Page 243 of A Vicious Love

I dragged my thumb slowly over the soft fabric at her waist. “I want to pull these little ties loose. Put you on the bed.”

Her lips parted.

Fucking beautiful.

Then a child shrieked somewhere beyond the terrace.

“Come on,” she said, breathless.

I stared at the path ahead. “Children. Excellent. The day has developed pests.”

“They’re my nieces and nephews.”

“Still pests.”

“They love me.”

“That is what worries me.”

She smiled, slipped her hand into mine, and led me toward the terrace as if I had not just discussed eating her for breakfast.

Maybe sainthood had limits and I had passed mine twenty paces back.

The Bellemeres saw us arrive.

Conversation thinned instantly.

Pleasant.

The breakfast terrace overlooked the lake. White awnings cast shade over a long table set with silver pots, ridiculous amount of food.

Her father sat at the head. Her mother beside him. Julian near one side with his wife and children. Adrian farther down, already watching me. Sabine sat with her husband Henri, one hand wrapped around a glass of orange juice, her little daughter half under her chair with a stuffed rabbit. Liora and Amabel were there too, husbands beside them, children scattered in chairs.

Every adult tried to look normal.

Every adult failed.

They were terrified of me and hiding it poorly.

It pleased me greatly.

I pulled out Sienna’s chair.

Several eyes moved to my hand on the back of it.

Sienna looked at me, faint surprise crossing her face.

I waited until she sat, then moved her chair in slightly, hand resting on her bare shoulder for one second longer than necessary. Her skin was warm. The halter tie sat at the nape of her neck. One pull. One. The whole dress would surrender.

I sat beside her before my restraint became fictional.

“Good morning,” her father said, tense. Alive because I had chosen mercy in the forest.

“Bellemere,” I replied.

His wife’s hand tightened around her teacup.

Excellent.