“I’m going to find Raul, sweetness. I’ll distract him while you search for the blade.”
A jolt of awareness snapped through me, shattering the sensual haze.
The dagger. The real reason I was here.
Malik’s fingers traced up and down my neck, soothing and coaxing at once. “You can do this, amore.” His lips barely touched my earlobe. “Observe. Linger. Let them believe you are deciding what to indulge in.”
I turned my face toward him, my lips hovering near his ear, close enough to feel the heat of his skin.
“Where do you suggest I look?”
Malik pressed a trail of soft kisses along my jaw, his lips featherlight.
“Find an office. A study. Somewhere private.” His voice was a silken whisper against my skin. “Don’t be afraid. If anything happens—get out at once.”
A shiver coursed through me, whether from his kisses or the peril that awaited, I wasn’t sure.
Then, brushing his lips against mine—just a ghost of contact—he whispered, “You are strong, Olivia. You can do this. I trust you.”
I pulled away, locking eyes with him for one long, searing moment.
Then, without another word, I pivoted and sauntered away.
The grand staircase was draped in rich burgundy carpet, the plush fibers muffling my steps as I ascended. Ornate paintings adorned the walls—works of art that were far from subtle.
Women sprawled across velvet love seats, their naked bodies displayed with uninhibited pleasure. Some lay open, a man between their thighs, devouring them. Others straddled their lovers, their bodies arched in rapture.
One painting made my breath hitch.
A man—his cock enormous—was tied to a gilded pole, his muscled body glistening with oil as several women surrounded him. Some held delicate feather wands, others poured fragrant oil from a carafe, their eyes worshipful, hungry.
I swallowed hard and forced myself to keep moving.
The deeper I climbed, the more the air thickened with pleasure. Moans drifted down the halls, breathy and uninhibited, a symphony of ecstasy that curled around my spine and made my pulse stutter.
Couples in various states of undress passed me on the landings.
Some walked by with smoldering gazes, their eyes trailing my body in silent invitation.
Others weren’t walking at all.
A woman was pressed against the railing, her head thrown back as a man’s mouth traced a path down her stomach. Another couple stood locked in a passionate embrace, hands wandering, clothes slipping from heated skin.
I kept my steps steady, my breath even.
Then—
A woman stepped into my path, halting me with a sultry smile.
“Vorresti unirti a noi?” she asked, her voice like liquid honey.
Her hand lifted, fingers grazing my cheek before cupping my face, her touch light but insistent.
Heat rushed to my skin.
I met her gaze and answered, “No. I don’t want to join you. Someone is waiting for me.”
She glanced at her partner, lips curling in amusement.
