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IRIS
I woke, unsure where I was or why I was so sore beneath the blanket. My eyes felt sticky, but my body was heavy, like I’d taken a sleeping pill before bed. Pushing myself up on my hands and knees, I straightened slowly and sat back on my heels. A soft breeze fluttered the curtains across the room.
No, no, no.
What had I done?
Oh God, I was in a stranger’s bed. Not just any stranger, but the sexiest one I’d ever met. I was naked and there were little pink marks on my hips where he’d gripped me, holding me still while he ate me out.
A wave of guilt so intense it cramped my stomach crashed over me.
I needed to go now.
I whirled, searching for something to cover myself with. My clothes were nowhere to be seen, but his white button up from the night before was draped over the bed. Hesitantly, I picked it up and brought it to my face.
Crisp, pleasant sandalwood and a hint of an intoxicating masculine scent. A shiver moved down my spine to the soles of my bare feet on the cold stone. I slipped the shirt on and buttoned it. My hands shook and shame hit me like a wall of bricks.
I was a whore.
I could hear the quiet whisper of judgement in the back of my mind.
It was a sin. That’s what I’d had ground into my head for years. Even without sex, I’d done something terrible.
My head spun—I needed some water to settle my stomach. We hadn’t ended up eating last night and I was lightheaded.
Arms wrapped around my body and stomach fluttering, I began padding around the room in search of a drinking glass. The honeymoon suite was big, but there were only two other rooms. A door that led to a bathroom and a door on the far wall.
I ducked into the bathroom and gathered my hair, bending over to drink from the tap. The cool water broke me out of my panic. I hadn’t realized how thirsty I’d been all night.
I gulped the cold water down until I had to resurface for a breath. Thirst quenched, I wiped the makeup from my face, washing it as well as I could with hand soap, and went back out into the main room.
Had he left? Or was he in the locked room.
Could I just leave?
Maybe he was on the other side of the door. I glanced over my shoulder, even though I knew the main area was empty, and knocked. So quietly it barely made a sound. Taking a quick breath, I knocked harder.
Silence. I tried the knob.
It wasn’t locked. The deadbolt was turned, like it had been secured in a hurry, but not turned all the way. Mouth dry, I reached out and grasped the knob and jiggled. It swiveled and the door pushed open to reveal an office. The window was open, curtain fluttering, and on the desk in the center of the room was an open laptop.
My curiosity was getting the better of me. Far stronger even than the shame in my stomach.
I knew better than to look, but somehow my feet carried me across the room. I just wanted a quick peak, just to get some indication who this man was, and then I’d leave for good.
Using my elbow, I bumped the computer mouse and the screen lit up. My eyes skimmed over the screen, expecting it to be regular business paperwork. And my heart stopped.
This was in inventory, a detailed list of weaponry, bought and sold. Legal and illegal.
My stomach churned and heat crept up under my collar. Under the collar ofhisshirt. Revulsion rose in the back of my throat and I whirled and charged back into the main room and slammed the door.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
My head snapped up. He stood in the doorway, holding a tray of Turkish coffee and a plate of olives, cucumbers, sweet pastries, and bread drenched in honey. Even in my terrified state, my stomach growled. Eyes glued to me, brows drawn together, he set the tray down. Slowly, his gaze narrowed.
I backed against the door, suddenly painfully aware that I was almost naked and he was fully dressed in pants and a linen shirt. His dark hair was mussed, like he’d rolled out of bed and run his hands through it. Last night he had looked so powerfully attractive, but today, looking at me like this, he was terrifying.
His black eyes burned and his face was etched like stone. Silently, he strode across the room until he was inches away. Heat and sandalwood filled my senses as he bent down until he was eye level with me. I bit my lip, trying hard not to whimper as I scrunched back against the door.
