Page 45 of Silverproof Damsel

Rhys was gorgeously built. It was as if the gods had plucked him straight off the cover of a men’s fitness magazine. The moment they had created him, they’d brought to life every woman’s perfect fantasy.

The obliques of his stomach slid down to a sensual, masculine V, vanishing beneath the sweatpants. Black swirls moved down his sides in wisps of ink. I knew those lines intimately. I had carnal knowledge of every single inch of his perfect, sinful body.

I wassoscrewed.

“Coming to bed, Love?”

“I’d rather not,” I replied, then inwardly flinched as a seductress’s voice escaped my lips.

Rhys’ mouth curved into a devilish smile. “You’re a terrible liar.”

“Is that so, Van Helsing?” Forcing my legs up to conceal my nakedness. I refused to cower when he strolled deeper inside the bathroom. Holding his stare in the glass until he’d moved too deep into the chamber, I swallowed past the tension forming in my abdomen. “Did you need something?”

“My woman,” he replied huskily. “I need her to come to bed with me. She’s had an eventful day, after all. I must ensure she receives proper care while carrying my child. So, do you intend to come of your own free will, or shall I carry you to bed?” Folding his arms the moment he reached the side of the tub, he tipped his head to the side, waiting for my reply.

This man would be the death of me. It was the only thing I knew for certain. He’d be the one to put the nails in my coffin. Swallowing past the need currently crowding in my throat, I sought the answer to his question. As I struggled to say anything, he kneeled beside the tub, flicking water toward my face.

“I don’t care either way. The answer matters little. One way or another, you’re coming to my bed tonight. When you do, there will be nothing between us. Do try to keep your hands to yourself. I’ve very little self-control right now. Since the day you left, I’ve abstained from feeding.”

Rhys’ words sent heat pulsing to my apex. It had been his intention all along. Turning to look over at him, I ensured he noted the eye roll I awarded him with.

“I suggest you use your fucking hand, Rhys. You’ve called me filthy names, accused me of harming someone I care about, and then treated me like trash. If you think I’m about to slip and land on that dick, you’re mistaken. I can walk,” I hissed, then stoodup and stepped out of the bath, ensuring he had to move or be stepped on. “Goodnight. I hope you have nightmares.” Flicking my wet curls over my shoulder, I marched to the plush terry cloth towel, plucking it from the rack before wrapping it around my frame.

The sound of his amused laughter followed me into the master suite. I’d had enough of his shit. His mood swings were more than mine had been during the entire first trimester. If he thought I’d simply fall into his lap, he was mistaken. I had no time for his head games, nor did I have the energy to play them with him. If he wanted me, he could get on his knees and beg.

Chapter Nineteen

Rhys’mastersuitewasmasculine, yet elegant enough to hold a feminine undertone in the design. Obsidian walls, much like the rest of the wing, flowed like silk and magic, pulsating as they slithered with a life of their own. In the center of the bedroom, a massive canopy-style bed sat. Running along the ebony wood around the top were lengths of satin in a pale shade of white that twisted and hung in each corner of the posts.

I’d never been one to think of black-coloring for interior design, but it was both sleek and voguish. It made everything else within the space pop while making it all very stylish. It changed my mind to darker colors for interior designs.

On the ceiling, a mirror had been positioned intentionally over the bed. From where I stood at the threshold of the chamber, I could see the satiny white eiderdown covering the bed. I had to stifle a snort as I imagined staring up while Rhys’ body surged against mine, enveloped in immoral pleasure.

My hold on the plush towel tightened until my knuckles matched the pale color of the bedding. Subduing the unease and rising need, I ventured deeper inside the room. The dark ebonyof the bed’s frame was striking against the pale shade of the soft, inviting pillows.

Silence filled the air around me until Rhys’ husky, guttural voice whispered against my ear, “Lose the towel, Love. I’ve tasted and fucked every inch of you with both my tongue and cock. You’re having my baby. We’re past being shy around one another.”

A shiver started at the base of my spine, then shot down to my feet. Turning around, I glared at him as my face became a scowl, and I chewed on my bottom lip.

“It isn’t that I’m shy. It’s that you no longer have any right to see, touch, or taste a single inch of me anymore.”

The way his eyes dragged down my frame was one of ownership. The azure darkened as he brought it back up, lips curling into a cocky, self-assured smile.

“Do you think I’ll find the changes to your body anything other than lovely, Remi?” His voice had lowered to a raspy, seductive tenor.

Rhys’ words caused my heart to race. My stomach performed gymnastics as a whisper of hope fluttered through my chest. I quickly shut it down, refusing to acknowledge it or allow it to grow. I’d been there and done that with this man already.

Creating a disgruntled noise in my throat, I rolled my eyes. “It no longer matters to me if your cock gets hard over how I look.”

Tilting his dark head, he held my gaze momentarily. “You’re having a baby. It’s natural to feel self-conscious about the changes in your body. However, I think those changes are lovely. It’s my child who’s creating them. You’re lovely, if a little underweight. You should eat more often. My woman and child need proper nutrition.”

“Am I allowed to eat? I wasn’t sure if you fed your prisoners or preferred to starve them as a form of torture. That’s what I am.Right?Your prisoner.” Unwilling to break the challenge burningin my stare, I held his glittering gaze as he stepped closer. “I could use a healer, too. But I’m guessing that isn’t something you intend to offer me, either. Right?” The darkening of his face told me I’d hit the mark.

Rhys enjoyed making me back down from his dominance. I once enjoyed the protection and feeling of him crowding my space. I’d fucking loved the feel of his hard masculinity against my soft femineity. He’d often crowded the air I breathed, leaving me breathless and dizzy from the intensity of his ravenous hunger.

The keyword here was Ihad. He’d destroyed the part of me that hadn’t minded being weak or soft in his presence. That girl had vanished the day he’d tossed her aside so easily, as if she’d never meant anything to him at all.

I’d let this man use my body for his carnal desires. He’d savaged every part of me until I’d felt as if we’d become one soul. One soul that needed the other to continue living. Rhys had cut me open and laid me bare, devouring all resistance against his brutally iniquitous desires. If I said I hadn’t loved every second of the debauchery we’d partaken of, I’d be lying.

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