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Closing myself in the en suite bathroom, I flip the lock over, as if that will do anything, and push the thin black straps off my shoulders. I shimmy a little until the slip dress reaches my hips, then falls to the shiny white marble floor in a pile of silk, and I kick it away with a scowl. I pad across the smooth floor and open the massive glass shower door, then frown when I can’t find the dial to turn the damn thing on.
“What the hell?” I step back, letting out an annoyed breath when I find a touchscreen built into the wall. “You’ve got to be kidding me…” I cross my arms over my bare chest, staring at the screen for a few seconds as I pull my bottom lip between my teeth. I tap the screen a bunch of times until I finally figure out how to turn the hot water on. It cascades down from a wide-surfaced waterfall shower head, and I can’t help but sigh when I step under the steaming spray.
I close my eyes and tip my head back, letting the hot water refresh me and ease the pounding in my head. I grab bottles and a loofah, scrubbing every inch of my skin until it tingles. The room smells of vanilla and roses, and the idea of staying in here forever is wildly enticing. Here, I can forget about everything. I can pretend for a short while that I wasn’t kidnapped—again—and that I’m going to have to make Selene believe I’ve agreed to help her get Gabriel back if I want to make it out of this place.
My thoughts drift to the guys and what they’re doing. In spite of being confused and angry as ever at the vault of secrets that seems to get more and more packed, there’s a tugging in my chest. I don’t want to, but I… I miss them. Lex’s dry humor, Gabriel’s softness, and Kade’s flirting. Hell, I miss Atlas too, even with his constantly stoic and broody demeanor.
My fingers glide across my skin, brushing over the mounds of my breasts before heading lower. I keep my eyes shut, imagining I’m not in the shower alone. That instead, Atlas is here with me and it’shisfingers teasing my skin as they get closer to the throbbing heat between my thighs. I pull in an uneven breath, leaning against the cool shower tile as I slide my hand down my stomach until my fingers reach my clit. I press my lips together at the bolt of electricity that shoots through me and trace the bundle of nerves at my center in slow, light circles, widening my stance slightly as water continues to shower down on me from above. Steam fills the room, making everything hazy and warm, and my breath becomes heavier. I dip a finger between my folds, sighing softly before quickly adding a second, imagining Atlas holding me back against the shower tile as he torments me with his fingers. I pick up the pace, circling my clit harder and faster with my thumb. Atlas wouldn’t be gentle—he warned me as much—and that only spurs me on, my heart rate kicking up and pounding in my chest as pressure builds lower. I bite my lip to keep from moaning, thrusting my fingers harder, curling them at the deepest spot inside me until my knees start to shake. I lower myself onto the marble shower bench, spreading my legs as wide as they’ll go, and resume thrusting. I climb higher and higher, all the while, picturing Atlas’s dark gaze boring into mine as his fingers move inside me, hard and unforgiving, until an orgasm crashes into me, and I suck in a breath, pressing my free hand against my mouth to stifle the sound.
My cheeks and chest feel hot, almost feverish as I pull my fingers out, cleaning them before I turn off the water and stand on shaky legs to step out of the shower.
I wrap a towel around myself and walk over to the vanity, staring at my flushed appearance in the foggy mirror.I can’t believe I just did that.But of all the crazy I’ve gone through in the last… however long I’ve been here, giving myself the release I desperately needed is probably the least crazy. I had a few minutes of peace and pleasure where I didn’t have to think about the shitstorm I have an awful, gut-wrenching feeling I’m about to endure.
I dry my hair with another towel and walk back into the bedroom. In the closet next to the bathroom, I find a pair of black jogging pants and a heavy knit beige sweater—actively ignoring how creepy it is she has a closet stocked with clothing in my size—to tug on over my wet hair, which I manage to comb through after using about half the bottle of conditioner in the shower.
