Bitter Vows (Crimson Falls 1)

I’m out of my depth.

So much so that I can’t stop my face from heating in embarrassment. But Lycan’s gentle touch at the base of my spine grounds me, and I turn to look up into those forest eyes.

“Are you scared?” he asks while leaning in close. The music is a low, sensual drone of classical music—a soundtrack of the desire sparking through the room. The air thick with lust, and all I can feel is Lycan against me.

“No.” I glance at the scene again, the man now fingering the woman, her legs spread lewdly for the audience as she screams with pleasure as his four fingers slip between her slick, glistening folds. Desire burns through me at the thought of being open like that for Lycan, feeling his fingers dip into my body as he takes me higher.

“Is that something you’d want to try?” he whispers in my ear, sending more heat traveling down my spine all the way to the apex of my thighs.

“I… I don’t know if I can.”

He chuckles, the sound vibrating through him and into me. “Trust me, little red, you’ll be able to take it. That isn’t something I’d do on the first go, but we can most certainly get you wet enough to take my hand.”

The thought causes my nipples to harden against the soft lace material of my bra. My heartbeat thrumming between my thighs, and my panties are already wet with arousal.

“And I’d love to hear you scream, just like she is right now,” he warns over the echo of the submissive coming hard all over the stage. Her body wracked with pleasure as she shakes and trembles. Her face is etched in ecstasy. There’s no doubt she is in heaven right now.

“I need a drink,” I tell Lycan who only smiles as he leads me to the main area of the club. There are waitresses and waiters dressed in black and white who expertly hold trays of drinks as they swish amongst the guests. Lycan pulls me into his hold, my back to his front as I look around. His body is large, cocooning me against him.

“Lycan,” a soft purr comes from our left, and I glance over my shoulder to find a beautiful woman with long blonde hair standing beside us. She’s draped in a sheer, black dress with lace underwear visible through the material. Her nipples are pierced with silver barbells, and a blush warms me from face to chest. I instantly recognize her, the same woman from the gala at Bardot Manor.

“Nice to see you, Lori,” Lycan greets her, but his hold on me tightens. Her blue eyes find my hazel ones. “This is my fiancée, Scarlett,” he informs her, his voice controlled, calm, but there’s a hint of satisfaction that elicits a smile from me.

“Nice to meet you.” My words are sweet, but they’re not entirely friendly or free of jealousy either. I didn’t for one moment think Lycan didn’t have a past, but the thought of this woman coming near him at any point has envy coursing through me.

She doesn’t respond, merely nods before walking off, leaving me glaring at her exposed back. The dress she’s wearing is barely there, and I wonder why she bothered.

“Who is that?” I don’t look at Lycan as I ask this, because if I had to be honest with myself, I don’t want to see any desire in his gaze for someone else. The possessiveness is new to me, catching me off guard.

I’ve never been that girl, who would lose her shit over another woman. If a guy is easily swayed, then I’m not the one for him. And vice versa. But right now, with the ring Lycan gave me weighing heavily on my finger, I feel his grip tighten.

“That is nobody,” he tells me. “She was someone I spent a few scenes with, and she meant nothing to me, not like you do.”

Turning in his arms, I stare into his gaze. “I can’t mean that much to you, not yet. I know we’re getting married, and most times, it means you’re in love with someone to walk down the aisle, but I don’t want to fool myself into thinking I’m nothing more than a means to an end for you.”

My acceptance of what Lycan and I are, came late last night. While I laid in bed alone, I thought about it. Knowing I will never have a marriage filled with love, I convinced myself I’d make myself happy. Perhaps if I had someone who could offer me what I lacked at home, with Lycan’s agreement, of course, I could survive long enough to let Lycan have his vengeance.

It might sound stupid, but if I don’t have another choice, I have to live with what life has thrown in my way. And that’s something I learned from reading books. Where the heroine is forever looking out for herself, no matter what, I’ll do the same.