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I cleared my throat and lifted my chin slightly. “Is there a problem with it?”
“No problem at all, princess.”
He smirked as he pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it in the corner.
“What are you doing?!” I gasped.
He gestured to the gown. “Well, if you’re wearing that, then why should I be conservative in bed?”
I had to force my jaw shut as I noticed it was still hanging open.
Bennett shuffled over to the bed and began pulling the sheets back. I tried to convince myself to look away, but my eyes were drawn to the sight of him. His body was perfectly chiseled, practically sculpted by the stars themselves. The muscles on his back strained as he was un-making the bed, and I couldn’t keep my eyes from dipping to the sharp V that stopped right above his breeches. A tattoo of a star was etched right above his heart, and I found myself admiring the intricate details of it.
After studying his body until I had practically every inch of him memorized, I brought my eyes back to his face and caught him staring at me, a small smile showing on his face.
His mouth curved up slightly as I watched a quick lick of the lips. His pupils dilated and his eyes never left mine. “Don’t stop on my account, I enjoy watching you look at me.”
My cheeks heated and I quickly found the ceiling to be very interesting as I slid into the bed and pulled the covers up to my chin.
Bennett slipped into the bed next to me, leaving a respectable amount of space between us. I didn’t know if he was serious or not about the pillow barrier, but as my heart was practically palpitating from the situation, I figured it would probably be for the best to create some kind of separation.
I grabbed one of the pillows from behind my head and placed it between us, fluffing it up so it could stand up on its side.
“You know,” Bennett started, “I was just joki—”
His hand gripped me at a speed only someone with Shadow blood could be capable of.
His eyes were intense, but his grip on my wrist was gentle as he stared at the fresh scars that were placed on my hand.
His tone was deadly and almost unrecognizable as he said, “That man at the parlor did this to you.”
When the man at the parlor was gripping my wrist, attempting to capture me, his nails dug into me so hard that my skin broke. It was painful then, but I honestly forgot what happened until now.
“It’s not a big deal,” I said as I tried to pull my wrist away, but his grip didn’t falter.
“It is to me.”
He let go of my wrist and I slowly brought my hand back, placing it under the covers.
My heart rate was picking up for a whole different reason now, not because I wasn’t afraid like before, but because I was. . .
I didn’t know what I was feeling.
Silence stretched loudly between us, smothering the room. The space between us suddenly felt like miles. There was an unfamiliar urge to scoot closer to him, but I ignored it, cursing myself for seeking the comfort of Bennett in bed.
Sleep was starting to pull at me, and I was ready to willingly fall into its arms.
“Rhia?” Bennett asked, only slightly louder than a whisper. I almost thought I imagined hearing it. “I never got any letters.”
His voice sounded so far away as sleep finally overtook me.
???
The crack of the whip made my breath catch as my shaking legs tried to keep my body balanced on the tightrope. My heart rammed against my ribcage and my lungs forgot how to breathe in air.
My back still stung from the beating I got yesterday, and I was so scared that if I didn’t give a good enough performance this time, I would be back in the corner with Saeva and his leather whip.
I was halfway across the rope and had to hold in my whimper from the relief of this nightmare being almost over.
