Dark Wish (House of Sin 1)

Present

With a sigh, I put my book aside and get up. Time to get to work.

I saunter up the stairs and make my way to her room. Tobias just exited another, and he gazes at me with a darkened look on his face.

“Difficult?” I ask.

“It’s never easy,” he replies. “Some are worse than others. Only time will tell if she learns to accept her new situation.” He winks. “As will yours.”

“Hopefully, yes,” I reply.

“She must. There is no other choice,” he replies with a deadly gaze.

I straighten my back. “I know.” He’s being pedantic now.

He nods and clears his throat. “I’ll be downstairs preparing for the next one, so if you need me, let me know.”

“I won’t,” I reply, and I pass him before he can say anything else.

I clear my throat and knock on Amelia’s door.

She doesn’t respond.

I knock again.

“What do you want?”

Not the reply I expected, but good enough.

“I’d like to talk.”

It takes her a while to respond. “Why?”

“You know why,” I reply.

She sighs out loud. “Fine. Come in.”

I fish my key from my pocket and push it into the lock, opening the door. The moment I step inside, she immediately eyes the key in my hand.

Even if I request her permission to enter, I don’t really need it, and she knows that. Asking is merely a part of the chivalry, the courting of her mind. Because what man would ask permission when he can take what he wants freely?

Her eyes sweep up to my face, and I smile in response. In her dark purple gown, she stands in front of the window with her hair braided and pale skin dotted with makeup, looking like a true princess. And I realize at that moment she is the most beautiful creature I’ve ever laid eyes on.

If only she wasn’t here to be punished.

Chapter 18

Eli

Biting my lip, I close the door behind me and step farther inside. Her eyes travel away from me and out into the garden beyond the barred window. I cock my head and watch her. Her elegant posture almost vanishes into the painted walls as though she wishes to disappear. And it moves me.

I rub my lips together and approach her, placing two hands on her shoulders as she gazes out into the world beyond this small room. Her body tenses under my touch but then relaxes again the second my finger softly grazes her neck to slide aside a few delicate hairs.

I lean in to whisper into her ear. “It could all be yours.”

She gasps, but before she can utter a word, I place my index finger on top of her lips.

“Don’t ask how because you’ll need to make a promise you can’t keep.”

I plant a gentle but firm kiss on top of her shoulder as if to say … you’re mine, whether you want to be or not.

She shudders, covering her skin with goose bumps. I peer over her shoulder at her quivering lips that just beg me to kiss them, and my eyes can’t help but peer down at those perky tits nestled in that tight dress that I just want to tear off. She really made an effort to impress me today. The question is, why?

The left side of my lip perks up into a devious smile. “You dressed up for me. Did you know I was coming?”

She sucks in a breath. “I like to be prepared.”

She obviously knows what’s expected of her. Dress appropriately in here. Tight. Laced up. Sky-high heels. Why? Because if they wore anything else, it’d be much easier to escape.

Fancy clothes weigh you down … and they make you look pretty too.

I smile against her ear and whisper, “Smart girl.”

I pet her braided hair and let it fall against her back, my hand brushing the skin behind. Every time we come into contact, her whole body tenses up, and I can’t help but wonder …

My hand reaches between her thighs, toward the crevice I know is ripe for the taking. I only need one swipe along her wet entrance to know the truth.

I groan into her ear. “You really are a dirty one …”

“Do you get off on it?”

Her brazenness makes me pause. Sometimes her fearlessness even catches me by surprise.

“If you think I do this to indulge myself, you’re mistaken,” I reply.

She narrows her eyes at me. “Is that why you’re touching me?”

Rage at her insolence bubbles to the surface, and I grab her waist and wrist and whisk her around in my arms, locking her in place as she hovers on one foot. “Do not mistake my kindness for weakness. Do not play games with me, Amelia.” I lean in to press a kiss on her chest, right below her chin. Then I look up into her shocked eyes. “Unless they are of the sexual kind.”