Page 5 of Curiosity

“Indeed.”

“So… you’re the one who hired me?” I asked.

He confirmed with a nod.

Fuck.

“Listen, I’m sorry for being somewhere I’m not supposed to be, I just… I didn’t know how I was supposed to get home.”

“Did you contact Irina?”

Irina.

The assistant.

“No, not yet,” I admitted as he finally stepped away from the door, uncrossing his arms to push his hands into the deep pockets of his slacks.

“So then… were youreallytrying to get home? Or is naivete about to get the inquisitive kitty disciplined for her prying?”

My eyes went wide.

Curiosity killed the cat.

Immediately, I shook my head. “No. I mean, no sir,” I stammered, not knowing what I needed to say. I just wanted out of whatever fucked up fantasy this was.

He continued stalking in my direction. “You sound scared.”

“I’m alone in a dark room with a stranger,” I countered, hoping that stating the obvious would get him to see what I saw.

“What’s scary about that?”

“I have no idea what you might do to me.”

“What do youwantme to do to you?” he was right in front of me now – close enough to smell, which felt… dangerous.

Just like when I’d stepped into that party, I couldn’t help breathing in. It was different though – a clean, smokey sort of bouquet that was hard not to inhale.

Impossible, actually.

Any response I may have had to the question caught in my throat as he pulled aside my lapel to unzip my chef coat. I was dressed underneath, but it was just a tank top and bra. I couldn’t move, couldn’t say a word as he pushed the garment off my shoulders.

I didn’t breathe until he touched me.

And when I did, it was deep, gasping breaths as he put his fingers to my throat. Two fingers held in one spot as he looked me in my eyes.

“Calm down.”

I did.

As if he was more in control of my nervous system than I was.

He grabbed me by the wrist with his free hand, placing a big thumb under my palm.

Holding it there.

“How should I punish you?”

I blinked.

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