The large bathtub was filled with streaming water, rose petals floating over the surface. Golden fixtures gleamed under the dim little lights, adding to the ambience of the opulent space.

I squinted my eyes, wondering what exactly was going on. This was new, strange. I took my pants off, walked butt naked toward the bathtub, and stepped into it, the warm water rising to meet my skin in gentle waves. As the heat enveloped me, I let out a satisfactory sigh, feeling my muscles relax.

The door opened, and my eyes darted toward the entrance, where Scarlett stood, striking a rather seductive pose. She held my gaze, a smile brightening up her face as she strolled inside. Her movements were fluid and majestic—elegant, like a pageant queen on a runway.

Her see-through white dress clung to her body like a second skin, highlighting her curves and contours. She threw her hands into her red hair, fingers deftly styling it into a quick bun, a few loose strands framing her face.

My eyes narrowed, drinking in the sight of her nipples pointing from underneath the transparent fabric of her dress. Her red panties flashed at me, drawing my gaze like steel to a magnet as she sashayed her way toward me.

“Mind if I join you?” she asked, her voice soft and sweet—music to my ears.

My response was a lazy grin, eyes roaming her ridiculously attractive body.

Scarlett stood at the edge of the tub, her skin simmering in the candles’ warm glow, her expression fiery and enticing. With eyes still locked on mine, her fingers traced the delicate straps of her dress, her movement slow and teasing. The tantalizing glimpse of her breasts first came into view, catching my attention before the fabric slipped from her shoulders, pooling at her feet.

My brows rose, drinking in this breathtaking sight of her naked body, a flutter rising in my chest. The gentle curve of her breasts, the delicate shape of her hips, her smooth skin, and her alluring thighs had me entranced—hooked.

A soft smile played on her lips, and she stepped forward, dipping her toes into the water before sinking gracefully into the warm embrace of the bath. Once inside, she leaned in, closing the little distance between us, her lips sensually claiming mine.

I drew a deep breath, feeling the softness of her gentle swells against my rigid body. Her manicured hand framed my face, her tongue sliding into my mouth with a lingering motion that sent shivers down my spine. Her kiss was hot, passionate, and unhurried. She devoured my lips with a deliberate slowness, as if savoring every taste in my mouth. Her hands caressed my body, tenderly tracing the rugged ridges of my chiseled form.

She pulled her tongue from my mouth, an erotic gasp escaping her lips as she writhed her body against mine, her lap resting on mine. I kissed the nape of her neck, her head darting upward, her soft purrs filling the air. I reached out and grasped her boob, fondling and caressing her voluptuous curves.

Her hand traveled down my waist, fingers wrapping around my length before stroking it leisurely. My shaft grew so hard and veiny that it poked from underneath the water, just above the surface.

Heads turned, and tongues slid in and out of our mouths as we let the passion coursing through us take control. The deeper the kiss, the more the flame of ecstasy burned within us. I felt our connection deepening as our bodies writhed as one. The air was electric with desire, mingling with the sweet scent of lavender and vanilla.

Her gentle strokes relaxed me, easing off the stress of the day. Her kisses soothed my aches and healed my wounds.

She paused, taking a break from devouring my lips, her eyes boring into mine. Although we didn’t say anything, our silence said it all—things had changed now, and this was the start of something new.

I had no idea what got into her or why she looked at me with so much passion flickering in her gaze, but I liked it. I liked how she devoted the evening to helping me relax—how selfless of her.

She leaned in, her nose grazing against mine. Her soft breasts pressed against my chest as I traced the delicate curve of her lips with my thumb. Our position in the tub was intimate and sensual, skin against skin, our souls merging as one.

I could stay here all night, feeling her body on and enjoying her to the fullest, savoring every moment like it was our last.

Chapter 24 – Scarlett

Who are you, Scarlett? Who is this woman you’ve become? Have you at last accepted this to be reality? What happened to the zeal and determination to find a way out of this hellhole?

These were the questions that plagued my mind day and night, occupying my thoughts and keeping me busy.

I wasn’t sure what to think about this or how to react to the gradual changes I saw in myself. Lately, it was almost like I couldn’t recognize the woman in the mirror each time I caught a reflection of myself in one.

Daniel was living rent-free in my head, thoughts of him invading my mind every second of the day. The man didn’t just get under my skin; he’d successfully gotten under my skirt, too—multiple times—and now I wanted him and him alone. Daniel had crept his way into my head and invaded my dreams, and now I was afraid he was going for my heart.

I hadn’t found a name for the feeling he’d stirred up within me—or maybe I had, but I was too afraid to face the truth. Everything had happened so fast, and now I found myself stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Whatever I felt for him wasn’t real. It was just a mirage. At least that was what I kept telling myself, even though, down in my heart, I knew that wasn’t true. This feeling terrified me, especially because my body craved him, longed for him. I hated the fact that I’d grown so used to his touch—addicted, maybe.

Daniel had shown me several versions of himself, and none of them was gentle—not in the ideal way, anyway. The other day, I watched him take down a man twice his size without breaking a sweat. I saw him violent, manifesting the beast within. All of these should have been enough to scare the living daylights out of me. But instead, his violent nature, his darkness, seemed to call out to me, drawing me in like a seductive allure.

I was trapped in a web of lust, passion, and something I wasn’t ready to admit yet. It was a bondage that I couldn’t break out of; I didn’t even want to. I was losing myself, sinking into him in ways that I had sworn I never would. The fact I was powerless against this feeling was both unsettling and intriguing at the same time.

Daniel’s actions—his touch—had ignited a fire within me, and now it wouldn’t stop burning. How could something so wrong feel so right, something so bad feel so good? This was the same man responsible for my father being in prison. I should hate him, despise him. But each time I looked at him, each time he touched me, the outcome was often the exact opposite.

Every day, this strange feeling I’d developed for him seemed to wax stronger, leaving me utterly helpless. I was growing more and more attached to him, and no matter how much I tried to fight the feeling, I would always lose.