pped into the hallw

ing. A preda

of red silk clung to her skin like fire. Lingerie. Her heels

bedroom do

knocking. Like she'd done it

he bel

tightening, the floor shifting beneath her. The

art pounding. Rosa was there, chopping

ely rose above a wh

. Lucien's favorite. She comes when he needs to forget everything else." Emilia's stomach twisted. But she didn't speak. Rosa

hands. "Take this up to him. Maybe he'

r. Some kind of

ook in Emil

ed to di

mbed the st

could hear them now, muffled sounds f

asp. The cre

y, dragging Lucien's name li

d outside the

uld tur

didn

knoc

ning st

g sil

open, just enough fo

and a wicked smirk. Lucien was shirtless, his ch

ing in the

ked li

ooked...

cked. No

t c

e. Like she was filth

it," he

s flat. Angr

n, hands trembling. Then s

nothing. Nei

idn't

ights off. Blankets pulled over

didn't matter. Tha

hy did she care? Why did i

did. God

y humiliation, every word he'd never said. The want. The ache. The

dn't. He

o herself, sma

en

or cre

en en

ar. Tall

upright. Panic f

started, but a hand s

her mouth. The other grabbed her wrists.

ries were

screamed ag

nd that cracked

ed doors, above the moans of

ster on top of him, grinding harder,

op," she

one still. He wa

m, he hear

n't th

as h

inside him

pinned him down harder, the red s

Lucien," she his

. Now. That

off, then felt it. Cold

tupid," Isl

snapped

t. He'd known her for

u paid?" he growl

led. Dar

ne finally saw my worth

that filthy club before I picked you up. You belong to

I can still forgiv

ned in, dragging the barrel of the gun along

it, the panic

was getting fai

just a slav

didn't

n't ha

smile w

he moment she knocked. Your body chan

ed tighter arou

e thundered i

hispered. "But I won't. Not if you c

gain, lips brus

ulled out

, "She's valuable. She m

hung

t her, breathin

ge roared i

use

hear Emilia's