I turn and find his hand outstretched towards me. The sleeves of his signature tailored black button-down shirt are neatly rolled up to his elbows, and his charcoal grey slacks cling to histhighs like second skin. His eyes are alight with a hunger I’ve never seen before.
“I won’t hurt you,” he reassures, his eyes never leaving mine.
I swallow. Hard.
Can I do this? In front of everyone here? Do I have a choice?
No, I don’t.
I have to make it through this. I have a goal to achieve. I told myself before coming down here that I would do whatever it took to avenge my mom’s death.
Against my better judgment, I take his hand. Flashes of heat dance as our skin connects, a different feeling taking root deep in my lower stomach, replacing my fear with something far more treacherous.
Knox guides me to the circle, never taking his eyes away from me. My heart pounds as the blood rushes to my ears. I take my place in the center of the circle. There’s no going back now.
Knox runs his fingers down my bare arm, the intimacy of it catching me off guard. The growing bond inside of me vibrates in satisfaction as he brings my hand above my head and secures my wrist in the leather cuff.
He does the same with the other wrist and I take the opportunity to admire just how beautiful he is. His sharp angular face, his dark, swept-back hair.
Once my second wrist is secure, the leather biting into my skin, he stands in front of me. I’m met with a deep shade of crimson that makes the rest of the world fall away.
God, I’m a woman doomed.
“The metal frame is enchanted to shock you if you try to move. Pick a safeword.” His commanding tone sends thrills shooting straight to my core.
I’ve never done anything like this before. Wanted to, but never found the right person to experience it with. I’ve never trusted one night stands to not get carried away. And now I’m aboutto be dominated by a vampire prince in front of thousands of people.
Despite everything, I trust Knox.
He needs me alive after all, right?
My chest heaves as he reaches out and grazes my lips with his thumb. I don’t know if it’s because I have to put on a show or if it’s because I want to, but I open my mouth and lick the tip of it. He raises a smug eyebrow at me in approval, his pupils blown wide, making the color of them darken to a shade of red so deep that it could be black.
“Safeword,” he mutters, again, never taking his eyes away from my lips.
“Pineapple,” I say confidently.
The circle around me glows light blue.
“Say the word and the cuffs will release you. Have you ever done anything like this before?” Knox asks.
I shake my head truthfully. Will he be disappointed?
“Good.”
A jolt of power surges through me as I drop my gaze to his pants and see just how much of an affect my admission has on him. My mouth waters, my tongue passing over my bottom lip.
“Have you?” I ask breathlessly as I meet his mischievous eyes again.
“I’ve dabbled. You’re in safe hands. Now, I don’t want you to speak unless I ask you to, do you understand?”
Wet. So fucking wet.
“Yes.” I turn my head toward the audience, realizing no one has made a single sound. I bet they can hear the thunder of my heart in the heavy silence.
“Good.” His hand clamps itself around my jaw and twists my face back to him. “My only rule is that you look at me when you come.”
Oh, fuck.