Taking a deep breath, I exhale slowly and open the bedroom door, stepping into the hallway. I peer around both ways, though the room I was in is pretty much at the end of the hall. I start walking the other way, the dark wood floor cold against my bare feet. The walls on either side of me are light gray and clear of any art, with ceilings that are high, lit with pot lights every couple of feet. There’s a faint scent of bread in the air and the closer I get to the end of the hall, I start to hear soft music as well. I pause in the doorway, faintly recognizing the space from before Selene saved me from Dante… and then attacked me. My pulse jumps as my eyes flit to the spot on the floor Dante fell to in front of me, but there is no trace of what happened there.
“Oh, hello.”
I jump at the timid female voice and whirl around to find an older woman with pale blue eyes staring at me.
She’s human.
“I hope you haven’t been waiting long,” she says, glancing down to the black tray she’s carrying. On top is a steaming dish of what looks to be some kind of stew along with a thick chunk of sourdough bread and a glass of water.
“I, uh… No.” I shake my head for extra measure, wanting to reassure her that she’s done nothing wrong. The thought of her being employed by Selene makes my skin crawl. She looks far too kind to be in this position, to be working for a vampire thirsty for power. Perhaps she doesn’t know the truth about her employer. More likely, the poor human is glamoured.
The woman ushers me to the dining table and sets a spot for me, hurrying away before I have a second to thank her. It’s not her fault I’m stuck here, so why shouldn’t I be gracious toward someone showing me kindness? The way I see it, us humans have to stick together in this crazy supernatural world.
I take a seat and stare at the food for a few minutes. I’m aggressivelynothungry, my stomach a swirling mess of nerves. But Selene was right about at least one thing—I need to eat something. I take a small sip of water before picking up the spoon and gingerly scooping some of the stew out of the dish. I lift it to my mouth and force myself to chew, swallowing slowly. I have no doubt whoever made it has cooking experience and uses only high-end ingredients—I wouldn’t expect anything else from the vampire who lives here—but each bite I take tastes like dust and sits heavy in my stomach. It takes me a while, but I finish the entire dish, reminding myself with every swallow that I need to regain my strength.
I’m using the last bit of bread to soak up the remnants of the stew at the bottom of my dish when the softclick, click, clickof heels echoes down the hallway. I glance up just in time to find Selene floating into the room, her fingers wrapped around a cup of tea. She walks over to the table and sits across from me, the subtle scent of peppermint wafting over from her steaming mug.
I finish off the bread, washing it down with the rest of my water, feeling more than a little awkward with Selene watching me silently.
Finally, she says, “I hope that was to your liking.” Her tone is kind, almost as if we’re friends. It’s a laughable notion, one that also makes me drop my hands into my lap so she can’t see me clench them into fists.
I offer a single nod in response, not bothering to look at her. Instead, I let my eyes wander across the intricate gold design of the table linen and listen to the soft jazz music still playing from behind a closed door nearby. In the kitchen, I’d guess, where the human Selene is most likely forcing to play housekeeper is probably doing dishes after serving my food.
Selene offers a small laugh. “Oh, come on, Calla. Your silence is absolutely deafening. Please say something. I suppose you might have more questions for me?” she offers. “Ask away. I’m an open book.”
I lift my gaze to her face. “How much do you know about the deal my family made with Gabriel and the others?”
She purses her lips, regarding me with an amused look. “I’d venture a guess that I know far more than you do.”
“Yeah, well, no one has really explained it to me in detail,” I tell her. “Every time I ask, I get vague, non-answers.”
She takes a sip of her tea, setting the mug down without making a sound against the table. “That must be incredibly frustrating.”
I have the fleeting thought that I may not have the opportunity to ask anyone again, so I swallow past the sudden dryness in my throat and say, “Will you tell me what you know?”
She leans back a little, arching a brow at me. “Hmm. Will you agree to take the deal I put on the table earlier?”
My stomach drops. “I…” I look away, unable to hold her gaze as I force out the words. “I’m thinking about it.”
There’s a stretch of silence before she says, “Very well. I will share what I know of your bond with the vampires. Consider this your one free pass. I don’t make a habit of giving without getting something in return.”
I hold back an eye roll, knowing that will likely only result in her changing her mind about sharing information. Instead, I force out one low word. “Noted.”
