Page 209 of Inferno

“In here,” he shouts back.

Pushing on the wood, I see him sprawled out, book in his lap, glasses hanging from his hand, and a smirk that could level cities. Fuck, he looks fine.

One foot rests on his knee, the red-bottom boots on full display. His black suit is unbuttoned just enough to reveal theintricate ink crawling up his throat. He clears his throat. I close my mouth before I start drooling.

“Hi.” I smile. He quirks a brow and the room shifts. Thick with heat as he watches me.

I force myself to look away, taking in the space around him.

An enormous glass window towers behind him, throwing fractured beams of light across the dark wooden floor. To the left, a full wall of books. Floor to ceiling. All matte black shelves.

“Damn. A rolling ladder?” I ask, almost in disbelief.

I step closer, letting the scent of old pages fill my lungs. Running my fingers along the spines, I pause.

“Take one out.” His voice is laced with amusement.

“Okay.” I slide a book free where my hand rests.

Every cover is black or gray. My brows knit. “All the same author?”

He chuckles. “No, these are custom covers to fit the aesthetic… and perhaps hide my tastes.”

My pulse picks up.

“Go on. Open it up,” he commands.

I flip to a random page.

“Read it.”

Scanning, my eyes go wide.

“Lots of cock and spanking, sir.” I bite my lip, heat flooding my face.

But I keep reading. Goddamn, it’s hot.

I might need to borrow a few lines, hell, it might help me finish my book if I ever make it back.

A sharp gasp leaves me as I look up. He’s right in front of me. Towering over me.

“You read a lot?” I ask, peeking over the book. Obvious answer, dumb question.

He nods, rolling up his sleeves. “Helps with some of my other interests.”

“Oh, yeah?”

A stupid flicker of jealousy twists in my gut. Him. Other women. I hate it.

“What better way to learn how a woman likes to be pleasured than by reading the spicy words of one? These books are like instructions for me.”

My breath stutters as he leans in, brushing his lips against my cheek.

“They’re also incredibly helpful for coming up with creative ideas to punish a naughty, reckless sub.”

His hands are on me before I can think. He’s grabbing my ass, lifting me like I weigh nothing. My back hits the shelf and his mouth finds my neck. I gasp; my legs locking around his hips, his cock is already hard against me.

“Am I in trouble? Is that why you’re ignoring me?”

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