looking

onsciously on my feet, trying to ignore the sensation of my wet jeans clinging to my legs. The cold I felt seeped deepe

her. It took everything in me to shut that window. And wasn't he feeling cold,

have the damn modesty to hire a gatekeeper. Twenty freaking m

hold his predatory gaze an

ld chandelier, mirror the ceiling like an endless black hole. The dark marbled floors veneered with gold designs and covered with plush Persian rugs, fel

stood. Antique armchairs and a velvet sofa surrounded a ma

Like seriously, now I wonder what good deed

ge. It was small, too small for any bird, but it was beautiful with shimmering crystals over the dome and door. A

omeone knocked on the door. I almost dropped the cage with a sudden yelp. Standing straight, I looked at the

t any focus. I nibbled on my lips as the woman rolled the cart tow

sing her tersely. The woman bowed again, and without

dinner

woman and exceptional abhorrence for him

as he not

eminded myself again and aw

cused. He casually leaned back on the couch and spread his legs wide exposing his thick, muscled

was I behaving like a man in the Victorian era glimpsing a woman's legs for the first time? Oh, God. This man had

y step towards the couch. But that didn't seem close enough, bec

ot to obey. I clutched onto the strap of the bag tig

thout taking his distant gaze off

then I nodded as if he could see me and stood up to plate the food. As soon as I took the lid off, the rich and mouth-watering a

placed the plate on the table in front of him and rubbed my sweaty hands together. I took a deep b

g the piece towards his face. I could feel my heart pounding in my ears as

lled out not realising how

laring at me for a moment but then a slow, predatory smile spread across his face. He opened his mouth and I swallowed hard, my throat d

d away with deliberate slowness making me forget how cold it was in the roo

uld tell my cheeks were burning, either from embarrassment or the way his touch left a lingering sensation behind. Gathering my strength, I cut

he hel

ing slightly. But this time, he didn't immediately open his mouth. A knot of apprehension formed in my sto

my voice trailing

d on me that maybe he reached for me to make it easier for him to ea

ion bubbling in my head. I c

y material information about him on the internet. It wasn't like I was interested in him or anything,

ongue over his lips, the act so casual. I cut ano

slipped through my fingers and hit the plate as I

a dick, don't try to take it so hard,"

ain my calm though he couldn't

his head back. "I make problems disappear. Permanently." I

ciously, but before I could realise wha

g whisper. "Menacing? No. I'd call it necessary. Some

"And who decides that?" I poked the steak with the fork and again moved

It's a judgment I've honed over the years, Ms. Rosewood." H

y chest. "That's a da

ome of us thrive in the danger. We become the darkness others fear." I swallow

e last pieces of steak, cause the closer I

hile his words echoed in my head. We become the darkness

im. His face was obscured as he pulled out a cigarette f

him. I took off my jacket placed it on the she

ked at him from the distance. He puffed out the smoke

it, and I couldn't shake it either. It's deeper and darker than anything

room. My jaw ticked. This much money and he still

tonished by the sheer luxury that enveloped me. The darkness of the black walls and cabinets seemed to absorb the

, unsure of

ertop that gleamed like polished granite marble. Neatly arranged toile

eath away. Encased in glass. Overhead, the showerheads are placed wit

, filthy rich. I walked to the tub and played with the f

d. But then an idea popped into my head to ease my curiosity. I let the tub

med with excitement I had never felt before. "The bath's re

e darkness o

his skin in a chaotic drapery of thorny vines, serpents winding around his spine, and skulls staring out with hollow eyes. The intrica

n courtesy and a need to give him some aspect of privacy. Despite my best efforts to give

beckoned me over with his fingers, a slight smirk playing at t

moved almost of their own accord, drawing me closer to him despite the whirlwind of emotions raging insid

a few moments and then he found me. His hand gripped my arm tightly and he moved it up to my shoulder before draping his huge arm ar

my sweater, and I could feel his touch seepin

my voice tremb

n intensity that made it hard to look away. "Не бойся

be af

his body shif

voice barely above a wh

his time his voice was low, gravelly. "Веди меня, птичка."

as I grabbed his bicep with both of my hands and frowned when it still didn't fit. What... what was he

t in a straight line, eyes distant ma

her one. And it took everything in

pretending, he would've shown some kind of reaction right? Maybe a subtle twitch of his jaw, or stiffening of his body.

owly loosening my gr

as he reached for something and then stoppe

ing. I held my breath as his lips curled, from the side he looked so sinister as he hooked his fingers into the band of his bo

d. Oh my god. I shut my eyes trying to get the image of his naked.... Behind out of my head. I didn't see anything. I didn't see any

d hadn't gotten into the tub. "It's..." I gulped. "The water is hot." I barely managed to get the words out and walke

hroom - strange for a man who seemed

e darkness o

as I thinking? I kept my eyes closed and fidgeted with my hands as the temperature became sufferable while he stood behind

g over my shoulder, I opened my right eye and looked through the slit. And sighed in relief finding him nestled in th

ash and placed the bottle at the edge, h

**