Page 17 of The Assassin's Dancer
I blink once. Twice. And then all the air is knocked out of me as I’m swept off my feet and pushed towards the wall.
Everything moves in a blur of lace and leather until my back hits stone. The Scorpion uses his entire body to hold me in place, pinning my wrists above my head with one single calloused hand.
My breath shudders. His thigh is pressed between my legs to force them apart. In a panic, I attempt to wriggle out of his hold, but I’m not wearing anything under my nightgown. The rough fabric of his breeches is stirring up feelings I’ve never felt before, deep between my legs.
Swallowing down a moan, I slip further down his thigh just as my knees give way.
“Three things, Ruby,” he hisses, so close his breath teases my ear. “One: you will not lie to me again. I cannot stand liars, and no matter how clever you think you’re being, I will always find out the truth.”
My breath stills. I open my mouth to reply, but all that comes out is a whimper.
“Two,” he continues, drawing back slightly so I can meet his darkened eyes. “You do not hit, bite, throw, kick or do anything that would otherwise harm me. Am I making myself clear?”
Lower lip trembling, I nod.
“Good.” He brings up a gloved hand, wiping away a hot tear before it rolls down my cheek. “I might be an assassin, but I still have morals. I’m a gentleman and I don’t hurt women. Not unless one of them feels stupid enough to try to hurt me. Understood?”
“Yes, I’m sorry,” I squeak. “I don’t know why I did that. I’m so sorry.”
I’m not a violent person, never have been, but something happened when he spoke about Father in that way. Whatever it was though, I’ll make sure it never happens again. Especially not in front of him. Not when his leg, still pressed firmly between my thighs, is sending warm flutters up my lower belly – the type of flutters I’m certain a princess should only feel on her wedding night.
A moan slips out as I struggle to keep from rocking against him.
“And three…” I can feel bruises forming around my wrists as he pushes his whole body weight against the wall. “You really need to stop testing me with those little noises you’re making.”
My breath catches. “What?”
Groaning, he adjusts his leg as my back instinctively arches into him. A gasp flies from my throat, the warm flutters deep inside me growing into more intense waves. It’s all too much. If he doesn’t let me go soon, I’ll…
“You’re a fragile, virgin princess,” he says, each word feeling hot on my skin. “While I was raised in a whorehouse in Night Alley.”
I shudder as he inhales against my neck. Is he sniffing me? It doesn’t matter. My heart thunders against my ribcage, and another moan leaps from my throat.
“I’ll break you, Ruby,” he growls. “You won’t be able to walk once I’m done with you.” Somehow he leans closer until I can feel something big and hard pressing against my stomach.
I squeak.
He needs to leave. This is dangerous. If anyone were to come in and see us, my reputation would be ruined. Father would never let me marry. I’d never see another prince again.
Although, would that really be such a bad thing?
“Amaryllis…” My name sits on his tongue as if he’s tasting each letter. “Princess Amaryllis.”
My limbs turn to a liquid. I should tell him to leave. I should call for someone. I should scream. I…
“Ami!” two voices sing from beyond my bedchamber.
A jolt of panic slams into me. My door swings open, and Blossom waltzes inside closely followed by Camellia, both dressed in their lacy white nightgowns.
Colour drains from my face. My mouth opens, ready to spout a thousand excuses as to why there’s a strange man clad in black standing in my bedroom, and why he’s leaning against me – pinning me to the wall.
But then, I pause. Both Blossom and Camellia are chatting away, completely unfazed.
I turn back to the Scorpion, but he’s gone – the only sign he was ever here being the curtains still flapping in the wind and the strange, longing ache between my legs.
“Are you alright, Ami?” Blossom asks, pausing her conversation with our sister. “Mel and I were just doing our stretches, but then we heard some strange noises from your room. Thought you might be having a nightmare again.” She steps closer, scowling at my crinkled nightgown. “By the state of you, we were clearly right.” Both girls giggle.
“A nightmare?” I echo. Perhaps that’s all it was. Then again, the way he made me feel was far from nightmarish.
