9
Stipulations
ELOISE
“My clothes? I thought the deal was for my blood?” I stare up at him from the couch, sliding forward so that I’m perched on the edge. My heart bangs against my ribcage like an angry prisoner.
“You know how this works.”
“But I don’t need to light the candle or draw the symbol?” It doesn’t make any sense. “Why just the nudity?”
“The candle and the symbol are to summon me. I’m already here, and these are my terms.”
“The blood and my nudity are your payment?”
“You catch on quickly.”
“Why not just my blood?”
Damien begins to pace again, his eyes never leaving mine. “Because I wish it.”
That isn’t good enough for me. I already feel vulnerable as hell after my run-in with Tony and desperately unattractive after meeting his mistress. The idea of exposing every roll and mole makes my stomach turn, not to mention thatmy face is puffy and streaked from crying. I must look like a clown. “So, you want to humiliate me? Do you get off on that sort of thing?”
He stops in his tracks and rushes me until I have to lean back on the sofa to avoid his fangs. His nose almost touches mine and his brilliant eyes flash with inner fire.
“I’ll tell you why, little bird.” His low, rough timbre sounds like he’s dragged his throat through hot cinders. “First, I want you to remove that god-awful sweater because I don’t want anything that reminds you of him between us when I take your blood. Second, I want the rest of it gone because your body pleases me, and I want to feel your fragile skin against my hands when I’m at your neck. Third, I want to taste you and not this caricature he’s made of you. And finally, you will do it because if you don’t, I will hold you to our original agreement and show Tony what it feels like to be strangled by a string of pearls.” His teeth clack together when he finishes.
“You saw what happened. You were watching.”
“From a distance,” he growls. “You commanded me to leave. You didn’t say how far I had to go.”
I gulp so hard it seems to echo in the room. Once again, my body and brain are at odds. My mind tells me I should be afraid, but I’m not. My muscles grow warm and loose, my lids lowering as my face tips up to look at him, and my lips part. The intensity of his stare sends my pulse skittering. Heat blooms low within me. It’s been a long time since I’ve wanted sex, but all at once I ache for him.
His nostrils flare, and I wonder if he can smell my arousal. I don’t care if he does. Damien’s words make me feel seen. They make me feel wanted. And I don’t care if it is only for my blood. After a night where Tony made me feel worthless all over again, it feels good.
Without further hesitation, I stand and remove the cardigan and the matching sleeveless sweater. He takes a step back, watching me with hungry eyes as I toe off my shoes and shimmy out of my slacks. When I’m done, I stand before him in nothing but a black lace bra and thong.
I reach behind me to undo the clasp, but he raises his hand. “Those are yours.”
“Yes. I chose this set.”
“Better.”
“How did you know? That the outfit wasn’t something I chose, I mean.”
The hard edges of his face soften. “Even little birds are wild things. A wild thing with a tattoo like yours wouldn’t choose that outfit.” He frowns. “It was also how he grabbed your pearls. Denardi is a wicked man and I sensed that’s why he wanted you to wear them. He twisted them like a man who has dreamed about choking a woman.”
That’s a pleasant thought. I shiver.
“I’ve upset you, but you know I’m right.”
“I don’t want to think about him tonight.” I wipe my mind of everything but this room, this moment. “Do you want me to stop undressing?”
He shakes his head slowly.
Reaching behind my head, I pull the elastic from my hair and let the platinum-blond sweep across my shoulders. I try not to think of how much I hate the color or how many hours I’ve spent straightening it because that’s what Tony wanted. I unhook my bra and let the straps fall down my arms, then bend over to slide off my panties. Naked, all my insecurities rush back tenfold. I focus on the carved foot of the sofa.
Strong fingers clasp my chin and lift. Hisdiamond eyes cut through me with their intensity. “Beautiful,” he grits out.
