Page 19 of Queen of Madness

He cracks three eggs on the hot skillet, flipping his spatula around before scraping the translucent edges. “So. New guard, huh?”

I nod, moistening the corner of my lips to hide the sudden drool pooling there. Hungry isn’t even the word for the way my gut is contorting at the sight. “And you’re the cook?”

“Private chef,” he corrects, but doesn’t seem overly offended. “Russ.”

“Worked here long?”

“Fifteen years.”

My brows lift. “So you’ve worked here since before Onyx took over.”

I internally wince after I say it, not sure how much I’m supposed to know. I’d assume it’s common knowledge, but also, I have no fucking idea.

But Russ lifts the bubbling edges of an egg, boredom in his tone. “A few years prior, yeah. How do you like your eggs?”

“Over medium.”

His muddied-brown eyes flash to mine before he nods, flipping the three eggs over before I can blink. “Same as Boss.”

I’m not sure why it interests me how she takes her eggs, but now I find myself curious if she likes her bacon crispy or slightly charred. “Orange juice or coffee?”

“That should be obvious, should it not?” The sultry voice from yesterday flows into the kitchen, wrapping around my cock.

Dammit.

I narrow my eyes at the offending extremity before slowly turning, watching as Onyx enters the kitchen. My breath catches in my throat as I take her in, and for a moment, I’m grateful her eyes are pinned on the cook rather than at me ogling her.

But it isn’t the snug black slacks hugging her curves, or the way she saunters in her heels as if she isn’t wearing them at all that garner my attention. No, it’s the splatter of bright red blood staining her bronzed skin. Flecks of still-glistening droplets decorate the bridge of her nose down to the dip in her satin top, highlighting the tops of her breasts.

My nerves coil, a desire I’ve never felt before taking hold of my mind, draining out everything else. The invasive thought of stripping the soiled fabric from her body and adding my cum to the masterpiece on her chest overwhelms me and it isn’t until the sharp underside of the counter bites into my palm that I realize I’m gripping it so tightly.

Fuck.

I reel in the darkness that’s been flirted with enough for the day and catch Onyx’s eyes watching me. My jaw clenches as she stares at me, the notion that she can read my thoughts making me shift in my seat.

The air thickens, her gaze growing darker the longer she examines my face, her eyes flicking to my lips I’m currently licking. I swallow hard, suppressing the strong urges tearing at the edges of my sanity, willing my mask to remain intact.

And just when I think she may never relent, one side of her supple lips draw up. “Coffee. Black.”

Just when I didn’t think she could possibly be any more enticing… moretempting, she grins.

This time I know that if what Maddy said was for real, I’m already dead.

I internally move Onyx’s cunt to the top of that list, since it seems to be the thing that will get me in trouble the quickest. Still, even with my body vibrating at the thought of being on top of hers, I calm my features. “Too bitter.”

“Says the one who claims sugar is as addictive as cocaine,” she counters, her dark eyes now trailing down my jaw.

“Because he’s never had ours.” Caterina reenters the kitchen, and her snarky words are quickly replaced with genuine concern, her tone dousing me in cold water. “Onyx!”

She rushes in front of the island, shooting both myself and the chef a warning glance as if we had something to do with the blood covering her Boss. Russ does a decent job of ignoring her before sliding a stone plate across the high bar and wiping his hand on his apron. “Usual?”

“Yes, thank you.” Onyx’s voice is still low, but the allure is replaced by something softer. More delicate. Her eyes flash to me as if she can hear me reading her before brushing aside Caterina’s hands currently fretting over her chest. “It’s not mine, Cat. You should know as much.”

The woman sighs, grabbing a dish towel, but Onyx shakes her head and waves her away gently. “Really. I’m going to head up and take a shower now. I just heard talking and wondered who was up so early.”

Cat purses her lips. “Your uncle woke from a dream. He didn’t sleep well, so I asked Russ to make his breakfast.”

Onyx nods. “I’m sure he’ll recover after some rest. Get some things from Maddy if you need it.”

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