I narrow my eyes. “And why is that?” I place my free hand on my hip and stand up to my full height. I’ve dealt with women like Megan my entire life.
“Oh, no reason.” Megan reveals a sickly smile as her eyes travel up and down my frame. It’s getting harder and harder to remind myself that I’m doing this to save people like her. Maybe Knoxwas right. Perhaps they don’t want to be saved. My heart sinks just as the crowd roars from behind the curtain. I guess the other guy made it through.
Megan takes a deep breath before heading out next, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the annoying ache in my chest. I have about a second of peace before a hand clasps around my wrist to yank me back, my body colliding with a hard chest.
The bond purrs and the ache eases as sparks fly from where our skin touches. For a moment, all of my fears and worries ebb away, leaving me craving something else other than my freedom.
“You’ve caused quite the stir, my pet.”
I shiver despite how warm his breath feels against the shell of my ear. Knox holds me so tightly against him that if I was made of glass, I would’ve shattered.
“What do you want?” The bond doesn’t like how I speak to him. It rattles inside of me, twisting itself into knots. Knox’s low chuckle against my temple causes my temperature to skyrocket.
“I came to wish you good luck and let you know that everyone is waiting to see exactly what you can do. So don’t fuck it up.” His words become a gentle caress that stir the loose hairs near my forehead. “Give into the bond and just trust me. If you don’t, then they’ll try to steal you from me, and I can’t have that.”
“You can’t have something stolen from you that was never yours to begin with.” My voice quivers. The last of my restraint dissipates with each breath of his against the sensitive spot below my ear.
Knox leans in closer as he inhales. His lips graze my skin, and a knot begins to form deep in my stomach. “I will not condemn you to this life, Danni. But for the duration of your stay, you will be mine. Do you feel this?”
Knox presses himself flush against me, his hard length finding its home between my ass cheeks. I can’t help the moan that escapes my lips.
“This is what you do to me. I am a man crazed with thoughts of you. Day and night, I dream of all of the ways in which I might please you with this.” He rocks his hips into me again and I whimper, desperate to feel even more of him.
Knox places his tongue flat on my neck and licks all the way up to my ear. Teeth playfully nip the lobe and I imagine him doing the same thing to my nipples.
What is he doing to me?
“You need to trust me if you’re going to convince them you’re deep under my spell, my pet. If you do, I will reward you. Would you like that?”
Would I?
My mind screams at me to stomp on his toe or elbow him in the groin, but my body is a treacherous slut that needs to be touched. I know what he is doing. The Five are out there waiting to see if I’m just like all the rest of the potentials. I need to be hot and heavy for him. I can’t smell like fear.
My mind turns back to Megan and how she didn’t seem like she wanted to be saved.
Can I ignore my duty for one day and let myself fall into him? It’s a dangerous game to play, but maybe, it won’t hurt anyone if I just simply enjoy myself.
My body melts further into him as my mind races. “Yes.” My whisper echoes in the empty backstage area.
Another nip on my earlobe. “I’ll make it worth your while, I promise.”
And then he’s gone.
My body is suddenly cold and empty, but a ball of anticipation churns itself over and over inside of me.
Did I just sell my soul to a vampire?
23
Danni
I step out ontothe stage and my breath hitches as one of my darkest desires comes to life.
Yes. This indeed is a circus of dreams.
A metal circle is positioned in the center of the stage, with leather cuffs attached to a golden chain dangling into the empty space of the halo. I’ve seen similar contraptions before in film clips buried deep within certain internet forums, but never once did I see myself using one. Fear rises up in my throat, bitter and acidic like bile. A thousand eyes gleam back at me from beyond the single spotlight that illuminates my next training exercise.
“Well, I wasn’t expecting this. I didn’t pin you down as an exhibitionist, but I have to say… I’m delighted to fulfill your desires.” Knox’s voice caresses softly down my spine.
