Chapter 24 : We Didn’t Sleep

It was incredibly still in the room, the only sound that of Jared slowly turning the lock on the door into place. It echoed through the space with finality. We were alone. He turned to look at me, his shoulders tightening and then relaxing as he took a breath.

“Do you know what I am?" he asked, taking a step toward me.

My heart was beating a million miles a minute as he closed the distance between us, his gaze locked on my face.

I couldn't answer. I couldn't form the words. Did I know who he was? A bounty hunter… murderer… closeted master of antiquities… Aeris has called him something else, though.

A lost prince.

“Why did he call you a lost prince?" I breathed as he continued to close the distance between us.

He stopped short of me, looking down at me and the way the moonlight was touching my shoulders. He didn't answer my inquiry, but he reached out and ran his fingers over my exposed skin. I closed my eyes against his touch.

“You're not safe around me," he breathed.

“Why are you trying to push me away?" I replied, leaning into his touch as he stroked my neck.

“Because this won't end well for us," he admitted, a hint of regret in his voice.

I opened my eyes, finding him incredibly close now, close enough for me to rest my hand against his chest. I could feel his heartbeat hammering nearly as rapidly as my own.

“Why?" I dared to ask. I bit down on my lip and closed my eyes again as he reached up and plucked the pins out of my hair, releasing my curls.

“Eliza," he whispered, resting his forehead against mine. We were silent for the space of a breath, my palm spread wide over his chest. “I'm a Dark Lord. Do you know what that is?"

“Yes."

I knew of Dark Lords. I knew one personally, in fact. Maybe that's why I'd found Jared so familiar. His dark eyes and even darker shadow of power suddenly made sense. Maybe like the White Queens, his lineage branched off into seemingly endless factions of family carrying the same powers and traits.

'I'm not afraid,' I told myself. 'I'm not. I'm not.'

“I could hurt you," he said, tilting his head so his nose grazed against mine. I felt his eyelashes on my cheek as he brushed his lips against my jaw. A shiver ran down my spine, causing me to curl my toes in anticipation. “I will hurt you."

"You couldn't hurt me if you tried," I whispered.

"I could," he repeated, but his voice cracked over the words.

my eyes as

breath, then leaned forward, brushing

over me

hands running up his chest and gripping his shirt, pulling him closer. He groaned low in his throat, a tremble running through his body as he tangled his fingers in my hair and deepened the kiss, his tongue running along

Goddess he'd locked the

free hand trailed down my back and over the laces that held my dress up. He loosened them with his fingers, pulling on the fabric until it gave way. The sleeves fell from my shoulders and the

my breasts. I sucked in my breath, a desperate moan escaping my lips. He stole

breathed against

rough against my skin.

feeling. I wondered if he felt that same magnetic pull. I didn't want to break this spell, however. I couldn't form the words anyway, no matter how hard I tried. He bent his head, running

I liked it,

he sucked, his tongue flicking over my n****e, sending a

with desire as he knelt before me, his hands

traveled lower, the tip of his nose dragging over my belly before he kissed me just above my hip bone. I closed my eyes as he slowly pulled my dress down over my hips, exposing me completely to

thumb over the

mind as he kissed me

thighs. I hadn't realized I was clenching them together until he forced

cried out in mingled shock and relief as his mouth settled on my core. He was rough, his stubble scraping against the tender skin along my upper thighs as

cried, tangling my hands in

then he

the room, tossing me roughly on the bed. I looked up at

with passion, heat burning behind his eyes as he watched me. He was nearly all the way undressed, wearing nothing but his shirt, which was

from my fingers and met my eyes, his gaze feral and dripping with hunger. He grabbed my

he bent his head to kiss me. It was a long, hungry kiss. He ran his tongue along mine as he lowered himself on

way down to my navel, and then between my legs. I shivered under his touch, then cried out as he slid his

of him resting against my inner thigh, hard and hot and aching as he slowly ground against me, his breath coming out

fingers, always slowing his movements whenever he felt my

was enjoying this. He was enjoying teasing me and making me beg. He was watching every shred of pleasure and desperation pass

open wider for him. I tore at his shirt, ripping it

and again. My eyes nearly rolled in the back of my head at the movement, my arms falling limp at my sides. With one hand he took me by the wrists and pinned them

aren't you?"

not afraid," I

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