The challenge in his eyes sets my blood on fire. I don’t hesitate, shimmying out of my dress and panties in record time, the fabric pooling at my feet. I stand before him, naked and unashamed, my breath quickening as his eyes rake over me.

"I win," I say, tilting my chin up, daring him.

"You lose," he counters, his lips curling into a smirk as he finishes the second cufflink.

"What? You’re not seriously going to count the mask, are you?" I pout, though the corner of my mouth twitches with a smile.

"No," he says, his voice dropping to a low purr. "But I’m going to count the shoes."

I glance down at my feet, still clad in strappy heels, and let out a groan of mock frustration. "You’re impossible."

"Come here," he commands, his voice brooking no argument.

I start to move toward him, but he stops me with a single word. "No. Crawl to me, Raven."

The room seems to narrow, the world shrinking to just him and me. My breath catches, my pulse racing as I drop to my knees. The cool floor beneath me contrasts with the heat building inside, and I move slowly, deliberately, my eyes never leaving his. Every inch forward feels like an eternity, my body trembling with anticipation.

Karc watches me with a predator’s intensity, his chest rising and falling with each measured breath. His shirt’s off now, and I can see him as he truly is—his golden scales, the faint ridges along his torso, the power coiled in every muscle. He’s breathtaking, and I admire him. I’ve learned to see through his human disguise, and I’m surprised to find I prefer him like this—raw, untamed, and utterly alien.

"Good girl," he murmurs as I reach him, his hand caressing my cheek, his touch sending sparks through me.

I look up at him, my body humming with need, and whisper, "What now?"

Karc’s kiss is electric. His lips crash into mine with a fire that burns through everything else—the noise, the crowd, the swirling chaos of the Hellfire Club. My hands claw into his shoulders for balance, my legs trembling as I’m swept into it. When he pulls back, his golden eyes burn into mine. “Trust me, Raven.”

Those words shatter something inside me, but there’s no time to untangle it. All I can do is nod, my voice stolen by the weight of his touch. Something about him makes me feel safe even when the rest of the world feels like a minefield I’m trying to navigate blindfolded. I wonder if trusting him with myheart would feel this easy, or if it’s just my body that’s already surrendered fully to him.

He leads me to the St. Andrew’s cross, and the leather cuffs glint under the dim light. I don’t even hesitate. I’m stepping into the frame before he says a word. He secures my wrists first, his scales brushing against my skin in a way that sends shivers up my spine. Every clasp of the cuff ratchets my arousal higher, and by the time he’s at my ankles, I’m squirming against the restraints.

“Still with me?” he rasps, his voice low and rough, his breath warm against my ear.

“I’m here,” I breathe, my voice shaky but clear.

He leans in, his lips brushing against the curve of my neck. “Good girl.”

The blindfold comes next, and the world vanishes behind the silk. Every sound, every touch becomes sharper, more vivid. His hands glide over my body, the scales on his palms surprisingly soft. When they brush over my nipples, I gasp, arching into his touch. Without warning, his nails rake down my sides, sharp and deliciously cruel.

The sensation sends a jolt through me, and I yelp. “Careful, Kirk,” I tease. “I might start to think you like this.”

“Oh, I do,” he rumbles, his claws grazing my thigh. “But not as much as you, little bird.”

My retort dies on my lips as his hands cup my breasts, kneading them with a firmness that leaves me breathless. His tongue flicks against my nipple, and I moan, my head falling back against the cross. Another orgasm looms on the horizon already, and this game we’re playing is only making it harder to hold back.

“Fuck, Kirk…” I groan, the words slipping out like a desperate plea.

He chuckles, the sound vibrating against my skin as his lips trail down my stomach. “Such filthy language from a lady. I think someone needs to be taught a lesson.”

Before I can think of a witty reply, he’s on his knees, his face buried between my thighs. His tongue is wicked, curling inside me with a skill that leaves me gasping. One hand keeps me pinned to the cross, the other plays with my clit until I’m shaking, teetering on the edge.

“Hold it back,” he orders, his voice commanding even as he laps at me like a starved man. “You’ll come when I tell you.”

“Kirk— I can’t—” My words dissolve into a whimper as his fingers thrust into me, merciless and unyielding.

“You will,” he growls, his voice leaving no room for refusal.

My orgasm hits me like a wave, crashing through every nerve in my body. I squirt, the flood of pleasure so overwhelming that I nearly black out. Karc drinks it eagerly, his groan muffled against my skin.

When I finally come down, trembling and breathless, he stands, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. His grin is feral. “Good girl.”