Page 165 of The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating

His slow smile made the hairs on my neck stand up. “I’m always in control.” He still didn’t come closer. “But our predicament demands... creativity.”

“Care to explain?”

He lifted his hand, palm up. “As you know, I don’t actually need to touch you totouchyou.”

Before I could speak, I felt something brush against my ankle. It felt like cool silk, a tendril of shadow, darker than the rest of the room, twining around my skin. I sucked in a breath, looking from the shadow to him.

He spread his hands innocently.

The shadow pulsed against my leg, tracing the curve of my calf, then slipping beneath the hem of the robe to circle my thigh. A shiver swept through me, not from cold exactly, more from the sheer possibility. Every inch of it whispered of power, of a storm about to break.

“This… is dangerous,” I managed. Another ribbon of darkness slithered around my waist, sending my heart galloping.

He tilted his head, the look in his eyes daring and smug. “Is it?”

A squeeze around my middle lifted me off the stool. I let out a startled cry as the shadows half carried, half floated me across the room, depositing me onto the bed. More dark ropes appeared, winding around my wrists and ankles, pinning me back against the soft sheets. My robe slipped and fell open.

“Kaz—” I gasped, not entirely sure if I was begging him to stop or to continue.

“Yes, Arabella?” He stood at the foot of the bed, arms crossed, gaze scorching me from a slight distance. A predator savoring the final helpless squirm of his prey.

“This isn’t fair,” I croaked.

He let out a low laugh. “Nothing about us has ever been fair. You, tempting me with every glance. Me, unable to lay a hand on you. Don’t you think we both suffer?”

Before I could retort, a new tendril of shadow formed near my face, brushing against my lips. I gasped, and it slipped inside, tasting faintly of ozone and old power, stroking my tongue in a brazen kiss. And then the shadow changed, no longer feeling like a kiss, but growing in width and length until it hit the back of my throat in a rhythm that mimicked other, far more carnal acts.

A choked moan escaped me. The shadows holding my wrists tightened slightly, drawing my arms further above my head.

“Look at me,” he commanded, voice rough.

My gaze snapped to his. A flush marked his cheeks, his chest moving faster with each breath. Watching him lose that perfect composure unleashed a flood of wetness between my thighs.

“Keep your eyes on me,” he ordered, the words thick with possessiveness. “I want to watch.”

Shadows at my ankles pulled, spreading my legs. The robe gave up any pretense of coverage, leaving me shamelessly on display. The vulnerability collided with sick, thrilling pleasure. I was pinned, subject to his will, yet the raw desire in his eyes made me feel like the one in control.

Kazimir made an approving sound.

Another shadow slid up between my thighs. I strained against the bonds, a silent plea for more. The shadow in my mouth prevented speech, but my whimpers seemed to convey my desperation clearly enough.

“Patience,” Kazimir chided, a hint of dark amusement in his tone. “You were so insistent on teaching me restraint. Are you regretting it now?”

The shadow brushed against the delicate folds between my legs before seeking my clit, and I arched into the touch with a strangled cry. The shadow obliged my silent demand, pressing more firmly, alternating between insistent pressure and barely-there teasing. My head fell back against the pillows, eyes fluttering shut as pleasure built, sharp and demanding.

“Eyes. On. Me,” Kazimir snapped, the command absolute.

I forced my eyelids open, focusing on how he drank in my response. The shadows held me firmly, sliding across my breasts, my waist, all those tender spots I never imagined darkness could caress. It was a maddening barrage of sensation, too many competing touches to think straight.

I hovered on the edge of release, breath coming in ragged pants. Then, abruptly, the shadows froze. I let out a ragged, muffled sound of protest. Writhing, I found no relief.

Kazimir’s faintly cruel smile made his intentions clear. “Did you assume I’d hand over satisfaction so easily?”

The shadow withdrew from my mouth, leaving me able to speak again. “Kazimir,” I ground out, half plea, half growl. “Don’t you dare stop now.”

He raised a brow. “Ask nicely. Admit that I have more self-control than you.”

I opened my mouth to snap at him, but all that came out was a choked moan as the shadows resumed, tracing lazy circles at just the right spot. My skin lit up in gooseflesh, and my hips twisted in search of more.

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