Maison Plaisir (Spirit World 1)

What the hell am I doing?

“Come.” Armand grabbed her hand. “Let’s find privacy.”

Is it too late to cancel this? Belle unconsciously touched her lips. They still burned from Armand’s kiss. That scorching, hot, mind-numbing kiss that made her panties wet. How could this be possible? Her libido had been permanently on vacation ever since that fateful night. She hadn’t been called ‘Ice Queen’ all these years for nothing.

Armand took her out from the Eye of the Lounge through an unmarked door and into a dark corridor. She trudged beside him, battling the decision she’d made. The prospect of spending the night with a stranger scared her. It felt like treading into unfamiliar water. Who knew what would happen? If she backed out now, she knew she’d be safe in her own solitary fortress where no one could hurt her.

But that kiss…

God. A kiss that could melt bones and make her blood boil.

What else can he do besides giving someone a hot scorching kiss?

“Armand…”

He glanced over his shoulder. “You’ve said yes. A deal is a deal,” he told her, as if he could read her mind.

Crap.

“You’re mine tonight, Belle,” he reminded her. “Mine and mine alone.”

She released a slow breath. Guess it’s too late to chicken out. But do I really want to? She unconsciously touched where his kiss had branded her lips. A jolt of thrill surged through her. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want him.

They walked through a maze of dark, plush carpeted corridors until they reached another lounge area marked as ‘Private.’ Belle counted six doors in this lounge, each one facing across the small sitting area. The place was empty. Armand pushed open the last door from the left and motioned for her to go in.

Her heart pounded even harder as she stepped inside. She felt vulnerable. Yet, strangely excited at the same time. What is wrong with me? I barely know him…

Armand closed the door and locked it. He spread his hands. “What do you think?”

Belle looked around. The bedroom wasn’t that big, but it felt very cosy and inviting. Beside a huge sleigh bed with crisp, white linen, the room was only furnished with a nightstand, a large mirror and a wingback chair near the door. The old-world charm theme carried to the décor. The walls were covered with fleur-de-lis wallpaper and white wainscoting. There was no lamp. The room was lit with dozens of white candles. Very romantic. “It’s nice.”

He opened a door next to the chair, which turned out to be a bathroom.

The heavy scent of roses mixed with burnt wax drifted out. A large bouquet of red roses was perched on the sink. Like the bedroom, the place was lit with dozens of flickering candles.

Armand plugged the drain in the claw-foot tub and turned on the taps, drawing water. “Come.”

“You want me to take a bath first?”

“I want to bathe you.”

Bathe me? “I can clean myself, thank you.”

“Bathing a pretty woman is one of my pleasures.” Armand studied the choice of bubble baths in pretty bottles on the sink and picked up a pink one. “I love roses. How about you?”

“Roses are nice.”

He poured the bubble bath into the tub. White foam fluffed like clouds, and the thick scent of roses rose to the surface, filling the air around them with the scent of romance. Armand beckoned her. “Come here, beauty.”

She bit the inside of her lip. I’m definitely not a beauty… Belle started unbuttoning her blouse.

“No.”

She paused.

A wicked smile curled at the corner of his lips. His eyes sparkled. “That’s my job. I love undressing a beautiful woman.”

She didn’t seem to believe him when he told her she was beautiful. Armand pulled her closer, pressing his body hard against her and letting her know how much he wanted her. He clean