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“You don’t have a choice.” As soon as he pressed his lips against mine, a rapt knock on the door interrupted us. He threw his head to the side, his growl long and dark.
I was surprised when he moved off the bed, not bothering to create an aura of decency by putting on any clothes. Meanwhile, I scurried to drag the sheet over me, turning on my side to avoid making eye contact with anyone I might see later.
The door was opened, and I expected an expression of surprise. Instead, the statement was perfunctory. “Your order, sir.”
“Right on time. You can put it over there,” Phoenix told him.
The light outside was too bright to see much of anything. I held my breath, as if by doing so I’d disappear from view. How silly of me. When the door closed, I let out the breath I’d been holding, still tingling from his forceful touch.
Phoenix barely made any noise and I purposely refused to turn over. He’d captivated me from the beginning, but I had no intention of letting him know or surrendering that easily. As the seconds ticked by, my curiosity grew. There was little noise until a muffled pop. Finally, I heard ice shifting together, the sound sliding another tremor down to my toes.
When I felt his weight on the bed, I bit my lower lip. There was something about the way his aura loomed over me that tangled my emotions into becoming a weakness.
He pulled me onto my back without hesitation, immediately consuming my mouth. As soon as he pushed open my lips, the first tickling of bubbles floated into my mouth. He barely allowed me time to swallow before sliding his tongue inside. The kiss was even more surreal than the night before, enticing far too many of my senses, the sweep of electricity so powerful I was pulled into a stunned state.
When he pulled away seconds later, the tumultuous look in his eyes said he had something on his mind. There was such darkness to his heated gaze, the same look I’d seen at least twice before. Thoughts of ravaging me were there, but something as haunted as a stormy night prevailed. As he sat back, he pulled me to a sitting position.
I crossed my legs, watching as he poured two glasses of champagne, the sexy smirk that kept the fire burning deep within slowly fading.
He didn’t say anything for a few seconds, even turning his attention toward the window. “You need to know that I’m not a good man.”
Why was he telling me this? Because he really was a serial killer? “Okay. Do you want to explain, or do you plan on keeping me guessing?”
He slowly turned his head, the gold flecks in his eyes expanding into a swirl of luminescent colors. He eyed me carefully, as if regretting what he’d just told me.
“There’s nothing to explain, merely stating a fact. Like you, I don’t tolerate liars and those who betray either me or my family.”
In my mind, he was issuing a challenge, not just to me but to himself. As if we’d reached a crossroads after only one night.
As if he was drawing a line in sand, only done so in blood. I couldn’t escape an eerie feeling, the rumble in my stomach fighting between the intense attraction and a devastating need to run as far away from him as possible.
Only I wasn’t going anywhere.
I was trapped in a fantasy that would ultimately come to an end.
But at what price?
“Understood, Phoenix.”
He’d said his piece, easing his conscience. Only I had a feeling his words were more of a warning.
I didn’t have time to question his motives, peppering him with questions like I normally would. He lifted his glass, taking a gulp of the bubbly.
My mouth was suddenly dry, but no amount of crisp champagne would quench my thirst.
Or soothe the sensation that I’d embarked on a dangerous ride that had the potential of costing me my heart.
If not my life.
* * *
Hours.
We’d shared every moment of the adventure together, our conversations turning into bantering matches of wit and illusion, all while keeping the heavy beat of desire fresh and new. He’d spun my mind into an intricate weave of sinful thoughts, all while awakening the darkest needs, those I’d always considered forbidden.
While he would always be an imposing force, he’d allowed some of his guard to fall, but even so, his statement from the morning before remained in the back of my mind.
While the time spent had been incredible, the loss of control left me with more questions than answers. However, Phoenix didn’t seem like a serial killer, even if I knew he was dangerous. I just couldn’t put my finger on why. I’d returned to my private quarters for only the second time in two days, staring out the window in silence as the train came to a complete stop. Sighing, I glanced at the reception on my phone. We were finally at a point I could check my email, even if I’d promised myself I wasn’t going to do it.
