Page 77 of Empire of Flame and Thorns

Draven watches me, completely enraptured. He’s staring at me as if he has never seen anything like it before. As if every moan that escapes my mouth is the most fascinating thing he has ever experienced. As ifI’mthe most astonishing thing he has ever known.

The sight of him looking at me like that makes me feel lightheaded.

He rolls my clit with his thumb while he slides his index and middle finger down my pussy.

I gasp as his fingers brush against my entrance while his thumb continues moving in a way that sends bursts of pleasure streaking up my spine.

My whole soul thrums as I tumble headfirst towards an orgasm.

Draven’s intense gaze sears into me.

Just one more second. One more stroke. One more?—

Shock and alarm suddenly pulse across Draven’s face. He shoots a wide-eyed stare down at his hand, as if he can’t believe what he’s doing.

And then he yanks his hand back.

My knees give out.

I crash down on the floor. Throwing my hands out, I brace myself on the smooth wooden floorboards and bow forward over my knees as I drag in desperate breaths.

My entire body is vibrating with pent-up tension. My whole fucking soul is twisting in on itself, waiting for the release that was just one damn breath away. The release that never came.

A strong hand grips my jaw, forcing me to crane my neck and look up from the floor. And when I do, my eyes meet Draven’s golden ones.

That enraptured look of absolute fascination has now been wiped completely off his features. Instead, only a smug look full of mocking victory is visible on his stupidly attractive face.

“Just as I thought,” he says with a wicked smirk on his mouth. “Soaking wet.”

I want to scream.

I think I do scream. In frustration and sheer utter desperation. My body still vibrates with need and pent-up release that never came.

Glaring up at him, I clench my jaw.

I’m going to get him back for this.

Fucking bastard.

I’m going to get him back for this if it’s the last thing I do.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

My time is about to officially run out. I try to draw in calming breaths as I stand pressed against the wooden wall, watching the door next to me like a hawk. But with every passing second, the panic that has been clawing at my chest all day only grows worse.

After Draven left me there on my knees last night, unsatisfied and about to combust from the pent-up release, I went back into the bathroom to take matters into my own hands. Once my body was no longer vibrating with tension and my head was clear again, I finally figured out where he keeps the key while he sleeps. Magically sealed inside his bracers along with his armor. So naturally, I tried to steal his bracers that night. And again this morning. Then I also tried to steal the key from him when he came back with my lunch.

That… did not work out well for me.

When he left, he told me that it was time to get the handcuffs.

That was hours ago, and I have been existing in a state of panic and stress ever since. The third trial starts tomorrow morning, and if Draven actually shackles me to something in his room, it’s game over for me. So I only have one chance left now. One single desperate chance.

I need to attack him right when he opens the door. Before he can lock it behind him. Before he can handcuff me to his bed. Before he can even close the door behind him.

One chance.

And I have to make it work.

---