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My hand goes to my constantly messy, growing-out bob. Usually, I keep the thick strands subdued with a flat iron and lots of product. Right now, it looks even wilder and more untamed than usual, but it somehow suits the dress. My dark roots are growing out from when I thought it would look good lightened but instead turned the dark brown strands a reddish-orange color. The dark-to-light fade is a surprisingly appealing contrast.
Dropping my hand from my hair, I touch my face. It’s been months since I’ve seen the sun, but instead of looking pale or sallow, my skin has a healthy glow that’s accentuated by the bright colors of the dress.
My fingers trail down my chest to where the sides of the dress show just the barest glimpse of the curves of my breasts before wrapping tightly around my stomach. It ties just above my hip, where the material parts, flashing my entire leg and pooling to the floor around me.
“I can’t wear this,” I nearly choke. “It’s too—”Sexy. Beautiful.“—much.”
What will Volethos think if he sees me in this?
“Too late now,” Danielle sighs. She reaches for a long cloak that’s jet black but in a similar soft material and settles it around my shoulders.
“No.” I turn around and try to push the cloak off. “No, I really can’t wear this.”
“Yes, you can.” Danielle pulls the lapels together, fastening the cloak down the front and hiding the dress and the rest of me from view. “I have to hand it to Volethos; he couldn’t have chosen a more perfect dress for you.”
My cheeks are burning when she hands me a pair of ballet flats and then grabs my hand and pulls me out of our room.
* * *
Volethos is waitingwith Zell at the front of the cruiser. When he sees me coming toward him, he does a double take.
No one has ever done that when I walked into a room before, and my stomach does a little flip at the way his pupils flare and his pale gold irises flash, like something reflecting from inside.
As I get closer, my gaze drops to what he’s wearing, and my mouth goes dry.
“Your man cleans up good,” Danielle whispers in my ear.
I open my mouth to tell her that he’s not my anything, but the words die on my tongue because I’m too distracted by the view. He’s wearing black trousers tucked into black shit kickers. A long shirt in colors that match my dress is wrapped around him, leaving most of his chest visible through a wide V, and long, billowy sleeves taper at his wrists.
I was wrong when I thought he didn’t have much muscle on him. The slabs of chest and abs visible are lean, but the definition is there. The muscles sharp and cutting, sinuous. My fingers itch to trace the hard lines, to stroke his exposed, velvety skin that I’ve been curious to touch.
For what feels like an eternity, neither of us moves while we look each other over. Then, without any warning, his hands go to the front of my cloak, and his nimble fingers begin working at the clasp.
“What are you—no, stop!” I gasp. My hands clamp around his wrists, pushing at him as I start to step back, but he doesn’t let me go. Instead, he pulls me into him, using my cloak, until we’re nose to nose.
“Listen good, little human,” he growls in my face. “This is your only warning. You better get used to my touch because my hands will be expected to be on you.” He cants his head slightly to the side. “Unless you’d prefer someone else’s.”
“But—” I lick at my suddenly dry lips. “But I thought we agreed that I only had to watch.”
“Watching only gives you a small safety net, Shae,” he rasps as he flicks open the first clasp at my neck. “Watching can be an invitation to some.” His fingers drop to the next clasp, releasing it with his deft fingers as he leans in close to my ear. “Remember, they’ll be expecting us to share. To keep you truly safe, I’ll need to assert my dominance over you.”
A chill runs down my spine and the third clasp comes undone.
Volethos growls, low and deep against the shell of my ear at the same time I feel the warmth from his palm settle over my naked skin, just over my fast-beating heart. Heat rushes to my core, dampening my panties as he spreads his fingers across the smooth skin of my sternum and then slowly begins sliding up…up…until his long fingers circle my throat.
“You best get used to my touch now, because if there is any doubt you belong to me, other males will try to take you.” His fingers tighten, not enough to choke, but enough that I can feel the blood begin to gather in my temples. The soft skin of his cheek brushes mine, and I can feel his lips against the side of my face when he speaks, “And if that happens, I will be forced to fight them. To defend your honor, and mine. I will spill their blood, Shae, and then I’ll paint you with it, to prove to everyone exactly who you belong to.”
My knees grow weak, and my throat works against his grip.
I tell myself his words are only for while we’re playing our parts. That he doesn’treallymean what he’s saying. It’s all just part of the plan. Except then I remember Bela warned me that he’s the bad guy, a selfish rogue who is only focused on taking down an even worse villain. A plan I havebeggedto be a part of.
Stop getting so worked up and get with the program.
“Do you understand?” He drags his nose across my cheek to the corner of my mouth, and for a moment, I wonder if he will kiss me. “Shae? Answer me.”
“I—yes,” the words rush out of my mouth.
“Good girl,” he rumbles, and my eyes roll back and flutter closed.
