current tenant.
Now, I have the perfect place to watch after Grace. I’m close by, so if anything ever goes wrong, I can be over in an instant. Plus, I like knowing she’s sitting somewhere on the other side of the wall. That I can go over whenever I want to watch her sleep.
With the smell of Grace still swirling around me, I make my way into the bedroom, sitting at the edge of the bed and staring at the wall filled with monitors. I click a button on my remote, and the screens come to life, each one showcasing a different angle of Grace’s apartment.
My eyes flick to the monitor sitting dead-center on the wall, hungrily taking in the image of Grace’s form. She’s sitting up in bed now, her features twisted in panic as she looks around the room, desperately trying to find me.
My chest squeezes with something like regret as I reach out, brushing my fingertips against the screen, imagining I’m caressing her face for real.
“Soon, beautiful,” I whisper to her. “You’ll be all mine very soon.”
CHAPTER NINE
GRACE
I open my eyes,and my first thought is,what the fuck?
I shudder, replaying the events of last night in my mind. Red 7 in my bedroom. His hands on my body. Touching me. Licking me. My voice screaming for more.
This is so, so very bad.
I shake off the memory and hop in the shower, focusing all my attention on getting ready for work. It’s the only thing that will keep me sane.
An hour later, I step out of the elevators, keeping my eyes to the floor as I make a beeline for my desk. Thankfully, not too many people are here this early, so I’m able to work in peace.
A couple of hours later, Mr. Graves comes in, wearing a dark navy suit that's tailored perfectly to his muscular body. For a moment, it looks like he winks, but then he heads straight for his office without saying hello, and I realize I must have imagined it.
My eyes follow him all the way to his office, unable to help my eyes from dipping lower, taking in his physique. I watch himshamelessly for another few seconds before turning back to my spreadsheets. Though, no matter how hard I try, I’m unable to focus. Completely distracted and fighting to keep my eyes away from Mr. Graves’s office.
A few minutes later, Tricia walks into the office. Her tight red dress matches the stain on her lips, and her heels are so sharp and pointy, they could easily be used as a weapon. Tricia shoots me a nasty glare as she struts toward Mr. Grave’s office, swaying her hips as she walks past the window, clearly hoping he’s looking at her.
She stops in front of his door, turning to give me a nasty smile as she boldly knocks. “Mr. Graves! I need to speak with you about something!”
I watch Mr. Graves through the window, my lips tilting into a tiny smile as I watch him drag his eyes to the ceiling. His cheeks hollow as he blows out a breath, seemingly irritated by her interruption. With an expression pinched in resignation, Mr. Graves gets out of his chair and moves to the door, pulling it wide.
“Come inside. We’ll talk.”
Tricia tries to close the door behind her, but Mr. Graves holds his arm out, ensuring it stays open wide. Her mouth turns down in a frown, but she doesn’t protest as she moves farther into his office.
Before he follows her, Mr. Graves looks across the office, his eyes heated as he stares at me. I swallow hard, my neck prickling with awareness, and a little bit of desire.
Mr. Graves smiles, then turns and follows Tricia inside.
I watch him sit in his armchair, and I turn my eyes back to my computer, pretending to be working when it’s the exact opposite. I can’t help but be worried, knowing Tricia is likely telling Mr. Graves what happened at lunch yesterday—no doubt spinning itin a way to paint me in the worst light possible, while making Tricia look like an angel.
