Page 22 of Forbidden Empire
I leaned closer, bringing my mouth to her ear.
“Are you surprised to see me, little mouse?” I taunted. “You’ve made me a very happy cat."
The dealer slapped one card down in front of me, and I barely contained the triumphant grin threatening to spread across my face. With a dramatic sweep, I shoved all my remaining chips into the center of the table, the clatter echoing like a battle cry. The other players crumbled, folding under the pressure, leaving just us locked in this high-stakes duel.
Esme's jaw tightened, her beautiful features a battlefield of tension as she weighed her next move. My eyes drank in her face, each glance a punch to my gut, stealing the breath from my lungs. How could I ever articulate the seething fury she deserved?
She was worthy only of my unbridled wrath. Yet, a primal part of me yearned to offer her something entirely different. Every fiber of my being screamed to devour this woman whole.
The emotions tearing through me were maddening. I had come here with a singular purpose: vengeance. Not for carnal satisfaction, Not for the fleeting thrill of desire or lust. But my resolve was being challenged, and the turmoil was more than I had bargained for.
I forced myself to concentrate on the seething anger boiling inside me, trying to ignore the relentless pressure of my throbbing cock straining against the confines of my slacks. Esme laid down another card, her lips curling into a sly smile thatvanished as fast as it appeared. Her jaw twitched when she glanced at her new card, a telltale sign of her confidence.
She thought she had me cornered, thought she could manipulate me like a puppet on her strings. She was so wrong. The anticipation of proving her mistaken, of shattering her illusion, sent a thrill coursing through my veins. If my instincts were right, Esme Theodorus was rarely confronted with her own errors.
The prospect of being the one to enlighten her was an exquisite pleasure I could hardly contain. With a defiant flair, she pushed her pile of chips to the center, matching my bet, exuding an arrogance that bordered on recklessness. A stray lock of hair fell across her face, and I fought the overwhelming urge to brush it aside.
I kept my cards close, leaning in closer to her, whispering with a dangerous proximity, my lips grazing her ear. She remained still, unfazed, her lack of retreat fueling my intrigue further.
Perhaps she wasn't afraid of me at all. Maybe she was just naive, teetering on the edge of a game she didn't yet understand.
"You've been running for too long, Esme," I snarled, grateful that my voice carried the fury I needed while sitting this close to her. "You knew I'd hunt you down, didn't you?"
Her gaze avoided mine, but the frustration blazing in her captivating emerald eyes was unmistakable.
I was struck by her beauty, those lips, those eyes, that defiant tilt of her chin. It was a sight capable of unraveling even the most stalwart of men.
I prayed she couldn't see how she robbed me of breath. I needed to keep my emotions locked away, hidden from her perceptive gaze.
If she detected even a hint of weakness, she'd wield it like a weapon against me. With an air of defiance, she laid down hercards, revealing four of a kind. "Impressive," I murmured, my smile betraying none of the storm within as I showed my hand.
I couldn't suppress the triumphant grin that spread across my face, my royal flush gleaming back at her.
Her eyes widened, but she nodded with resolve, surrendering to her defeat.
I reached for the pile of winnings in the center of the table just as she stood and glided away, her movements a graceful taunt.
I smirked, shaking my head as I watched her sashay away with casual indifference.
"Thank you." I nodded to the dealer, abandoning the mound of chips on the table and slipping into the shadows of the casino, hot on the trail of my elusive prey.
Her hips swayed like a pendulum, counting down the seconds of my restraint. My jaw clenched so tight I tasted metal. Three strides and I'd have her.
Two. One. She veered down a hallway, dark and secluded.
Perfect.
The casino noise faded with each footfall until all I could hear was my ragged breathing and the click of her heels against marble.
Jasmine and something darker, her scent filled my lungs as I lunged forward, fingers digging into the soft flesh of her shoulder.
She spun, a flash of emerald eyes widening before her back slammed against the wall. The impact knocked a small gasp from her lips.
She didn't cower. Didn't beg.
Instead, her palm pressed against my chest, the heat of it burning through my shirt like a brand. I felt her push, a butterfly trying to move a mountain.
The corner of my mouth twitched with an electric thrill as I leaned in, obliterating her resistance between us.
