Page 60 of Touched By a Traitor
“Would you truly turn me into a shell of myself? Wouldn’t it be easier for you to choose someone else?”
“No. You’re the one I desire. But do not worry. The battle shall resemble a python squeezing a mouse.”
His lips were smiling, but his stern gaze alluded to the gravity of his statement. Charlotte stared back at him intently,wondering how he had so quickly become a man to be wary of when they were having a perfectly pleasant conversation only minutes ago.
“What you don’t realize is that I’m not an ordinary mouse,” she managed to say.
A low chuckle rumbled out of his throat, the sound sending pleasant shivers down her spine. “Thank heavens for that. It’s precisely the reason I wanted you from that fateful night.” With those words, Andrew stood and held out his hand toward her.
Charlotte’s pulse thumped violently in her ears, and a charm of hummingbirds flapped against her ribcage. She stared down at his hand as if he were the grim reaper, a harbinger of both danger and desire.
“Right now, I only wish to feed you,” he said.
As Charlotte furrowed her brows, she tilted her head to regard Andrew from a different angle, her eyes taking in the striking contours of his face. The interplay of shadow and orange glow cast by the flickering candlelight chiseled his strong jaw and high cheekbones, lending him an air of mystery and intimidation. Despite the imposing nature of his features, however, a faint smile lingered upon his lips, and his eyes softened with each passing moment, a glimmer of tenderness shining through the darkness.
Unable to temper her curiosity, Charlotte placed her hand in his, allowing him to lead her toward the bedchamber. Though she flinched ever so slightly at the contact, Andrew’s keen senses didn’t miss the subtle reaction.
“Trust me, Charlotte. Nothing could be further from seduction in what I’m about to do.” Despite his words, the tone indicated something else altogether.
Charlotte found herself following his lead, her feet moving of their own accord as if drawn by an invisible force. In truth, whatchoice did she have? She was bound to him now, and her body was his to thrill and terrify.
As they crossed the threshold of the bedchamber, Charlotte’s heart raced, a symphony of anticipation and fear pulsing through her veins.
The room was dominated by a large bed, its plush head and footboards swathed in ivory, exuding an air of luxury and comfort. The matching vanity and dresser added a touch of elegance to the otherwise uncluttered space. The counterpane and linen, all pristine white, lent the bed a virginal quality.
“Sit on the bed, if you please,” Andrew said, his voice gentle yet commanding.
Charlotte glanced at him askance, her steps measured and cautious as she approached the bed. She did as he asked, perching against it. Andrew, meanwhile, retrieved a brush from the vanity, presenting it to her with a flourish. The ivory handle glistened in the candlelight, its smooth surface beckoning to be touched.
Charlotte gingerly took the brush from him and ran her finger over the smooth edge, admiring the intricate etchings of flowers that adorned its back. Turning it over, she discovered an engraving, and the words caused her heart to skip a beat.
“My darling Charlotte… Be mine. Allow me to caress your soul,” she read softly. “I have nothing for you,” she said, looking up at Andrew.
“You haven’t run away, and that’s the biggest gift you could bestow upon me.”
Andrew took the brush from her and positioned himself behind her on the bed. The mattress dipped beneath her, and Charlotte braced herself with her hands. She sensed his nearness behind her, his body settling like a boulder as he sat back on his heels. He began to brush her hair slowly and thoroughly, sometimes letting the strands flow between his fingers.
The feel of his fingers on her scalp reminded her of the way he had held her hair in that searing kiss so long ago. Her breath hitched as her mind got lost in the memory. When he finally brushed her hair over one shoulder, she felt his warm breath on her neck. She focused on steadying her breath with one hand on her stomach.
Andrew withdrew a long linen fabric from his pocket, holding it up for her to see. “I’m going to blindfold you,” he said, his voice low and reassuring. “You can trust me.”
With gentle hands, Andrew tied the material around her eyes, plunging her world into darkness.
“Sit back against the headboard. You’ll be more comfortable,” he said.
She did as she was told and sat still, her senses heightened as she listened to the rustling of his trousers, indicating his movement about the room. The clanking of dishes and utensils from the adjacent space filled her ears until she heard his footsteps return. The mattress dipped slightly as he placed something at the foot of the bed.
“Lean forward a little.”
She complied and soon felt a soft pillow being placed behind her back. “Now sit back and relax.”
Moments later, she felt a small fabric, no larger than a kerchief, being tied deftly around her neck.
“Now, open your mouth,” he commanded.
Having heard far too many stories from the courtesans, Charlotte shook her head vigorously, her heart pounding in her chest.
A faint chuckle and a sigh escaped Andrew’s lips before he spoke again. “You know more than you should.”
