Page 39 of King of Malice
Goose pimples break out all over my skin. “Dimitri,” I say on a gasp. “This is a conflict of interest. I told you yesterday?—”
“I disagree,” he rumbles into my skin. “Having you in my house and in my bed feels like the best alignment of interests possible.”
“Whose?”
“Mine,” he wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me close, my body fitting so perfectly into his. “Now, if you don’t want to shower with me, I have another idea…”
My mouth goes dry as my nipples pucker. His last idea was the best night of my entire life. “Does it involve handcuffs?”
He smiles into my skin. “No. But it does involve me crouching down between your legs while I lick you until you scream my name.”
I get so wet, I can smell my own arousal and I’m sure he can too. “Oh God,” I whisper, one of my hands snaking around his neck.
“Is that a yes?” he licks and kisses his way up my neck toward my ear.
This is so wrong and so right all in the same moment and I draw in a trembling breath, as I shake my head, trying to gain some control over my wayward body. “No. No. I’ve got to get some work done.” It’s a feeble, shitty excuse, and my words are flat with my lack of conviction.
Still, he eases back, his brows drawn together. “Did I frighten you, milaya? I’m sorry if I did.” His hand cups my cheek. “I’ll slow down.”
I don’t want him to think he’s scaring me when I feel braver than I’ve ever felt before. “It’s fine. I just…”
“It’s all right,” he soothes, his other hand running lightly down my arm, making goose pimples break out all over again. “I can be as patient as you need.”
Crap. He’s making this so much harder.
Feeling like a complete jerk, I nod and then dart into my room, closing the door. Leaning against the solid wood, I draw in a ragged breath.
I don’t want to fight him. I want to let him keep healing me.
Pushing off the door, I cross the room and pick up my phone. I’d stopped trying to call Cadence when I took this position, but I hit her name, listening to the line ring. I need to hear her voice, remember why I’m here.
The call goes to voicemail. I listen to her message, tears forming in the corners of my eyes. “Leave a message if you’re brave enough.”
I shake my head at her words, always stirring up trouble. I miss her so much and I’m worried.
When the tone sounds, I squeeze my eyes shut. “Hey, Cade, it’s me. I just wanted to hear your voice and also tell you…I know there were times I should have fought harder for you. But I’m fighting now. It’s tough for me, I know you know that. But for you, I’d go to the ends of the earth. I’d fight all the way. I love you.”
I hang up, my hand pressing to my mouth as I fight back the tears. They’re no help at all, and they’ll only drain me of the energy I’ll need.
That’s when my phone rings. I look down and my eyes nearly pop out of my head. It’s Cadence!
“Cadence?” I cry into the phone.
“No.” A deep male voice rumbles back. “Stop calling, Ava. Cadence doesn’t want to speak to you.”
And then the line goes dead.
I let out a strangled cry, my hand coming to my mouth again tocover the sound. A broken sob breaks through my hands as I sink to the floor.
Whatever I feared just came to life in one man’s gravelly voice. Cadence is in trouble. “Now I lay me down to sleep…” I whisper into the room. This time I need to do more than just lay on the bed, like I did when Al came at her. This time I’ll fight.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Ava
Despite trying,I barely sleep and am dragging myself out of bed the next morning. Even when I was asleep, my dreams were filled with nightmares, my past and Cadence’s melding together to leave me feeling raw and exposed.
I wish I’d been in Dimitri’s bed with his body wrapped around mine, his strength making me feel safe. I know it would have staved off the nightmares.
